Nuclear fuel cycle - developments and challenges in fuel fabrication technology in India

The paper gives a summary of the developments carried out for over four and a half decade in the field of nuclear fuel fabrication for power reactors in India. The facility at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC)is unique in the world with fully integrated manufacturing of fuel and core structural for the Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs), Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs)operating in India. The integrated processing starts with the ore which is processed through several intermediate products to the finished fuel assemblies and several core structurals. The paper covers a summary of challenges encountered in technology development of materials and processes and their solutions arrived by carrying out detailed studies. The paper gives an overview of automation and advanced quality control methods used in the production line for capacity building to meet the enhanced fuel requirement. The paper also gives an outline of the future expansion program for fuel fabrication for enhancing the installed capacity of nuclear energy in India.