The major characteristics of the reactor for the completed 29
th campaign are given in Table 1. Also preparatory works are completed for taking reactor target power to its design value of 40MWt & the estimated process parameters are given in Table-2. Stainless steel (SS 316) is the principal material of construction for the reactor and coolant circuits.
TG was synchronized to the southern grid in July 1997.
Valuable operating experience on reactor core, coolant systems, once-through steam generator, neutronic instrumentation, reactor protection and shutdown systems has been acquired.
The internationally unique, indigenously developed high Pu. mono-carbide Mark I driver fuel has been irradiated up to 155 GWd/t and one lead Mark I fuel SA attained a burn up of 165 GWd/t as a part of fuel SA endurance testing.
Kamini (Kalpakkam Mini) reactor is a Uranium-233 fueled, demineralized light water moderated and cooled, beryllium oxide reflected, low power nuclear research reactor located in the post irradiation examination facility of Radio Metallurgy Laboratory, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India.
This reactor functions as a neutron source with a flux of 1012 n cm-2 s-1 at core centre and facilitates carrying out neutron radiography of radioactive and non-radioactive objects and neutron activation analysis. Facilities are also available in the reactor for carrying out radiation physics research, irradiation of larger samples and calibration and testing of neutron detectors.
The location of the reactor in the post irradiation examination facility enables carrying out neutron radiography of spent fuel and other radioactive objects discharged from the neighbouring Fast Breeder Test Reactor without the need to transport radioactive material over long distances.
Kamini reactor was designed and built jointly by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
KAMINI- Main Characterstics
Power |
30KW |
Fuel |
U-233 Al Alloy |
Moderator & coolant | Light Water |
Reflector | 200mm Beryllium oxide Canned in Zircaloy Surrounded by water |
Control | Two Absorber type Cadmium safety control Plates |
Biological Shields | Ordinary & High Density Lead |
Flux | Core Average -1012n/cm2/sec |
Radiography Site 106-107 n/cm2/sec |
Sample Irradiation Site 1011-1012 n/cm2/sec |