2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATION OF POWER, ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

Nuclear Power-A Potential Source to meet Future

Electricity Demands in India
lndrakanti Abhinay Sri Teja! Anja/i Jain2 Lahari Yalavarth;3 Sumanth Yamujala4
I, 2, 3,4
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering
ASET, Amity University
Noida, INDIA

Abstract- In India, it is anticipated that the electricity and alternative technology that provides long term energy
demand will reach 772GW by 2032. Because of the fuel security. Nuclear could be the best alternative.
constraints, the generating capacities are under performing Nuclear profile in India has a modest uranium
and the conventional fuels are expected to exhaust by mid­ reserves and one of the largest thorium reserves. For a
century. So, there is an urgent need to use the sources that 1O,000MWe plant, the fuel required is only about 300-350
are reliable, benign to environment and that can provide
tons per annum, which is just a fraction when compared
long term security. Solar and Nuclear tops the list. As solar
with fuel used in coal based plants i.e. 35-50 million tons.
is hurdle to urbanisation, nuclear based power generation is
So, by using nuclear fuel we can conserve about 20 train
the best possible alternative to bridge the gap between
loads of coal per day thereby reducing C0 emissions [3].
supply and demand. Beginning with a brief introduction to 2
Indian power sector, this paper discuss importance and Power sector contributes around 40-50% of
scenario of Nuclear power Generation, Indian nuclear power greenhouse gas emissions. The C0 emissions per unit
2
program, plants in operation and under construction, (KWh) of nuclear power plant are about 2.5-5.7g,
upcoming projects and their associated problems, nuclear whereas of thermal is 206-357g and for gas based
power up-rates, radiation levels of nuclear power generation is 106-188g. For every unit of power generated
generation.
by using nuclear, we can save about lKG of C0
2
emissions [1]. Below figure shows the utilisation of
Keywords- Breeder, vitrification, power uprate, Pressurised
various sources for power generation [2].
Water Reactor(PWR), Light Water Reactor(LWR),
Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), Advanced
Heavy Water Reactor( AHWR), nuclear power plant.
• Th ermal

L INTRODUCTION • H d ro

In a developing country like India, availability of • Nuclear

energy is the main prime mover for its development. • RES

According to load-generation balance report of central

electricity authority (CEA) 2013-14, there is about 1.3-
26,1% peaking shortage in various regions of the country, 2.23

this may even increase with increase in population [1] [2].

The per capita energy consumption is 700KWh Fig 1.1: Contribution of various sources for power generation

(which is 24000KWh for developed countries) [1] [3], By

II. INDIAN NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAM
taking industrial development and increase in population
Through Atomic Energy Program (AEP), India
into consideration, we need a source that provides long
joined hands with few developed countries for
term energy security which is environmentally benign and
enhancement of nuclear technology by the vision of Dr.
economical to mcrease the per capita energy
Homi Jehingir Bhabha. Atomic Energy Commission
consumption.
(AEC) was established in 1948 to prescribe the policies
According to Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) 2006,
for development of atomic energy which is to be
by 5% increase in domestic utilisation, coal reserves may
implemented by Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
exhaust by 2051[3][4], Hydro generation depends on
To govern the atomic energy activities atomic energy act
rainfall and topography of the land, Solar, which is in­
was proposed in 1962 [I],
exhaustible, needs a change in pattern of consumption
which opposes urbanisation and wind has its own
limitations. All these conclude that, to meet the ever
increasing demand it is important to develop renewable

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INDRAKANTI ABHINAY SRI TEJA et aI: NUCLEAR POWER- A POTENTIAL SOURCE TO MEET FUTURE ELECTRICITY DEMANDS IN INDIA

etc. are also under research for direct utilisation of

thorium [6].
III. PLANTS IN INDIA
Nuclear contributes only 2.23% of total installed
capacity of 258.70GW in India as of January 2015, which
is very less when compared with countries like France,
Sweden, and Switzerland etc, whose nuclear based power
generations are 77%, 44% and 39%respectively [3]. It is
estimated that the required installation capacity of India
Fig 2.1 Nuclear Power Control Flow
by 2032 would reach 772GW (considering 8% growth in
Indian nuclear power program is a unique sequential gross domestic product).Addition of more thermal power
three stage cyclic process in which fuel spent in one stage plants will increase the carbon emissions which results in
is reprocessed to produce fuel for next stage which global warming. For example: After Japan disaster,
reduces the waste produced. International Energy Agency (lEA) has decided to
decrease total nuclear installation capacity from 13% in
A. Stage-l 2010 to 7% in 2035, to meet the load demand gas based
The reactor used in this stage is Pressurised Heavy generation and fossil fuels has to be used which increases
Water Reactor (PHWR) which is fuelled by natural the world gas consumption by 5% and adds another 0.5-
uranium. Natural uranium contains 0.7% of Ur235 and 0.9 giga tons of C0 by 2035 which results in increase of
2
99.3% of Ur238 in which Ur238 undergoes fission global temperature by 2°C. So to bridge the gap between
producing energy of 200Mev per atom. Ur235, which is a supply and demand nuclear is the only available source
non-fissile material, is transmuted into pU239. This stage [5].
has reached commercial maturity and many plants are Below figure shows the comparison of usage of
using this kind of reactors. nuclear power between some of the developed countries
B. Stage-II and India.
The reactor used in this stage is Fast Breeder Reactor
80%
(FBR) in which mixed oxide of U238 and PU239 is used as
70%
fuel. This PU239 is the by-product of chain reaction in 60%

previous stage i.e. stage-I. U238 undergoes fission thereby 5 0%

producing energy and Pu239as by-product. This reactor is 40%

30%
termed as breeder as it produces fuel. As the fuel
20%
produced is more than the fuel consumed this stage can be 10%

used as plutonium inventory. After sufficient amount of 0% +d������=-�������

��
PU239 is built up, Th232 is introduced as blanket material to ",<;' ",/:;
"'� "'�'"
produce Ur233, which is used as fuel in stage-III. This is ..,""""- �I!!Y
'>
under pilot stage and these reactors are under Figure 3.1: Percentage of Nuclear Power in various Countries.
construction.
In India, as of January 2015, seven nuclear power
C. Stage-lll
plants were installed with 21 reactors of generating
The reactor used in this stage is Advanced Heavy
capacity 5780MW which is only a fraction of total
Water Reactor (AHWR) with U233 and Th232 as fuel
installed capacity of the country. Below table shows the
producing power and U233as by-product. The commercial
operating nuclear power plants with their capacities and
availability of this type of reactors needs appreciable
nuclear reactors used.
time.
Plant No. of Reactor Capacity
Reactors Type I
Tarapur 4 BWR, 1400MW
Atomic PHWR 2x160,2x54
Power Plant o
(TAP� -+

Fig 2.2 Three Stage Nuclear Power Program

Rajasthan
Atomic
r 6 PHWR 1180MW
(lxl00,lx2
Power Plant 00,4x220)
Parallel to the three stage program some
(RAPS)
innovative designs of reactors such as Molten Salt
Breeder Reactor (MSBR), Fast Neutron Reactor (FNR)

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2015 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATION OF POWER, ENERGY, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION

Madras 2 PHWR 440MW Plant No or State Capacity

Atomic (2x220) Reactors

Power Jaitapur Nuclear 6 Maharashtra 9900MW

Power Plant (6xI650)
Station
Haripur Nuclear 6 West 6000MW
(MAPS) .. Power Plant Bengal (6xIOOO)
Kaiga 4 PHWR 880MW
Koodankalam 4000MW
Generating (4x220) Nuclear Power 4 Tamil Nadu (4xIOOO)
Station Plant
(KGS) Kovvada Nuclear 6 Andhra 6000MW
Narora 2 PHWR 440MW Power Plant Pradesh (6xIOOO)
Atomic (2x220) Bagri Nuclear 2 1400MW
Power Power Plant Gujarat (2x700)
Station KumhariyaN uclear 4 2800MW
(NAPS) Power Plant Haryana (4x700)
---+-
2 MithiVirdhi 6 Madhya 6000MW
Kakarpur PHWR 440MW
Nuclear Power Pradesh (6xlOOO)
Atomic (2x220)
Plant

l
Power
Table 4.1 Proposed Nuclear Power Plants in India
Station
(KAPS) Till now India has a clean record of no nuclear
Kudankalam PWR lOOOMW accidents. Despite of several reactor years of safe and
Nuclear (lxlOOO) accident free performance, many protests started across
Power Plant the country regarding the usage of nuclear power. People
(KKNPP) movement against nuclear power took place at almost all
the proposed plants [1][7].
Table 3.1: Nue/ear Power Plams ill India • Jaitapur nuclear power plant is equipped with European
Pressurized Reactor (EPR). People are against its
Along with this, three more plants are under
construction as it is located in the seismic zone which is
construction which adds 3800MW. Table-II shows the list
prone to have earth quakes frequently and also it one of
of plants under construction, reactor used with their
the bio-diversity hotspots of the country.
capacities.
• Bagri nuclear power plant which is a combined project
Plant No. of Reactor Capacity
of NPCIL and NTPC is facing opposition from both
Reactors Type
people and political parties.
Kudankalam PWR lOOOMW • Koodankalam nuclear power plant which is using LWR
Nuclear (lxlOOO) and PWR supplied from Russia is located near the
Power Plant coastal region is being opposed by the coastal fishing
(KKNPP) village as nuclear radiation is hazardous to sea eco
Kakrapar 2 PHWR 1400MW system.
Nuclear (2x700) • Kovvada nuclear power plant which is developed using
Power Plant i l US technology is also located in the seismic zone. There
Rajasthan is no direct opposition from the people and it's said that
Atomic 2 PHWR 1400MW it only some of the political parties that are against its
Power (2x700) construction and guiding people in wrong way [8].
Station • MithiVirdi nuclear power plant is facing serious
(RAPS) opposition from farmers as they believe that the waste
Table 3.2: Nue/ear power plams under cons/ruelion from this plant will make their land unfertile.
• Haripur nuclear power plant is also facing serious public
IV. PROPOSED PLANTS AND PROTESTS
disobedience.
Apart from plants in operation and under
construction, six more plants are proposed with total
V. NUCLEAR POWER UPRA TES
generation capacity of 36.lGW which adds 14% of
Nuclear power plants can increase their capacities to
present installed capacity in India. The proposed plants
some extent without adding new generating units, called
with their installation capacities are shown in table 3.3.

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INDRAKANTI ABHINAY SRI TEJA et aI: NUCLEAR POWER- A POTENTIAL SOURCE TO MEET FUTURE ELECTRICITY DEMANDS IN INDIA

as power uprates. Power uprates is a cost effective method Advantages:

to increase active power (MW) output of the plant. It can • Nuclear power plants operate at unprecedented
be used as a method to add generating capacity (from 2%- reliability and economy.
20%). In US 12,000MW has been increased by power • Man power required will be very less.
uprates [9] [10]. This can be done in three ways, they are: • It is the best source that can be used to combat
A. Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Power Uprate global warming.
By this we can increase the capacity up to 2%. This can • Sea water desalination.
be done by using accurate devices for measurement Drawbacks:
thereby providing accurate calculations [10]. • Disposal of radio-active material is difficult and
B. Stretch Power Uprate
may take about 10,000 years to return to normal
By stretch power uprate we can increase the plant
stage and damages aquatic eco system.
capacity by 2%-7%, this include changing plant
• Vitrification, a decomposition method can be
instrumentation setting [10].
wrongly used for manufacturing nuclear
e. Extended Power Uprate
weapons and dirty bombs.
Extended power uprate increases the plant capacity from
• Can be used only as base load plant.
7%-20%. This needs modification to plant equipment like
heater, drain pump, high pressure turbine, motors,
VIII. CONCLUSION
transformers, condensate pump and hydrogen pressure
Nuclear is the best initiative to meet ever increasing
system [9][10].
load demands in a developing country like India
Power uprates increases the MW capacity of the providing security, economic and ecological development
plant. This increase in MW rating causes a dip in reactive of the country. India has huge resources of Thorium
power (MY AR) generation. So capacitor banks, power which can be used for meeting its future electricity
system stabilizer, shunt capacitors etc. are recommended demands. India expects to have 14.6GWe nuclear power
to serve as MVAR generators to compensate the fall of its by 2020 and expects 25% of its power from nuclear by
generation. For power uprate and to compensate the fall in 2050. With awareness about the radiation levels and
MVAR, we have to- environmental benefits of nuclear power in the people we
can hope these projects will come to commercial
• Use capacitor banks to provide MVAR.
availability within specified time and plays major role in
• Using tap changing transformer in the place of
fulfilling the power demand in the coming years.
main power transformer.
• Using advanced excitation systems. REFERENCES
• Raising H pressure.
2 [I] Technical Report, "Indian Nuclear Power Program-Past, Present
• Rewiring the stator. and future", by S. A. Bharadwaj, Nuclear Power Corporation of
India Limited (NPCIL), 2013.
• Using advanced stator cooling system.

[2] Technical Report, "Nuclear Power- An Alternative", by Dr. S. K

VI. RADIA nON LEVELS Jain, Nuclear Power Corporation ofIndia Limited (NPCIL), 2014.

The radiation level near the nuclear power plant is

[3] Technical Report, "Monthly Executive Summery for January,
negligibly greater than that of the natural radiation. The 2015 ", Central Electricity Authority (CEA) of India.
natural radiation level is about 2400 micro-sievert per
[4] Technical Report, "Annual Executive Summery, 2006 ", Integrated
year and the radiation level near to nuclear power plant is
Energy Policy (IEP), 2006
about 25 micro-sieverts more than this. This says that
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generation world wide", IEEE Power & Energy Magazine, pp. 94-
usage of nuclear fuels for power generation.
95, may! june, 2012.
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power plants say that there is no rise in cancer morbidity [6] XU YanHui, WANG ZhenZhen, SUN Wen, CHEN ShiHe, WU
YuZhong, ZHAO Bing, "Unit Commitment model considering
and birth defects among the employees and the people
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residing near the plant. These tests will be conducted Conference on Advanced Power System Automation and
every year as prescribed by Atomic Energy Regulatory Protection, 2011, IEEE.

Board (AERB). The data from these annual medical tests

[7] Qiuyun SHI, Dichen L1U, Heng LUO, Yi GAO, "Study on the
says that the cancer prevalence among the employees is Faults of Nuclear Power Plant and Effects on Transient Stability of
very less, at 54.05 per lakh compared to national Power System", China International Conference on Electricity
Distribution, CICED-2012.
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[8] Press Information, "Public Hearing on Nuclear power Projects",

VII. ADVANT AGES AND DRA WBACKS OF The Times of India, 2014.

NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

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[9] Narinder K. Trehan, Rohit Saran, "Nuclear Power Revival",

Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Vol 5, pp. 3630-
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[10] Narinder K. Trehan, "Power Uprates in Nuclear Power Generating

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Power & Energy Magazine, pp.63-74, june 2006.

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[14] N. K. Trehan, "Effect of De-Regulation on Operation of Electrical

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BIOGRAPHIES

Indrakanti Abhinay Sri Teja holds B.Tech

degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering
JNTU, Kakinada. Currently he is pursuing
M.Tech in Power Systems from Amity
University, Noida. His interest areas include
electrical vehicles, hybrid storage systems,
power electronic drives and distributed
generation.

AnjaJi Jain has completed her B.E in electrical

engineering in 2002. She completed her M.Tech
in Power Systems and Drives in 2006. Her areas
of interests are power system and renewable
energy resources.

Yalavarthi Lahari received her B.Tech degree

in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from
INTU, Kakinada in 2012 and pursuing M.Tech in
Power Systems from Amity University, Noida.
Her areas of interest are renewable energy
resources, Distributed Generation & Micro
Grids.

Sumanth Yamujala received his B.Tech degree

in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from
JNTU, Kakinada in 2012 and pursuing M.Tech in
Power Systems from Amity University, Noida.
His areas of interest are Distributed Generation &
Micro Grids, Energy Storage systems, power
system operation & planning.

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