IGCAR :Post Irradiation Examination Division

Mandate

Characterisation of nuclear materials towards design optimisation through performance assessment of fuels and structural materials, radiation damage studies through irradiation experiments, residual life assessment of reactor components, and failure analysis of active components from operating reactors

Achievements

Burn-up extension of FBTR Carbide driver fuel (70% PuC-30%UC) to 155GWd/t through stage wise Post-Irradiation examination (PIE)
Performance assessment of PFBR MOX fuel and D9 clad/wrapper test irradiated to 112GWd/t in FBTR
Study of irradiation behaviour of advanced FBR fuels such as MOX sphere-pac fuel.
Performance Assessment of FBR structural materials such as 316LN/304LN, 316 (FBTR grade), Boron carbide (B4C) and Nickel, and shielding materials such as Ferroboron and Tungsten carbide (WC), test irradiated in FBTR.
Surveillance specimen testing for MAPS PHWR
Design of systems for fuel cycle and irradiation facilities

Technology Developed

Technologies associated with construction, operation and maintenance of radiological hot cell facility

Remote handling equipment such as Master-Slave Manipulators (MSM), Cranes for concrete/lead shielded cells
Remotely operable equipment for subassembly dismantling and specimen preparation for mechanical testingµscopy.
Customized equipment for (i) Metrology, (ii) Non-destructive testing such as X ray and Neutron radiography, Eddy current inspection, Gamma spectrometry, (iii) fission gas extraction & analysis, (iv) optical/electron microscopy and micro-analytical examinations, and (v) mechanical testing (tensile, impact, hardness, shear/small punch tests) of irradiated components/materials.
Transfer systems for radioactive material transfer across various hot cell facilities.
Inert gas recirculation system for hot cell ventilation
Techniques for remote & contact maintenance of hotcell equipment

Miniature specimen testing techniques such as subsize tensile, shear/small punch, ball-indentationtest methods including instrument design and validation
Finite element method based numerical simulations for seismic analysis of structures and mechanical deformation studies

Infrastructure/Facilities

Hot-cells and shielded facilities

Remote handling and Viewing devices in hot cells
- Master-Slave manipulators (MSM)
- Articulated manipulators (AM)
- Radiation shielding window glass (RSW)
- Nuclear periscopes, Cameras
Radioactive Material transfer Systems for hot cells
- Double door Vertical Transfer system (VTS)
- Double door Horizontal Transfer system (HTS)
- Ports for solid waste transfer
Equipment for Dismantling and Specimen preparation in hot cells
- Nd-YAG Laser based dismantling machine for subassemblies/capsules
- CNC machine for tensile specimen preparation from wrapper
- Hollow end mill based system for disc specimen extraction from wrapper
- Diamond wheel cutting machines for extraction of fuel-clad sections
- Grinding and polishing machines for specimen preparation for microscopy
Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of irradiated components in hot cells
- 4-axis Profilometer (DMLD) for metrology of irradiated subassembly
- LVDT based profilometer for dimensional measurement of fuel pins
- Eddy current bench for inspection of fuel pins
- X ray and Neutron radiography systems for imaging fuel pins
- Axial and Radial gamma scanning systems for fission product distribution
Plant Ventilation systems
- Inert Gas Recirculation system with feed and bleed systems for hot cell ventilation
- Air compressors and PSA nitrogen generators
- Supply and exhaust systems for once-through-ventilation in various zones of the radiological facility
- Water and Brine chillers, Cooling tower, Air handing units, Centrifugal pumps, stack etc.
Electrical, Electronics & Instrumentation systems
- Substation, DG sets, Distribution panels/boards
- Lighting and power systems
- Temperature, pressure and oxygen sensors& controllers for Hot cells
- CCTV based surveillance systems
- Physical and Fire protection systems
- Radiation & contamination monitoring equipment
- BF3 based radioactive waste drum monitor

Fission gas extraction and analysis
- Gas Chromatograph
- Mass Spectrometer
Microscopy and micro-analytical characterization equipment
- Customized Optical microscope in hot cell
- Glove box adapted Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
- Transmission electron microscope(TEM)
- X-ray diffraction (XRD) equipment
Mechanical property evaluation
- In-cell screw driven universal testing machine (UTM)for testing clad/wrapper specimens
- Charpy Impact tester for irradiated CVN specimen
- Machines for automated Vickers microhardness, standard Vickers and Rockwell hardness
- UTMs and customized fixtures for ultra sub-size tensile, small punch, shear punch and ball-indentation tests
- Digital Image Correlation (DIC) system for strain measurement