A fast breeder reactor (FBR) is the second stage of India’s nuclear power programme. It was set up first at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, and Tamil Nadu.
It uses liquid sodium as coolant. It has no moderator plutonium and uranium are used as fuel. The chain reaction is continued by the process that it uses and it can be used for other reactors.
It uses the nuclear fission reaction. It requires high temperature and needs to control the fission process.
It is operated by uranium- plutonium oxide mixture fuels and because of chain reaction; it produces more neutrons than the thermal reactors.
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In comparison to thermal power reactors, the Fast Breeder Reactor used to 60 to 70 times more natural uranium. It is technically known as “Liquid Metal cooled Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR)”.
In fast Reactor, enriched uranium is used. Though India has enough amounts of natural uranium and plutonium but the technological process to enrich them is a hindrance. Moreover, the same enriched radio-active materials can be used in making atomic weapons and so, international pressure also work as a break in the enrichment programme.
This technology will greatly contribute in the fulfillment of India’s energy requirement, industrial progress and thus economic development.