Compiled F-G Interview Questions

PHWR

1. Maximum capacity for PHWR?? Is there any upper limit? 1200 MWe, Rx control becomes difficult as Rx becomes bigger, more loosely coupled &
unstable.
2. What is the difference in control of 700 MWe PHWR wrt 540 MWe due In 540  CTM effective up to 100% FP & Global Rx power protection.
to boiling. In 700  CTM effective up to 85% FP, spacial Rx power protection, channel power
peaking factor, bundle power monitoring.
3. What are components in PHWR apart from fuel RR, AR, PSS, SSS, Calendria, PT, E/S,
4. What are differences in India PHWR in comparison to Candureactor. No specific, CANDUs are 600/900 MWe, Indian are 220/540/700 MWe
 Extra building under vacuum to manage LOCA/MSLB
 De-Tritiation Plant attached
5. Existing n future Rx Existing - PHWR, BWR, PWR, FBTR Future – More PHWR, PWR, FBR, AHWR
6. Typical of features ACR-1000, LW coolant & HW moderator, Fuel enriched, Core size reduced.
7. Whats Typical amount of HW in core as moderator, in PHTS for 220  66 & 140 T / 540 168 & 293 / 700 206/310
220,540,700 PHWR
8. Can we use OLBSin PHWR?(on line boron monitoring system  PWR) Yes, will be helpful during boron removal for Rx criticality, NAPS event can be prevented
9. If yes, why it not used in PHWR? Not required as during normal operation, no boron exists.
10. If there is a minute pore in the cladding of a PWR and PHWR (of same PWR will emit more fission product as PWR fuel assembly is longer and contains more
capacity), which will release more radioactivity to coolant? Uranium/ fissile / fission product.
11. To increase the power of PHWR core will you increase the number of Number of channels as well as size of bundle & CT/PT.
coolant channels or will you increase size of fuel bundle and PT/CT?
12. What are the advantages and problems of these methods. If we increase only no of channels  per channel power will be less (so bigger size
required)
If we increase only size of fuel  Pitch length has to be increased for F/M access
13. What are other ways of increasing power.? Enrichment, increasing no of pencils in bundle.
14. Can we have a 1000MWePHWR ? Yes, up to approx. 1200 mwe
15. Do you know about cover gas of nuclear reactor. PHWR  Mod – Helium, PHT ST Tk - N2
16. What should be characteristic of cover gas. Chemically & radiological stable, cost, availability,
14
17. If cover gas is Nitrogen then what will happen 7N + 0n16C14 + 1H1
18. Which reactor has higher thermal neutrons - PWR or PHWR PHWRThermal N wander in moderator, in PWR they are absorbed as soon as
thermalised.
19. What's mission time for ECCS water to reach from header to failed 2 months
channel in PHWR ?
20. What is the reason of having 2 loop PHT in PHWR Half core LOCA, less void coeff of reactivity
21. How the corrosion in the reactor is are evaluated? By analysing the corrosion products (chemistry). Inspection of vessel/ feeder, corr
coupons
22. How much D2O inventory in PHWR? PHT 220/540/700  70/168/206, Moderator  140/293/310
23. What is the capacity of biggest pump in your plant? CCW approx 14000 T/hr, in RAPS-11850 T/hr
24. Where will be more Tritium? In moderator or in PHT? Moderator
25. What will be Tritium saturation level in Moderator? Current 27 ci/lit, Saturation level with Makeup & leak  40 Ci/lit, without any makeup 

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 80 Ci/lit
26. Civil: What are the recent improvements in PHWR construction? Pre-fabricated components e.g. dome, PDHRS, CS Liners, PAR, CFVS
27. Civil: What type of concretes are used for IC and OC of the reactors? Pre-stressed & RCC
28. Civil: How PHWR containment is designed? IC & OC, IC designed for MSLB  1.73 kg/cm2, 700 MWe  1.6 kg/cm2
29. PSS and SSS?
30. What is the mechanism of decay heat removal in PHWRs under SBO FW in SG (NAPS-17 hrs)
condition?
31. What is ASDV? Atmospheric steam discharge valve
32. PDHRS for PHWRS? (OGDHR and SGDHR) Passive decay heat removal system (8 hrs for 700 MWe, up to 7 days studied for KKNPP)
33. What will happen if all control rods are removed from reactor in case AP-DP > 4%  ALPAS, Rx setback may come on CTM, Rx will trip on neutronic power or
of sabotage?Other aspects - Answer points: SG dtlta T.
Power rises no control mechanism in place moderator temperature rises moderator
evaporates negative fuel coefficient takes over reactor shuts down  though there
may be a fuel damage.
Prompt criticality if rods are removed fast, In case slow withdrawal, the negative fuel coeff
takes over leading to shut down of the reactor.
34. Does Doppler broadening found to be main cause or essential part of No, Doppler broadening has a stabilizing effect on power excursion. Its void coefficient
all reactor accidents? that adds positive reactivity
35. What is limiting life for PT or RPV? For PT  creep, hydride pickup, For RPV  Mechanical properties, swelling
36. Any idea of capacity of battery and amount of diesel in NPP and what Battery for 30 min & Minimum 75 KL diesel (for 1 week)
system run on these in case of SBO? PUPS-500 KVA, CUPS- , CPS-80 KVA
37. Amount of diesel to be stores for a reactor? Minimum 75 KL
38. What is the margin provided in PHWRs for Xe over ride? Extra excess reactivity in RRs & ARs
39. SG tube got stuck in your station. How you came out of it?
40. Any similar event like KAPS in your station

41. KAPS event. Why PT failed? How you can say it will not happened at Due to Nodular corrosion (because of Ethene presence). Stringent Chemistry control of
KGS? AGMS CO2 (Not taking from Petroleum/ Neptha plant) Hydrocarbons are not allowed.
42. What is the CL-III loads in your station? What is the max rated CL-III Max rated class-III load is PPP (450 kW). Load restoration is through EMTR system.
load. What is the administrative procedure existing for load
restoration and why?
43. Can we start PCP DOL? What is percentage voltage dip that will take System (Bus) Voltage dip  Voltage – 10%, Freq-5% (Max)
place. What is the percentage of voltage dip allowed? Voltage dip at PCP terminal  20% max
SUT/UT voltage drop  30% max during Auto Transfer.
For Auto Transfer  Bus voltage should be >80%
For EMTR  Bus voltage should be <40%
44. Why not starting all CL-III loads all together? Class-III DG voltage & frequency will dip. It will not be able to cope-up the high starting
current requirement
45. What happens if max capacity CL-III load trips in your plant?
46. KAPS-2 event. Suppose you are in control room. Narrate the event as
you observed.
47. After what time they could find out the leak?

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48. If your management pressurizes you for the PT pressurization, will I will follow the existing approved practice. If, any deviation is required, it shall be reviewed
you do? Why? & approved by the regulatory body. Currently we can pressurise up to 34 kg/cm 2 after
regulatory clearance.
49. Any similar event happened at international reactor Canadian Rx Bruce & Pickering
50. In MAPS you have done one big thing when bundle scarcity is there? SEU bundle loaded. At KGS Peak Flux operation, DU bundle loading
What is that
51. What is the amount of coolant void coefficient in 220 MWe and 500 Void Coeff for 220/540/700 MWe 6.5 mk/10.2/7.66 mk. Negative void coeff of reactivity
MWePHWR? during ECCS injection.
52. Any time negative void coefficient in any of the PHWR (500/700)? When burnup goes high (>6000 MWd/T), void coeff of reactivity becomes less positive i.e.
negative due to presence of Pu-239. But again Pu-239 leads to Power coeff of reactivity
positive, which is not desired from Rx power control point of view during normal power
operation.
53. What are the consequences of ZCC draining? 540 MWe  Power will increase, Rx power reduce on CTM. In 700 MWe  Rx will trip on
Spacial power high, Channel power peaking, Bundle power peaking
54. Are there any nuclear reactors where there are neither adjuster rods  Oclo Gabbon, South Africa (Natural Reactor)
for regulation nor shut off rods for shut down? If it is, describe.  Sun.
 ADSS
 BWR  Power controlled by Voids, coolant flow & coolant temperature.
 Kamini  Reflector used
55. What are the differences between ECCS of 220MWePHWR,
540MWePHWR and 700 MWePHWR?
56. Which one of the 220ME PHWR, 540 MW PHWR and 700MW PHWR's 700 MWe ECCS is better, 2-trains, increased reliability
ECCS is better?
57. Which one of the above ECCS is more reliable 700 MWe ECCS
58. All these ECCS cannot possibly have same reliability? Which is more 700 MWe ECCS, because of 2 train system, simple logic (ECCS injection in I/L header)
reliable and why so
59. Has the reliability calculations been done? What is the reliability Yes, 2x10-4 (for 220 MWe it is 1.79x10-3)
figure?
60. Are there any common problem leading to common cause failure? Manufacturing/ design deficiency, Fire, Flood, Power supply, Control Power supply
How are you taking care of the common cause failure?
61. What is the difference between reactor regulation of PHWR& Other
reactor’s
62. What is the high-pressure injection terminating condition in ECCS? ECCS TK level & pressure low or Pressure at RIH >55 kg/cm2.
63. Why there are so many types of injection in ECCS of 220MW plants? Type-I/II/III. To inject water in such a way that injected water crosses atleast once through
the core, it does not go un-utilised.
64. New project and existing project – What are the changes? Pre-fabricated components e.g. dome, PDHRS, CS Liners, PAR, CFVS, 2 independent
groups of ECCS.
65. How to manage ageing of the Reactor? Surveillance, inspections & ISI BARCIS, SAG, CREEP, diff CREEP, feeder FAC,
maintaining system chemistry etc.
66. Hydrogen recombiner?
67. What is the major cause for life limitation of reactor Radiation damage & mechanical property of vessel/ structures.
68. What is your Turbine efficiency? which turbine is more efficient PWR, 29% (220 MWe). BWR  PWR  PHWR (due to SG pressure 70/60/40 kg/cm2).
BWR, PHWR? What are the design measure taken to improve turbine Increased SG pressure

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 efficiency?
69. What is the difference in FS in KAPP 3&4 & 7&8 what is your
commissioning plan? What are the challenges you are facing during
commissioning? How you can reduce commissioning timing?
70. What are the consent condition for construction &commissioning Most important commissioning stage is Phase-B commissioning.
different stages? What is most important in commissioning stages?
Why FAC is important?
71. What are the important improvements in 700 MW. Why PDHRS is Proof Test  220/700 MWe – 1.73/1.44 kg/cm2.
required? When CFVS you are going to take into service? What is the
proof test pressure?
72. What are the modification in carried out in 700 Mw for accommodate In process, in set point of trip & set back, CHFR, ROPAS.
boiling?
73. Why FAC is important?
74. Why there is required for Rods worth estimate during phase-B what
are the other methods to determine rod’s worth?
75. Explain heat balance.
76. Whether condenser heat can be utilized for some purpose? Desalination, domestic water heating in cold countries
77. Type of reactor?
78. How to increase the power from 220 to 700MW? What is your concern
as FHU
79. What type of ventilation systems are provided in your plant.
80. Can we provide fan in RB supply?
81. What to monitor if no exhaust fan is operating
82. How air washer works> How to reduce humidity in the air.
83. What pressure UGP column is operating? -550 to -600 mmHg
84. What change required to reduce further vacuum
85. Give example of passive cooling in reactor. Thermo-syphoning, PDHRS/GDWP through Isolation condensers (700 MWe/ VVER),
SGDHRS (PFBR)
86. Different types of turbines used in the industry ? What is impulse and Steam Turbine (Rankine cycle), Gas Turbine (Brayton Cycle)
reaction turbine ? Which turbine has highest efficiency ? How turbine Impulse more efficient  high pressure & low flow
efficiency is calculated. Reaction  where low pressure & high flow
87. What are various precautions taken in Kaiga to avoid flooding due to
high rain fall.

PFBR/FBR/FBTR

88. What's fuel for fbtr, pfbr? Why changed? UC/ UO2
89. Max burn-up attained in fbtr 165000 MWd/Te (2018)
90. What's inventory of fuel n sodium in fbr?!
91. What's life by design for fbtr n pfbr 35/60 years (FBTR  7 ½ years left out)
92. Why U-233 generated in axial blanket is more than radial one Because of higher flux
93. What is annual required number of fuel assemblies for fbtr n pfbr.

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94. Design life of fbtr ? 35 years
95. Why 2 different types of reflectors used in FBTR/PFBR? Steel Reflectors are used (In FBTR inner is Ni reflector). First reflector to reflect back the
fast neutron to Reactor core for maintaining the flux level for Power operation. Outer
reflector is to reflect back the leaked out neutrons for utilisation in Breeding.
96. What is Fbtr life limit? Core grid plate? Constraining factor? Core grid plate, irradiation damage (voiding) & strength
97. How is Power n flux n level measurements done in FBR, pfbr In PFBR 6 fission chambers in top plug. (In bottom 3 ionisation chambers are used)
98. What are features, Capacity and status of FRFCF Fast Reactor Fuel reprocessing facility ( for PFBR), CORAL for FBTR
99. Is there any Eccs in fbr No
100. What's peak centre temp in fuel for fbtr. Pfbr. 2400 OC
101. Why no double containment in pfbr As no LOCA concept exists
102. What is liquid poison used in pfbr... And Control rod material No liquid poison is used (Lithium was envisaged but it is not compatible with Na). >90%
enriched Boron-Carbide used as control rod.
103. What is the size of reactor core for pfbr n fbtr. PFBR- 1.75 m dia & 1 m height. FBTR-
104. What's fuel inventory in fbtr.
105. What's typically oxide weight n single fuel pin weight
106. How much time required to fabricate one FSA
107. Why no double containment in pfbr As no LOCA concept exists
108. What's hydraulic dia for fbtr or pfbr fuel assembly Core – 1.75 m,
109. Why FBRs are not being pursued by other countries.... Pursuing LWR/PHWR as abundant U is available
110. We claim that fast breeder technology is very promissing and having Abundant Uranium is available & spent fuel reprocessing process is dose consuming,
so many advantages... So why they are not going for close fuel cycle... costly (compared to using fresh Uranium).
111. Whats biggest challenge in thorium fuel cycle  Th O2 is chemically inert, hence dissolution during reprocessing is difficult & requires
HF addition during dissolution in HNO3 acid (HF is very strong corrosive liquid), poses
structural material issue.
 U-232 is formed from Th-232, and daughter radio nuclides(Pa/Bi) is emits hard
gamma with very long half life.
112. How are we measuring sodium coolant level in pfbr? Mutual coil induction method
113. Or monitoring? What's the technique used?
114. What are thermal reactors? select one of them and list the important
differences w.r. t. PFBR.
115. Which is the compact reactor among PHWR and PFBR and why? PFBR  uses enriched U & working in fast neutron spectrum.
116. Can we design a fast reactor with water? No, we can make epithermal reactor CHWCR (critical high temperature water cooled Rx)
117. What about lead and lead-bismuth as coolant for reactor? Good coolant, highly corrosive, high pumping power consumption. Polonium (hard gamma
emitter) is the issue.
118. Was it used anywhere? CHTR (Pb-Bi) (compact High temperature Reactor,
Innovative High temperature Reactor IHTR (Molten Salt)
119. What are the problems associated with its use. Highly corrosive, high pumping power consumption. Polonium (hard gamma emitter) is the
issue.
120. Why we need fast reactors? To enter third stage programme, in order to utilise vast reserve of Thorium.
121. What's fuel for FBTR, PFBR? Why changed for PFBR? UC & UO2. Earlier enrichment facility was not there. UO2 fuel is easy to reprocess &
sufficient expertise in UO2 fuel is gained. UC is pyroforic in nature, poses problem with fuel
fabrication & reprocessing and requires HF for dissolution.

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122. Max burn-up attained in fbtr 165000 MWd/Te
123. Why argan used as cover has in pfbr why not helium or nitrogen Helium has high thermal conductivity & diffusivity, In FBTR it is observed to be causing
whirling of cover gas due to temp difference (top- vessel cover & bottom- hot sodium) and
causes thermal stress in the vessel. Hence Ar was mixed (Ar at bottom & He at top in
cover gas eliminated the problem).
124. What will happen if we feed U235 to FBR? Breeding will reduce (doubling time will increase) due to less eta
125. Alternate coolant for PFBR? Pb, Pb-Bi, Molten salt
126. What is the maximum burn up of fuel in the Indian reactor? FBTR-165000, SEU-25000, Nat U-20000, MOX-22000, Th-13000
127. Why burn up of PFBR is less than FBTR? What property of oxide fuel  FBTR (UC)- fissile density is more, high thermal conductivity, high coeff of thermal
in PFBR reduces burn up? Expansion, low melting point
 Ceramic, less fissile density, low thermal conductivity, low coeff of thermal Expansion,
high melting point
128. Problems in waste management of FBR? U-232 (daughter nuclei hard gamma emitter)
129. Is PFBR containment designed for pressure like PHWR? No, 0.25 kg/cm2.
130. Why not? What coolant are used? As no LOCA concept exists, coolant in Liquid Sodium
131. Decay heat removal from the PFBR? OGDHRS (by coolant circulation pump with pony motor), SGDHRS (DHX & AHX)
132. Requirements of FBRs? To enter third stage programme, in order to utilise vast reserve of Thorium.
133. Why there is low popularity of FBRs worldwide? Abundant Uranium is available & spent fuel reprocessing process is dose consuming,
costly (compared to using fresh Uranium).
134. Ventilation requirement of the reactor containment? Air movement from Low activity area to high activity area to avoid spread of activity/
contamination.
135. Ventilation provision for SG building of PFBR?
136. Fire hazards in FBRs? Na is fire hazard.
137. Sodium water reaction? Sodium fire? Na+H2O  NaOH + H2
138. Management of Sodium water reaction incident? It will burn & exhaust. Na leak detection, Inertisation.
139. H2 detection in Sodium? For SG tube leak identification, closely packed electrodes are used. Electrochemical type
detector used (fast response, accurate)
140. What are the enrichment process in FBR and other reactors?  Getting Pu-239 from spent fuel reprocessing by Chemical processing or
(chairman expected some non-nuclear answer) pyroprocessing.
 Getting enriched U by centrifuge/ gas diffusion/Laser etc
141. What are the technology development activities carried out by you for
PFBR?
142. What are the thermal reactors? Select one of them and list important Chain reaction by thermal neutron
differences w.r.t. PFBR? PHWR- large size, nat U, neutron economy issue
143. Which is compact PHWR or PFBR? Why? PFBR  uses enriched U & working in fast neutron spectrum.
144. Can we design a fast reactor with water? No, we can make epithermal reactor CHWCR (critical high temperature water cooled Rx)
145. Was it used anywhere? Problems associated with this?
146. Difference between various fuels of fast breeder reactors? U, UC, UO2 thermal conductivity reducing, melting point increasing, BR decreasing,
doubling time increasing, U/UC reactive in air/ pyrophoric & UO2 stable ceramic.
147. How decay heat is removed in PFBR? OGDHRS (by coolant circulation pump with pony motor), SGDHRS (DHX & AHX)
148. Does any reactor requires cooling of RCC structure to avoid cracking PFBR & MAPS/RAPS-1&2
or radiation induced damages? (PFBR)

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149. Why oxide fuel is used for PFBR? Earlier enrichment facility was not there. UO2 fuel is easy to reprocess & sufficient
expertise in UO2 fuel is gained. UC is pyroforic in nature, poses problem with fuel
fabrication & reprocessing and requires HF for dissolution.
150. What is the purpose of cover gas in PFBR? To accommodate swelling & shrinkage. It also helps on failed fuel detection through OFF
gas monitoring. To keep Cover Gas pressurised to avoid air ingress into the system, thus
prevents Na fire.
151. Why burn up of PFBR is less than FBTR? UO2 used in PFBR is ceramic material. less fissile density, low thermal conductivity, low
coeff of thermal Expansion.
152. Why radioactivity release in PFBR under normal operating condition In PFBR – most of the Uranites & actinides are burned, Fission Products get transmuted
and accident condition is the least? under fast fluence. No Tritium presence.
153. Why is xenon poisoning not important in FBRs? Fast Neutron absorption cross section of Xe is negligible.
154. What is worth of absorber rods? 80-90 mk
155. What is the type of refuelling? How many SAs will be replaced at a Batch refuelling. 1/3rd of core is changed at a time.
time?
156. Why you cant do on line refuelling> I have modified all FM ARM Huge variation in core reactivity
designs still what is the factor not allowing to On line refuelling
157. What is the pattern that SAs will be replaced in PFBR?
158. What is the breeding ratio of PFBR ? Breeding Ratio  Fissile material produced / Fissile material consumed
159. What is the doubling time of the PFBR?:- The time required for a breeder reactor to produce enough material to fuel a second
reactor is called its doubling time, and present design plans target about ten years as a
doubling time.
160. What is the future plan of IGCAR for FBR?- 1) reduce doubling time &
2) increase capacity to 1000MWe
161. How much is the enrichment of the Indian FBR? 21% & 28 % enriched Pu at centre/ outer region
162. Why sodium is used as coolant?- High boiling point, low melting point, high thermal capacity, and compatible to structural
material. The metals which can accomplish this are sodium and lithium, with sodium being
the most abundant and most commonly used
163. What is the enrichment of the TAPS fuel after removal from reactor? 0.7-0.8%
164. Can we use depleted fuel of TAPS in PHWR? Yes, it can be used
165. What is the pressure and temperature of PFBR? Sodium – 397 & 547 OC (atmospheric pressure), Secondary side – 160 kg/cm2& 400 OC
166. Why to use FBR? To get long term energy security by using indigenous uranium and abundant thorium
reserve.
167. Where are the thorium reserves? Location in india? Eastern coastal states of india kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra, Orissa. max Andra Pradesh
35%
168. Objective of PFBR?- Demonstrate techno commercial viability of the FBR on industrial scale.
169. Why reactor power is chose as only 500MWe?- To enable use of standard turbine as that used in fossil fuel plants, to have standard
design of the reactor components resulting in further reduction of capital cost and
construction time in future and compatibility with the grid.
170. Why PuC-UC fuel is used in FBTR and MOX fuel PFBR?- Carbide fuel was used in FBTR due to non availability of the enriched uranium for MOX
fuel option.
171. Why mox fuel has been selected? Due to its proven capability of safe operation to high burn up, ease of fabrication and
proven reprocessing.

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172. Why pool type design has been selected instead of loop type design?  It enabled simple vessel design, penetration provided at the top, LOCA event
eliminated.
 Large thermal inertia of core.
 Radiation damage to the vessel minimised.
173.  Main vessel with no nozzle leading to high integrity of vessel. Relatively large thermal
inertia (the degree of slowness with which the temperature of a body approaches that
of its surroundings and which is dependent upon its absorptivity, its specific heat, its
thermal conductivity, its dimensions, and other factors) leading to ease in design of the
decay heat removal system, with lower heat removal capacity requirement and
availability of more time with operator to act. Due to larger diameter of main vessel,
less strains are generated on components in case of disruptive accident.
174. Why AISI 316 LN selected as Material of vessel? Highly ductile & satisfies leak before break criteria. Also core outlet temperature of 547 0C
has been made possible due to use of SS-316-LN and capability to perform inelastic
creep fatigue damage assessment.
175. What is the technology development activities carried out by you for
PFBR?
176. What are thermal reactors? Selection of them and list the important
differences w.r.t PFBR?
177. Which is the compact reactor among PHWR and PFBR and why?
178. Can we design a fast reactor with water?
179. What about lead and lead bismuth as coolant for reactor?
180. Was it used any where?
181. What were the problems associated with its use?
182. Can we have thermal breeder reactors? What is eta in four factor?
questions from many committee members about four factor formula.
183. Why breeding in PFBR and not in PHWR?
184. What is the maximum burn up of fuel in the Indian reactor? FBTR: 1.65 Lakh Mega watday/Ton
185. Why burn up of PFBR is less than FBTR? Low fissile density
186. What property of oxide fuel in PFBR reduces burn up? Low fissile density
187. Fuel in fbtr and pfbr
188. We hvexp for carbide fuel and in pfbr going for Mox?
189. How sodium is made? Or How to produce sodium? Electrolysis of NaOH, and from NaCl
190. Why we can’t use liquid lead in place of liquid sodium? Highly corrosive, high pumping power consumption. Gallium (hard gamma emitter) is the
issue.
191. How you will do commissioning in PFBR?
192. Whether you are doing any breeding in KKNPP reactor? why are you No. It is conversion taking place in VVER CR- 0.6, In PHWR conversion ratio is 0.8
not breeding?
193. what are the condition required for making any reactor for breeding. FBTR, PFBR
Any breeding reactor in India?
194. What is the status of BHAVINI? Under construction & commissioning.
If we increase Fuel assembly length, effect  Coolant flow will reduce due to increased resistance
 Outlet temperature will increase

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  Void coeff of reactivity will increase with same PFBR core dia

AHWR

195. Why PU is used in AHWR fuel along with U233 Pu is used as fissile feed.
196. what is geometry of fuel assembly AHWR 12+18+24 pins with central Dy-Zr tube
197. What's fuel for ahwr Pu-Th (outer 24 pins), U233-Th (central 30 pins)
198. How energy is produced in a reactor Fission
199. Thorium chain to make u233 Th232+0n1 Th233 Th233 –β  Pa233 –β  U233
200. Which isotope produces energy?
201. What happens to thorium? Gets converted to U-233
202. What's the fuel peak temperature location n value?
203. What's coolant n moderator in PHWR and AHWR. Where is it higher? Coolant in PHWR/AHWR  D2O/H2O, Mod  D2O in both
204. How will measure heat flux in AHWR? Delta T, ion chambers
205. What is our AHWR program It is for utilisation of Th

Nu power program/3 stages/import of reactor/policy:

206. What are the reactors planned in India by import under foreign VVER, EPRs, AP-1000
collaboration.
207. Can we go to 3rd stage directly skipping 2nd stage Through ADSS
208. 10 point agenda of DAE to Nitiayog
209. Why India is attempting to become member of NSG? To gain access to Nuclear Reactor & fuel (Nuclear Technology) & to trade in Nuclear.
210. Is there any India specific exemption? Even without signing NSG, India has got exemption to get Reactor & fuel from NSG
members.
211. What is 123 agreement? 123 is a constitution clause in US constitution which has been modified to exempt India.
Even without signing NSG, India has got exemption to get Reactor & fuel from NSG
members. But In Future India can not do any Nuclear Test.
212. Is it better to import fuel or to import reactors? What’s your say? As for as India is concerned, we need both. Reactor for accelerated capacity addition &
fuel for domestic Reactors & future in house developed Reactors.
213. What are DAE units contributing in front end & back end of fuel cycle? Front End  AMD (Atomic Minerals devision), UCIL, NFC, ECIL
Back end KARP, PREFRE, FRFCF, CORAL
214. Which unit plays a role first – UCIL or AMD? AMD
215. Where do you fit PFBR in our three stage programme? 2nd stage
216. Can we bye-pass the second stage and go to thorium utilisation in ADSS
third stage?
217. Three stage power program if India? Whys it is still relevant even after For long term utilisation of vast reserve of Thorium.
1-2-3 nuclear agreement?
218. What is NPT? Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, to prevent spread of nuclear weapon.
219. Can we go to 3rd stage by skipping 2nd stage of nuclear power plan? ADSS
220. Why are we purchasing nuclear reactors even when we are able to Q-212
import fuel?

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221. Units involved in front and back end of fuel cycle? Q-238
222. Problems in Thorium fuel cycle?  Thorium is chemically inert  dissolution problem  HF used with Nitric acid  HF is
highly corrosive  Compatible structural material is issue.
 Hard ϒ emitter daughter radio nuclides of U232 with long half life
223. What is the mandate of various units of DAE? Peaceful use of nuclear technology for social development through energy, food, health
care, research in advanced science & technology.
224. What is the CO2 amount generated per 1000 MWe energy? 3000* 44/12 = 11000 T CO2. If coal contains 70% C, CO2 produced = 11000*0.7
225. Why nuclear energy is called green energy? Because of very-2 less CO2 emission.
226. 1 Kg of Uranium is equivalent to how much of Coal? 1g U235 = 1 MWe= 3 T coal. ///// So 1 Kg U235 = 1000 MWe = 3000 T coal
227. Why we should go for nuclear energy? To reduce green house gases
228. What are the greenhouse gases? Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone
(O3) are green house gas, responsible for global warming.
229. Have you heard about global emission? Global emission means emission of CO2 gas due to different Industrial activities.
230. What is it and how nuclear energy is useful in this regards? CO2 emission due to Nuclear energy is very less (5 g/Unit compared to 943 g/Unit from
Thermal power plant. From Gas is 300-600 g/Unit. Hydel in min 5 g/Unit).
231. Ozone layer depletion-refrigerant changes Halocarbons break down O3 into O2. O3 prevents UV rays to enter earth’s atm,
responsible for skin cancer, sun burn. Freon R-12/ R-22 [CFC (chloro-floro-carbon) &
HCFC (chloro-floro-carbon)] R-134 A is replacing R-12/22.
232. How much coal is needed for 1000MWe power plant? 1g U235 = 1 MWt= 3 T coal. ///// So 1 Kg U235 = 1000 MWt = 3000 T coal for 3000 MWt
=3000*3= 9000 T coal
233. How much CO2 will be generated? Can you calculate it? 9000* 44/12 = 33000 T CO2. If coal contains 70% C, CO2 produced = 33000*0.7
234. What is the amount of coal required in a year for a thermal plant? For 1000 MWe Thermal PP = 9000 T/day * 365 = 3285000 T coal
235. What is the amount of carbon dioxide produced by burning a ton of 1*44/12 = 3.666 T (if Coal contains 100% C)
coal?
236. Why cannot you breed Thorium directly in the reactor? Why through Because of insufficient neutron. For breeding ղ value should be >2.3. In 2nd stage we use
the 2nd stage? fast Rx where ղ value is>2.3.
237. Different backend facilities in DAE? (All use PUREX technology).KARP (Kalpakkam Atomic Reprocessing Plant), PREFRE
(Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing) -Tarapur, FRFCF (Fast Rx Fuel Reprocessing Plant) -
PFBR, CORAL (Compact reprocessing facility for advanced Fuel) - FBTR
238. Have you heard about global emission? What is this and how nuclear
energy I useful in this regard?
239. What are the DAE units contributing in front and back end fuel cycle? Front End  AMD (Atomic Minerals devision), UCIL, NFC, ECIL
Back end KARP, PREFRE, FRFCF, CORAL
240. Many of the NPCIL plants are recently brought under IAEA safe Installation of Camera, Spent fuel ϒ-scanner
guards. What are the major activities and pre-requisites for bringing a
plant under safeguard?
241. Configuration control issues are a major concern in many plants? CMMS, Jumpers, CPI
What is the procedure for maintaining configuration control of the
station? Explain.
242. What are the important traits for a good nuclear safety culture? How Traits- safety priority, continuous learning, decision making, effective communication,
do we monitor the existence of good safety culture? questioning attitude, STAR practice, problem identification & solving, accountability.
Monitoring- Regulatory Inspection, WANO review, Corporate review, Audits, Job
observations, LLEs

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243.  What is the efficiency of your units?
 How much is the maximum attainable efficiency for your station?
 Where do we loss the maximum energy?
 If we want to improve the efficiencyof your station, do you offer
any suggestions?
 Considering the efficiency aspects which type of reactors have
higher efficiencies?
244. NPCIL has taken up a huge expansion of the generation capacity, what
are the major initiatives to cope up with this objective?
245. What are deign basis accidents? Explain features available for
mitigating the DBAs? Can there be accidents other than DBAs, give
few examples? How can we address such type of situations?
246. In the latest NPPs, software based systems are used extensively for
plant control and monitoring applications. How to ensure the quality
assurance of software based systems?
247. Describe the terms SPV, LBB, PSA, Critical Crack length and NDTT.
How do we take care for these aspects in your station?
248. The latest designs of NPPs consider passive safety systems? Explain
their merits?
249. 1 Kg of uranium is equivalent to how much COAL?
250. How much CO2 is emitted?.
251. What is the amount of coal burnt in a day 1000MW thermal power
plant?
252. What is the amount of CO2 generated from this coal (What is the
volume of air it will displace? -this question was not asked)
253. Is nuclear energy safe? (I didn't know what the committee wanted me
to answer- Whether they wanted me to answer- Are nuclear reactors
safe? But i compared nuclear energy with coal saying the amount of
arsenic and other metals in flyash generated by coal and global
warming).
254. Were Fukushima authorities/Tepco aware that they were operating
their plant unsafely?
255. In tropical environments like in India, is dew point of -40 deg C
ambient for Instrument Air still relevant? Or are we copying what is
done in America and the west?
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 Plant efficiency approx. 30 %.
 Max attainable efficiency45% = Ideal Rankine efficiency = (Tmax-Tmin)/ Tmax, OK
 Max energy is dumped in condenser.
 Increase condenser vacuum, increase SG pressure, reduce losses of steam.
 Na/Lead cooled water Rx, Very high temp Rx, SWCR, Molten salt Rx
 Building LWRs with foreign collaborations. (after- 123 agreement)
 Uranium supply agreement from outside (Australia, Kazakhistan, France, Russia).
 Capacity addition through Fleet mode of PHWR reactors.
DBAs are the accidental conditions which are analysed and system is designed, measures
are provided to handle the conditions. Maximum credible accidental condition is
considered for the design of Rx & aux.
Other than DBA - LOCA + S/D system failure, BDBA
Through IV-NV (Verification & validation)
SPV – Failure of Plant/system due to single component failure  Backup provisions
LBB – AGMS
PSA – done to design ESF & improve system reliability
CCL – Ductile material selection, AGMS
NDTT – Material selection (SS
3 safety actions of Rx, 3-Cs (control of power, core cooling & containment of activities) are
met without operator action even under accidental condition e.g. Loss of power supply.
1 Kg Uranium = 3000 kg of coal
1 * (44/12) = 3.66 kg CO2
3000Tonnes Coal
Volume of 1 kg CO2 at 27 OC = 559 lit
All the activities have some risk. In NPPs also some risks were observed, understood,
analysed and measures were taken time to time to address them. (e.g. feed back coeff
negative, seismic design, passive systems etc.)
In Thermal Plants- Arsenic & metals release with CO2& ash (global warming).
Hydel – risk of dam break, Solar- toxic waste disposal
One Geological survey committee has predicted the Tsunami wave up to 15 m height &
also recommended to increase Tsunami wall height.
As per American instrument society, instrument air dew point shall be 10 OC below the
closed room ambient temp with ambient temp taken as 2 OC or lower, so in India -10 OC is
ok, another 10 OC margin is taken, hence instrument air dew pt in India in -20 OC.
Yes relevant. Because Instrument air quality requirement will be same everywhere as
materials/metals used in Instrumentation will be same everywhere and their interaction
with IA will be same irrespective of the country.
256. What are the challanges in the Thorium cycle? Re-processing of Thorium oxide (relatively inert), Presence of U-232 (HardƳ-emitter)(Bi, Tl
and Thoron)
257. In which reactor, this problem can be avoided? How? Molten salt reactors (where Protectanium-233 is separated on line), Also lesser problem in
Fast Reactors.
258. Why cannot you breed Thorium directly in the reactor? Why through Because of insufficient neutron. For breeding ղ value should be >2.3. In 2nd stage we use
the 2nd stage? fast Rx where ղ value is>2.3.
259. Increasing power share by fast reactor tech. And thorium utilisation In Fast Rx Power as well as fuel are produced. Produced fuel useful for meeting scarcity
of Uranium and Utilisation of huge reserve of Thorium.
260. What is 3 stage nuclear program of India First stage – Use Uranium & produce Pu 239. 2nd stage - Use and breed more Pu 239 & U233.
3rd stage - Use this U233 to produce more power.
261. How far we can go with PHWR program based on the current Uranium Indian Uranium potential is 10,000 MWe for 40 years. Approx 60,000 T Uranium (3% of
reserves world) is available in India. (Thorium is >3,60,000 T, 25 % of world).
262. What is the THDC diversification NPCIL has got engaged into. NPCIL intends to contribute in other form of clean energy (wind, solar, hydel).
Tehari Hydro development Corporation  MOU for Pumped storage scheme.
263. What is front end and back end fuel cycle Front end Exploration, mining & fuel fabrication, Back end Fuel reprocessing &
waste management.
264. What is frontend fuel cycle? Tell the DAEorganization involved in front Front End  AMD (Atomic Minerals devision), UCIL, NFC
end fuel cycle? Back end KARP, PREFRE, FRFCF, CORAL
265. For 1 MW electricity for how much CO2 emission in NPP? How much in CO2 emission due to Nuclear energy is very less (5 g/Unit compared to 943 g/Unit from
thermal plant? Thermal power plant. From Gas is 300-600 g/Unit. Hydel in min 5 g/Unit).
266. How can you say carbon emission from thermal plant is more. Q-265
267. You have more thorium in your hand. But you don’t have first stage ADSS, Molten salt reactors, AHWRs
reactor, second stage reactor.You should operate the NPP with
thorium at this stage.
What is the option?
What technological research is going on?
268. Your station came under Safeguard , explain “Safeguard “ . What Changes  Camera in SFSB, Fuel storage room, Spent fuel ϒ-scanner
changed after that ? What r d activities / change you did prior to that Activities  Periodic review by IAEA team,

BWR/PWR:

269. Which reactor has higher epithermal flux PWR or PHWR PWR
270. Where will the thermal neutrons be more PHWR
271. which reactor you prefer.? PWR or BWR? Prefer PWR..
BWR  Boiling, flux shape prediction complex, radiation field in TB.
272. Why PWR is very popular.? Why are we not going PWR way.? PWR is very popular as all Feedback coeff are –Ve, added passive features for core
cooling, wide experience, core is always sub-cooled.
We have low U reserve, our plan is self sustaining power generation. Going for 3-stage.
273. What happens if you add heavy water in BWR? Core will become subcritical. Neutrons will get absorbed in epi-thermal range in U-238
before thermalising.
274. What is that reason of keeping U-235 enrichment below 5% in BWR/ More power density, heat removal may become issue. Today, 5% U-235 is the maximum
PWR? level of enrichment for fuel used in normal power reactors. However, especially in relation to
new small reactor designs, there is increasing interest in higher enrichment levels. Urenco USA

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 has applied for a licence to enrich to 5.5% U-235, and Global Nuclear Fuel America, a GE
Hitachi fuel fabricator, has applied to use 8% enriched uranium.
For enrichment levels up to 10%, existing transport casks can be modified. Above 10% the
HALEU requires enhanced physical security and different licensing.
275. Where epithermal flux will be higher – LWR or PHWR ?why ? Higher in LWR  core is compact, N are absorbed in fuel as soon as they thermalise
(otherwise will be lost by absorbtion in H2O)
276. How power in BWR is controlled? Core water flow, Void, cooling water temperature. (B4C rods for S/D purpose)
277. How to design PSS and SSSfor IPWR?
278. What happens if you add heavy water in BWR? Q-273
279. How can you say that your plant is safe? TAPS Recently carried out review of the plant including stations operating performance, safety
analysis, ageing assessment & management and structural integrity studies show that
physical condition of the station is good enough for continual operation for several more
years.
280. Where IGSCC occurred at TAPS? 1st it was observed in EMC steam line weld joint. Then it was observed on recirculation
loop discharge valve bypass piping, cleanup piping and poison system piping.
Recirculation equalizing piping.
281. What was done to avoid above? Affected piping was replaced with 316LN material. Last pass heat sink welding, corrosion
resistance cladding etc.
282. Which components are subjected to max fatigue / cyclic loading? Feed water spargers and nozzles. Cracks were observed in overseas reactor in sparger
and nozzle. Based on this Unit #1 feedwatersparger were replaced however on UT, no
indications were observed on taps feedwater nozzle and hence no nozzles were replaced.
283. Core shroud weld inspection? 100% completed, no any defect observed in TAPS as compared to overseas reactors.
284. How bearings of the pump inside the reactor vessel is being
monitored? High radiation area?
285. Why you channels are square in BWR? Why PHWR’s channel is PHWR – PT is pressurised from inside, circular PT reduces the max stress & reduces PT
circular? thickness. In BWR – square tube (press same on both side) helps in making compact
core, cruciform rods for effective power control which covers all Fuel Assembly.
286. What happens of you add heavy water in BWR? Q-273
287. Difference between fukushima plant and our plant? Fukushima- High Earth Quake zone, low containment volume.
288. Why you are inspecting the vessel weld joints? To ensure healthiness & life extension.
289. TAPS-1&2 is the oldest operating power station in NPCIL, What are the Life management, structural healthiness.
major challenges to you for safely operating the station at rated power Addressing by: Vessel inspection for any crack/ flaw, pipelines/components replacement.
levels? How do you address the same?
290. What is the energy tariff for your station? Do you justify technically
and economically the continued operation of TAPS-1&2?
291. What is the design life of your plant? What are the ageing
management programmes practiced at your station? Which are the
important SSCs determining the life of the plant? How do you ensure
the adequacy of safety margins and life assessment of these SSCs in
your plant?
292. Enhanced RPV inspections are performed at TAPS in recent years, De-rated power operation & chemistry control.
why so? Many foreign RPVs; crack indications were observed but in
TAPS RPVs no such occurrences so far. In your opinion what are the

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 major reasons for the healthy conditions of TAPS RPVs?
293. Do you know the radiological concerns of Antimony? Why so? What
are the specific efforts to reduce the dose due to antimony? Is it
applicable to BWRs?
 Sb124 Hard ϒ-emitter 1.69 MeV (half life – 60 days)  Maintenance concern
 In new plants PCP seals have resin impregnated.
 In KGS-1&2  N2 blanketing adopted during header level control& Hydrazine addition
in PHT to control O2 in PHT.

KK:

294. When KKNPP-1 went critical? Oct-2013, July-2016

295. What were you doing the period of joining and KK-1 criticality? NA
296. What are the problems faced with On Line Boron S (OLBS)? Signal disturbance is observed when Rx power is raised and background 0n1 field
increases in Pump room.
297. What are the improvements required in OLBS of KK-3&4? Providing 0n1 shielding for detector.
298. What are your suggestions for our future LWRs? More enrichment (refuelling time redn), higher capacity, more passive features
299. Can anybody explain off gas management scheme of KKNPP And
PFBR
300. Why do you KK has got a near zero radioactivity discharge Near zero liquid waste discharge philosophy
philosophy? Could you achieve it? What are the problems and
solutions?
301. In a single line, say difference between PWR and PHWR. PWR  H2O cooled & moderated. PHWR D2O cooled & moderated.
302. If you have a PWR and PHWR of same capacity, which will be of larger PHWR will be of larger size. PWR is of compact size due to enrichment. Slowing down
size? Give reasons. length of heavy water is more.
303. Civil: What is the special about Kudankulan IC pre-stressing?
304. Can VVER be used to produce Co-60?  Russians will not allow.
 Normally CPSAR (Control P Safety Absorber rods) are 30-40 % in and flux level is
also low, so we can’t get good quality cobalt activity.
 Cobalt absorption cross section (37 barns) is less compared to Boron carbide (600
barns), loss in S/D capability.
305. What is the channel in VVER? Hexagonal Fuel Assembly
306. Difference between PHWR/P.W.R. PWR  H2O cooled & moderated, compact core, uses enriched Uranium. PHWR D2O
cooled & moderated, uses natural Uranium,
307. RCP’s commissioning – What you do?
308. RCP’s – two speed - why? 750 rpm & 1000 rpm achieved by 2 set of windings used in PCP motor. Both windings fed
from 2 separate CBs. This is to avoid high inrush current after starting the PCP. First
speed is taken to 750 rpm then automatically switches to 1000 rpm through other CB.
309. What problem in RCP & Now…
310. What is the solution for RCP – failure avidly.
311. Problems faced during commissioning design solution for KK-3&4 to
avoid such problem.
312. Why JNB 10.40 in your system?
313. Primary To secondary Leak developed. Unit-2 – fluoride attack one column tubes thinning 92 tubes plugged, (11000 tubes 2%
margin)

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314. Normal action , Alomn, Approach
315. Containment integrity test . Tested at 5.0 kg/cm2. LOCA peak pressure approx. 4.67 kg/cm2.
316. Design basis for test performance of P.W.R. at 0.46 MPa LOCA peak pressure
317. RCP bearing failure – why? Bearing is water cooled.
318. What is the technical word for metal to metal rubbing? Fretting
319. Why such failure? Low frequency, high load, high temp, abrasion due to oxide wear particles
320. What to be slow to avoid? Less friction
321. Shaft seizure and walling. What is the difference?
322. What to be flow for avoiding falling in design?
323. Material hardening. On CPSAR Dy-Titanate is used for bottom 30 cm. CPSAR drop test done for 110 times in hot
condition to achieve magnetic poles work hardening to prevent failure.

In case of ATWS (anticipated transient without scram) when PSS rod failed (Power >15%
for 4 sec of actuation) EBIS & QBIS (emergency and quick boron injection) actuate.
(Bulgaria)
324. Dissimilar Material better on similar material better. Similar metal better (Galvanic corrosion in dissimilar metals)
325. You have option to build Nuclear plant. Which one you choose PWR – Uranium is available, Speedy Generation boost up, all feed back coeff -ve
PHWR/PWR? PHWR – For use of natural uranium, self reliance, For pursuing 3-stage programme,
Utilisation of vast Thorium reserve
326. Limited fuel in your hand which is preferable. PHWR
327. Why are you reporting different MWe (like 1000, 995, 990, 1012 MWe) Auto & manual corrections are done. (Q-328)
daily even though your reactor operates at 100% full power.
328. What are the factors that will change reactor power on its own? Self  Primary delta T, flow, Neutron power  more weightage
correcting or you will correct?  SPNDs, Secondary SG power, Secondary side heaters  less weightage
 Manual correction is also done if ion chamber/SPND reading deviates by 2%.
329. Why are you taking too much days for your 1st time refueling? why rope under goes fatigue failure, when it frequently moves between two pulleys.
fuel machine rope failed?
330. Is there any rope used in PHWR? How did you check the healthiness  KGS-PSS rope. Visual inspection.
of the PSS rope? Then why didn't do such check in KKPP. It means  KKNPP- rope replaced every year before refuelling (After certain operations rope
you are not using your experience. replacement recommendations)  rope under goes fatigue failure.
331. Why AERB is not concerned about PSS rope failure but too much  If PSS falls, it will trip the Rx & have sufficient provision e.g. perforation, bottom spring
concerned about your FM rope failure? plate to take the impact load.
 In crane (rope – drum)  bundle will fall, damage & will cause huge contamination
spread
332. Project cost & electricity cost of KKNPP ?  KKNPP-1&2 17,270 crores (4.29/unit cost)  Rs 8.6 / MWe
 KKNPP-3&4 39,747 crores (Twice of 1&2).  Rs 19.87 / MWe
 KKNPP-3&4 50,000 crores. Rs 25 / MWe
 PHWR-700 MWe 12300 / 17000 croresRs 8.8 /12.1 / MWe
 PHWR-220 MWe 4000 crores Rs 9.1 / MWe

Different Reactors/comparison/new reactors:

Page 15 of 51
333. Different reactor systems power densities n sizes PHWR/BWR/PWR/PFBR  10/40/100/400 KW/litre,
334. What are the fuel life limiting factors in Thermal & Fast reactor Thermal Rx- Fission gas pressure, In Fast Rx- radiation damage
PHWR – av 1 year, PWR-1/3 replaced every 10 month, BWR-1/3 replaced every 18
month, in PFBR – 1/3 replaced every six month.
335. What are advantages of Molten salt breeder reactor. Separation of Pa-233, online fuel feed bleed, more efficiency, More utilisation of fuel
336. What are challenges in MSBR. Beryllium used is Toxic in nature, corrosion, high temperature structural material
337. What are the unique advantages of a molten salt reactor? (Bhardwaj) Breeding, fission products (no issue of xe) & Pa 233 can be removed, can be operated with
low fissile content, more fuel utilisation. Core can be made subcritical by dispersion1
338. How is liquid fuel better than solid fuel in a MSR? (Chairman sir) Online fuel top up & Online fission products removal  Hence Can be operated
continuously with minimum excess reactivity. Bred materials can be separated & further
conversion into long-lived actinides can be avoided.
339. What is the effect of protactinium separation on MSBR cycle? U-232 (Hard Ƴ-emitter) formation is avoided, but may lead to nuclear proliferation.
(Bhardwaj)
340. What are the challanges in the Thorium cycle? (Bi, Tl and Thoron)? In Re-processing of Thorium oxide (relatively inert), Presence of U-232 (Hard Ƴ-emitter),
which reactor, this problem can be avoided? How? Avoided in  Molten salt reactor. Fuel is in dissolved form & Pa233 can be separated.
341. Core compactness in different reactors and how? PFBR  PWR  BWR  PHWR
342. Which reactor is safer? Reactors with negative feedback coefficients like Light water Reactors (PWR/BWR).
343. Civil: What pressure PHWR, KK, BWR are designed for? PHWR-220/700  112.5 (126) kg/cm2, KK-155 (180) kg/cm2, BWR – 70 ( )kg/cm2
344. Civil: what are core temperatures in different reactors? PHWR-220/540/700 293/306/310deg C, KK- 280/320 , BWR- 258/285 , PFBR-400/550
345. Inherent safety of MSR (Molten salt reactor) Power & void coeff of reactivity  -ve, Safe S/D when dispersed, no chance of re-
criticality.
346. What is pebble bed reactor? Fuel of pebble bed reactor? Why SiO2 He cooled-Graphite moderated-pebble (ball) bed high temperature Rx  Enriched
coating? What are other uses of SiO2 in pebble bed reactor other than Uranium Particles coated with Graphite & Silicon Carbide coated balls are used. Silicon
high temperature? coating is to contain the Fission products within the fuel even at high temperature.
347. Typical fuel requirement per MWe for different reactors Fuel consumption  PHWRs 220/540/700  49/100/125 T/yr.
BWR-160/PWR-1000 6 / 25 T/yr
348. Construction cost per MWe installed capacity.  KKNPP-1&2 17,270 crores (4.29/unit cost)  Rs 8.6 / MWe
 KKNPP-3&4 39,747 crores (Twice of 1&2).  Rs 19.87 / MWe
 KKNPP-3&4 50,000 crores. Rs 25 / MWe
 PHWR-700 MWe 12300 / 17000 croresRs 8.8 /12.1 / MWe
 PHWR-220 MWe 4000 crores Rs 9.1 / MWe
349. How would you go around to design a reactor of 2000 MWe.general Type of Rx- Thermal power desired - Rx size, fuel enrichment & stability for power control
philosophy?! at the desired power, various feedback coefficients. Rx regulation / protection requirement.
Operating temperature & pressure, and process fluid used for heat removal from core.
Turbine design, Power evacuation lines
350. PHWR / PWR comparison. PWR  H2O cooled & moderated, compact core, uses enriched Uranium. PHWR D2O
cooled & moderated, uses natural Uranium,
351. PWR / BWR reactor design highlights. What will happen if fuel is In BWR Will operate for longer duration, more void fraction inside core, S/D margin
interchanged. reduced, more complex neutron flux.
In PWR Lesser excess reactivity, frequent fuel replacement requirement.
352. New technologies? W.r.t advance reactors? Why they are required? Na cooled fast Rx, Lead-Bi cooled fast Rx, Molten salt Rx, SWCRx, VHTRx (pebble bed),
Gas cooled fast Rx  They are required for Th utilisation/breeding, Burning
actinides/Uranides, H2 production, Closed fuel cycle & passive feature.

Page 16 of 51
353. Generation IV reactors – supercritical water reactor? Operating above critical temp & pressure > 374 oC & 21 MPa
354. What are the new type of reactors developed India is pursuing AHWR, ADSS, IHTR, CHTR, PFBR
355. What is pebble bed reactor Pebble bed Rx use TRISO fuel cooled by Helium.
356. Tell about liquid fuel ThF-UF (FLiBe - coolant)
357. What is Pebble bed reactor? In Indian context tell its application. Can be used for H2 generation, Power generation

358. Tell some liquid fuel proposed to be used in future reactor. ThF-UF (FLiBe coolant)

359. What is IHTR (innovative high temp Rx) and CHTR (Compact high temp IHTR-(600 MwT)  U233-Th fuelled (TRISO), Pebble bed, BeO/Graphite moderated, lead-
Rx), Tell the safety feature, uses and advantages. Bi or Molten salt cooled, passive cooling.
CHTR (100 KwT)  U233-Th fuelled (TRISO), lead-Bi cooled, passive cooling, BeO
moderated, long core life (15 yrs) – compact power pack for remote areas – Passive
power control by He gas at top
360. What is TRISO fuel? TRIstructuralISOtropic particle fuel. Most robust nuclear fuel on earth (Tough enough to
handle at high temp 1800 OC). Fissile material (e.g. U235) particle  surrounded by
Carbon/Graphite/Si-C/Carbon.
361. What is fusion reactor? How Hydrogen and helium reacts in the fusion In Fusion Rx D-T fusion has more probability (Coloumb barrier low), at high temperature.
2 3 4 1
process 1D + 1T 2He + 0n
362. High temperature reactor. High temp in fusion Rx increases the energy of nucleus & hence probability of fusion.
363. You have invented a nuclei which capable undergoing fission with Keep lesser enrichment, increase neutron absorbers (burnable poison), use Thorium &
realse of 500 MeV energy and 5-6 neutron/ fission. breed.
how will you design your reactor. And what way it will be different (After many answer, finally he got convinced for "the new reactor will be very small and
from your KKNPP reactor? compact because of high energy intensity)
364. Different reactor stack release is given to you. How will you identify PHWR – more Tritium release
the type of reactor based on stack release? (cross question - why are Old PHWR - Tritium + Ar41
you expecting more argon release) PFBR – Fission gases + Ar41 release more
PWR/BWR – Fission gases will release (no Tritium or Ar41 release)
365. What type of fuel used in gas cooled reactor? explain its diffrent TRISO (Pebble bed), Si-C – acts as FG barrier, C-as moderator & protection from
layers and its purpose ? surroundings.

Research reactors/BARC:

366. Is there 1.6 km exclusion zone for research reactor No, it can be less, depending upon source term.
367. Diff between test reactor n research reactors Research Rxs are for study of physics aspects like neutron, fuel, flux, coefficients of
reactivities. Test Rxs are for checking the integrated physics + process performance.
368. Please read something thing about lanthanides and about APSARA Lanthanides are heavy nuclides after Lanthanum in Periodic Table.
reactor.
369. What are the seeds produced by BARC for societal applications? What Variety of Moong, Ground nuts, rice, pulses etc.
are their names?
370. What are the medical instruments developed by BARC? Bhabhatron, medical cyclotron
371. What you know about Bhabhatron? What is PET scan? Bhabhatron used for cancer therapy (Uses Co60). PET is positron emission Tomography.
372. What is Bhabhatron? And energy Co60 in Bhabhatron? Co60 energy 1.17 &1.3 MeV (Half life 5.2 years)

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373. What is radiation sources used in them? Co60
374. What is gamma energy emitted by cobalt-60? What happens when Co60 energy 1.17 &1.3 MeV (Half life 5.2 years)
gamma radiation energy passes through matter? Ƴ- interaction with matters  Photo-electric Effect, Compton effect, Pair Production
375. How the energy decreases? Energy decreases by interaction with matters.
376. What about charged particles when they passes through the matter? Charged particles produce ionisation in the matter.
377. What are the other societal applications developed by BARC? Cancer treatment, Medical sterilisation, Food grain irradiation, Seed mutation, municipal
waste treatment, water filter, Bhabha Kavach (pressed Boron carbide & carbon
nanotechnology), under ground water mapping
378. Have heard about bio-waste management technology developed by Municipal waste treatment in Ahmadabad (Pilot project)
BARC?
379. Where it is installed? Ahmadabad
380. Civil: What is BARC technology for tracing underground water current It is based heavy water, heavy water tracing
movement?
381. Civil: What is the BARC technology for dredging industry? Dredge
382. Do you know about kamini reactor? KAlpakkam MINI reactor  30 KW, Used U233 fuel, Light water cooled & moderated,
(Apsara-U  2 MWt)
383. What is the fuel in which form in Kamini? What is the control rod U233 metal fuel, Boron carbide B4C
material?
384. Budget of DAE/NPCIL/BARC? DAE  16925 /18228 crores, NPCIL  3000 / 3737 crores, BARC  2699/2805 crores
for year 2019-2020 / 2020-2021
Profit-3700 (before tax)/ 2700 crores
385. Civil: Do you know about BARCCOM facility at BARC Tarapur? BARC Containment Model
386. At what pressure containment failed? How you know about failure? Containment pressure rundown
Strain gauges
387. Civil: what are the major difference in Research Reactor and power RR for study of physics aspects like neutron, fuel, flux, coefficients of reactivities.,
reactor? Power Rx  Full fledge power generation
388. Civil: what fuel, coolant is used in PHWR and dhruva? PHWR Natural U & Heavy water.
APSARA Oldest, enriched U, swimming pool type, light water, safety upgradation in
2018 (2 MWt, Uranium silicide fuel), used for medical isotope production.
CIRUS (Canada India Reactor Utility Services) 40 MWt, Natural U, D2O moderated &
cooled, Tank type
DHRUVA 100 MWt, Natural U, D2O moderated & cooled, pool type, (Produces 16-26 kg
Pu / yr), Dhruva was upgraded version of CIRUS.
KAMINI  30 KW, Used U233 fuel, Light water cooled & moderated
PURNIMA-1 1 W, Pu239 fuel, fast neutron Rx, pulse rx, (upgraded to Purnima-2)
PURNIMA-2  10 W, U233, (upgraded to Purnima-3)
PURNIMA-3 1 W, U233, light water cooled & moderated (It was mock up for KAMINI)
ZERLINA 100 Wt (Zero power), D2O moderated & cooled, Tank type,
Critical facility for AHWR study at BARC
389. What are the seeds produced by BARC for societal application? What Variety of Moong, Ground nuts, rice, pulses etc.
are their names?
390. What are the medical instruments developed by BARC? Bhabhatron
391. What does you know about BHABHATRON? Bhabhatron used for cancer treatment (Uses Co60).

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392. What is PET scan? What is radiation source used in them? PET is positron emission Tomography. F18 – 110 min - (Fluorodeoxyglucose)  7.60 mSv,
Ga68– 67 min, Zr89– 78 hrs, Cu64-12.7 hrs,
393. What are the other societal applications developed by BARC? Cancer treatment, Medical sterilisation, Food grain irradiation, Seed mutation, municipal
waste treatment, water filter, Bhabha Kavach (pressed Boron carbide & carbon
nanotechnology), under ground water mapping
394. Have you heard about bio-waste management technology developed Municipal waste treatment in Ahmadabad (Pilot project)
by BARC? Where is this installed?
395. What are the seeds produced by BARC for social applicable?What are Variety of Moong, Ground nuts, rice, pulses etc.
their names?
396. What are the medical instruments developed by BARC? Bhabhatron
397. What you know about Bhabhatron? Bhabhatron used for cancer treatment (Uses Co60).
398. What is radiation source used in them? Co60
399. Contribution for societal benefits in healthcare, Agri, isotope prod. Cancer treatment, Medical sterilisation, Food grain irradiation, Seed mutation, municipal
Etc. waste treatment, water filter, Bhabha Kavach (pressed Boron carbide & carbon
nanotechnology),
400. To collaborate with institutions MOU to develop technologies and
transfer to industry.
401. Contribute to national security Power security (thru NPPs), Medical security (cancer treatment), Food security (grain
preservation & seed mutation), Technological security (developing advanced technology
e.g. accelerator), Strategic weapons (nuclear weapon), Bhabha Kavach (pressed Boron
carbide & carbon nanotechnology)
402. Difference between spectroscopy and spectrometry. Alpha gamma Spectroscopy refers to the study of how radiated energy and matter
beta neutron... interact. The energy is absorbed by the matter, creating an excited state.
When the matter is a metal, it is easy to see the interaction of energy and
matter because the metal will produce visible evidence, usually as sparks.
The interaction creates some form of electromagnetic waves (EM), often in
the form of visible light, such as sparks.
Spectrometry is the application of spectroscopy.
403. How do we qualify the materials for use in critical applications We qualify the materials for use by studying them in Research Reactors.
404. How is it possible there but not in our power reactors. Research reactors are low flux & having the flexibility to use & study different materials.
First theoretical property & interaction in applied environment is studied, then exposed.
405. Why we use uranium oxide in our plants when research reactors are Research reactors are having less harsh environment, low power, low flux, low
using uranium metal temperature. Huge margin from melting point & low heat source, huge coolant at less
temp. UO2 is having huge experience.
406. How many Reactors in BARC company? What are their purpose? Q-387
Where are the test reactors outside this company, you are knowing? FBTR (at IGCAR)

Fuel
407. Can u let me know typically how many fuel bundles are produced
presently of 19-pins and 37-pins and BWR fuel assemblies in terms of
number of bundles or tonnage.

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408. Are bearing/ spacer pad sizes different for 19-pin and 37-pin bundles.
409. SEU bundles and Thoria bundles irradiated in PHWRs were produced
at NFC? How many? Any deviation in manufacturing from NU bundle?
410. How much pellet production is from indigenous source and how much As of now approx 50-50%
from imported source. Fraction or weight??
411. Were thoria bundles irradiated in PHWR produced at NFC? How  Thoria bundles used in PHWR for flux flattening at KGS-1&2 (approx 50), RAPS-2 &
many? Any deviation in manufacturing from NU bundle? RAPS-3&4.
 Sintering of Thoria bundles at 2000 OC & Uranium Bundles 1700 OC
412. How pellet compositions are verified or checked during QC.... Gamma scanning
413. How do u receive imported pellets?
414. How to take care of packing etc to avoid criticality or damage. Bundles packed in thermacoal boxes  14 bundles of NU in one wooden box (7 bundles
SEU)  9 wooden boxes in each container
415. Provision of shielding.
416. Has the number of fuel bundles crossed 8 lakhs Or 9 lakhs? >10 lacks
417. How much time it would take for one fuel bundle manufacturing from
raw material to QC approved ready for despatch bundle.
418. What's difference between sintering parameters for thoria based fuel Sintering of Thoria bundles at 2000 OC & Uranium Bundles 1700 OC
pellets and urania based fuel pellets
419. What is time required for making ready one core for a PHWR unit core.
420. why spacer design is so critical n tricky Should not interlock, skewed angle important
421. What's PHWR fuel burn up? How you increase it to beyond 20gwd/t? Average 7000 MWd (5500-10000 MWd), Maximum achieved was 20000 MWd/Te (KAPS),
Ultimate Burnup is 37500 MWd/Te. We can increase burnup by increasing the enrichment.
422. What provisions to do to accommodate higher FGR Dished pellet, gas plenum, central hole
423. How to avoid densification in fuel. Densification is avoided by maintaining the porosity in Pellet, by controlling the granules
size.
424. What is stable porosity in fuel pellet. How do we achieve it? 3-9 microns, by controlling the granules size.
425. What are the advantages and disadvantages of plate type fuel element Adv- high heat tr rate, low fuel centre line temp
over the cylindrical one? Dis adv- fabrication difficult, fuel failure probability high
426. Total initial fuel inventory n reload requirements?!  Total Initial inventory in Core  PHWR 220- 49 T, / PHWR 540/700- 93 T, BWR- 40
T PWR 80 T.
 Reload requirement  PHWR 220- 45 T/year, / PHWR 540/700- 100/125 T/year,
BWR- 6 T/year, PWR 25 T/year
427. What are the examinations carried out on PHWR fuel bundles. What if End cap & end plate UT test, visual inspection, He leak check, Kinked tube (go-no-go test)
kink gauge is not available but would want to test it.
428. How to differentiate NU bundle, LEU and SEU bundle without seeing By gamma scanning (Gamma spectroscopy) of the bundle, energy of gamma (185 KeV)
the name plate? will indicate U-235 & area under it indicate % content.
429. How the thorium bundle different from UO2 bundle? Weight, dose, Name Plate (T)
430. How do we analyse content in fuel- U233, U235, Pu239, Th232, U238 Mass spectroscopy, gamma spectrography
431. How do we get information about different isotopes in a material? Mass spectroscopy, gamma spectrography
432. How do we measure U232 in U233? gamma spectrography
433. What is CERMET fuel? Advantages and disadvantages ? How is it Ceramic + metal (U-UO2) fuel. Has property of both ceramic + metal fuel.
made? MP between ceramic & metal, high fissile density, high thermal expansion, presence of

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 porosities, high thermal conductivity
434. What is typical specific power for different reactor fuels? PHWR- 10 kW/L, BWR- 40 kW/L, PWR- 60 kW/L, PFBR- 400 kW/kg,
435. What is decay heat for different reactor fuels per kg ? 6% during operation. After S/D approx 1-2 % of FP
436. What is decay heat for different fuels per assembly ? PHWR For 220 MWe - approx 2-4 kW/bundle (1-2% decay heat), for 700MWe  4-9
KW/bundle, VVER- 180-360 kW/FA
437. Why geometric shape is cylindrical fuel rods Manufacturing ease, dimensional stability while irradiation,
438. what factors decide the fuel configuration like square or hex etc Compactness of core
439. why spacer design is so critical n tricky
440. What's PHWR fuel burn up Average 7000 MWd (5500-10000 MWd), Maximum achieved was 20000 MWd/Te (KAPS),
Ultimate Burnup is 35700 MWd/Te.
441. How will you increase it to beyond 20gwd/t We can increase burnup by increasing the enrichment.
442. What provisions to do to accommodate higher FGR Dished pellet, gas plenum, central hole
443. How to avoid densification in fuel.
444. What are the factors influence fuel fabrication?
445. What are different types of nuclear fuels? Where they are used?
446. How PIE is done on PHWR/BWR fuel ?what information we get? Mechanical properties of clad (brittleness, fracture toughness, ductility, creep, hydride pick
up etc), pellet properties (burn up, fission products etc), FG content
447. What is dispersion fuel? Tell one advantage and one disadvantage? A nuclear fuel comprising: a dispersion-ceramic micro-encapsulated fuel comprising a
plurality of tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles embedded in a silicon carbide
matrix. Used in Very high temp or Pebble bed Reactor.
448. Defects in pellet fabricated by PM route? (Powder metallurgy) Dents, cracks, imperfections, material defect
449. Methods of enrichment? Centrifuge, membrane separation (gas diffusion), Laser separation,
450. Defense in depth for fuel? Pellet & Clad
451. What is the size of pellets in fuel assemblies PHWR? Why not longer 1.2 - 1.4 cm dia & 1.4 - 1.6 cm long. (Longer will have density difference and the shorter
or shorter? will be costlier. So optimized L/D ratio is 1 to 1.2. Long pellets will have long hour glassing)
452. Civil: what is burn up of fuel in DHRUVA, PHWR and BWR? DHRUVA-1000 MWd/Te, PHWR-7000 MWd/Te, BWR-22000 MWd/Te
453. Is this possible to make single bundle critical in isolation? No
454. If I put thorium and plutonium as MOX in PHWR (I don’t want to go for In Thermal Rx ղ value for Pu is 2.11, hence it will be just like U 235 element. Hence only
PFBR) what will happen. Why we were not doing? conversion is possible, no breeding can take place.
455. Why UO2 is used as fuel?  The main advantages in the use of uranium dioxide are its high melting point,
dimensional and radiation stability and its chemical compatibility with other reactor
components, good expertise in fuel fabrication & reprocessing..
 The main disadvantages are its low thermal conductivity and low fuel density which
leads to high centreline temperatures and large volume of core.
456. How did you reduced fuel failure? The improvement in fuel rod design features like
1) dished end pellets,
2) improved pellet clad gap,
3) short and chamfered pellets ,
4) Pre pressurization of fuel elements during fabrication ,
5) fully annealed thick wall fuel sheath ,
6) pre-condition interim operating management recommendations (PCIOMR) ,
7) better understating of power ramp phenomenon ,
8) risk of pellet clad induction (PCI) ,

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 9) best operating practices have virtually eliminated fuel failure.
457. Dia and ht of the pellet ? 1.25 cm Dia-1.2 – 1.4 cm & height-1.4 – 1.6 cm

458. Why zirconium is selected? High thermal conductivity, low neutron absorption cross-sections, good multiaxial rupture
strength, good creep strength and ductility.
459. What is difference between Zr2 and Zr4? Zircaloy-4 is similar to Zircaloy-2, but without the addition of nickel.

460. Why pin is pressurized by helium? The rod is internally pressurized by He to minimize the differential pressure experienced
across the clad during operation. And to accommodate Fission gas.
461. Why gap is provided between the pallet and clad? An initial (unirradiated) gap is designed between the fuel and the clad wall to
accommodate swelling of the fuel due to the build-up of fission products and differential
thermal expansion between the fuels and clad.
462. What is dished gadolinia rod? Gadolinium mixed Fuel rod

463. For how many years a bundle stays in reactor? PHWR  1 yrs, PWR  3 yrs

464. Why decay heat is there? Because of radioactive fission products decay.
465. Decay heat % thermal power 6% Immediate  6%, after 2 minutes  1-2%
466. How much is uranium is required for TAPS-3&4? 100 T/yr
467. What component after fission goes from gas to solid.. And Neutron,
Radon (gas) to polonium (solid)
Kr (gas) to Rb (liquid)
468. What component after fission goes from solid to gas.. Kr, Xe
469. Do we haveU percentage more than .7 in nature. no
470. Different type of fuels. What are the advantages and disadvantages?
471. How much urainium in spent fuel…. 0.2% U235,
How much Plutonium in spent fuel… 0.3% Pu239
Total uranium at beiging… 0.72% U235 at beginning
472. Per day Uranium -235 consumption. After full cycle Approx 800 gm/day in 220 MWe PHWR. (1 gm = 1 MWt/day = 3 T coal)
473. What is the concentration of U235 in fuel, is it same every where Fresh fuel  0.72% V/V. In core it varies at different locations depending on burnup.
474. Can we store spent fuel in air. Why they are stored under water Initially decay heat is more hence stored in water. After 3-4 years of cooling in water,
decay is very low and bundle can be kept in air.
475. Where from you r getting Fuels right now ?(K& R series ….. IAEA recording 24X7 camera footage, they have quarterly review and check random
Kazakisthan, Russia). IAEA recording 24X7 camera footage, r they recording. Cameras are provided with Class-II Power supply (battery backup of min 30
watching sitting there ? min).

Coolant Channel/BARCIS
476. Can someone explain nodular corrosion in brief? KAPP used AGMS CO2 containing 600-1500 ppm ethane, which decomposed into
complex acidic (Formic acid) & alkaline compounds in presence of O 2 under irradiation.
Acid damaged the protective Oxide layer and H2 picked up in PT material on OD.

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477. Is the KAPP-1 incident forcing us to think of going for Zr-2, which is Not required.
more resistant to this kind, than Zr-Nb material.
478. Why Is it specific to KAPP and not to any other 220s? KAPP used AGMS CO2 produced from Neptha Plant and it contained 600-1500 ppm
ethene
479. Does the LBB criterion become invalid due to nodular corrosion. Yes, as nodules propagate from out side to inside with a blunt nosed edge.
480. What are inspection tools for PT/CT /Channel in PHWR BARCIS, sliver sampling, TIGER, dry inspection tool, NPCIL manipulator, SAG
measurement tool, Creem measurement tool (TMAC/UMAC/Optical)
481. How will you detect leak is from coolant or from moderator? By Tritium analysis & AGMS DAC
482. Inspection tools for PHWR - BARCIS, scraping tool, CHAS etc. --
483. What is the mechanism which requires PT replacement in PHWR/Ahwr Thinning, creep, hydride pickup, sag, corrosion  Laser cutting tools are used
484. What happened in Kakrapara?What was the first observation at site? Pump room DAC rise, AGMS dew point, Beetle
(Beatles)
485. If NPCIL decides to increase the thickness of Pressure tube, what is Not required. If we maintain the stringent CO2 chemistry, current PT thickness is sufficient.
your opinion on the same? If we increase PT thickness and do not maintain chemistry, failure can’t be avoided.
Moreover increasing PT thickness will lead to burnup penalty.
486. What are the problem with Zircalloy in reactor? Hydride pickup & creep,
487. What are the reasons of failures of the pressure tube? KAPP used AGMS CO2 containing 600-1500 ppm ethane, which decomposed into
complex acidic (Formic acid) & alkaline compounds in presence of O 2 under irradiation.
Acid damaged the protective Oxide layer and H2 picked up in PT material on OD.
488. What happened in Kakrapara? Nodular corrosion led to PT failure.
489. Recently KAPS was in news? What may be the probable reasons for For PT leak leading to LOCA.
PT leakage? Q-486
490. Material for PT? Zr-2.5%Nb
491. What is hydrogen pick up? Zr reacts with H2 and forms Zirconium Hydride, which has a tendency to move from High
temp to low temp side, low stress to high stress side and precipitates when TSS limit
crossed.
492. Where does hydrogen come from in PHT? Radiolysis of D2O under irradiation.
493. Why Zr-2.5 Nb is used for PT in PHWR? PT, Low hydride pickup rate, less creep rate, better mechanical strength. (But high crack
propagation velocity & less corrosion resistant under O2 ambience)
494. Recently BARCIS was in news. Why?
495. What are the composition material for Zircalloy-2, 4, 2.5% neobium? Zircolloy-2  Sn, Fe, Cr, Ni
496. What is the composition material for Garter spring Zr-2.5% Nb & 0.5 % Cu
497. What is creep Permanent deformation of material under Pressure, temperature  aggravated under
irradiation
498. Why Zirconium hydriding not happens in Bundle Zr-4 is used, less hydride pickup. It happens but bundle residence time is very less
compared to PT hence not a concern.
499. When do you replace your channel? Frequency of replacement? Why When wet quarantined or removed channels are such that we can not operate Rx above
it lasts for 6 last years where as for PHWR it is more years? break even point, we have to go for EMCCR.
Frequency  approx 18-20 yrs
500. What are the other societal applications developed by BARC? Where it Bhabhatron, seed mutation facility, food preservation facility, Municipal sewage treatment
is installed? facility, Agriculture fertiliser requirement analysis by plants
501. Have you heard about the bio-waste management technology Yes , sudge hygenisation facility, it is installed in Ahmedabad.
developed by BARC? Where it is installed?

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502. What happened in Kakrapara?
503. At KAPS event what was the issue related to cooling water to ECCS
system
504. What is class of ECCS and PW supplied to ECCS
505. What can be the possible cause of KAPS event
506. What about nodular corrosion
507. Is the AGMS system a failure
508. What are the other alternatives and modifications in AGMS
509. What are the important parameters to be observed in view of KAPS
event
510. Tell first incident of water leak detected in AGMS in Indian
reactor.What was the source and mechanism used to identify the leak.
Do you believe in Leak before break Concept?
Then why such thing did not happen in Kakrapar?
How do you say the "Leak before break Concept" worked in Kakrapar?
I explained kaiga AGMS and I told the high reliability of the system.
Any leak from AGMS found out so far and rectified?(I fortunately
remembered on leak and identification incident from Kaiga)
Then why the same system did not indicate the leak? What are
difference between kaiga and Kakrapar AGMS system?
Design general/Reactor safety/seismic/Reactor life/decommissioning/materials:
511. What r difference between Design criteria, Safety criteria, operating
criteria and failure criteria
512. what are the siting requirement for reactor
513. why to design for beyond Design basis earthquakes
514. Which part of India we will not prefer to construct a reactor?
515. what is the issue in constructing a reactor in Bangladesh
516. Why u need two design basis for seismic?
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3335-MV-148 & 149 opened and ECCS HX downstream NRV passed, led to
pressurisation of ECCS loop & failure of gasket in ECCS HX circuit.
Nodular corrosion
Q-486
No, it required some improvement.
Use of ultra pure CO2 cylinders, sampling of all cylinders, Dew point rise rate, low dew set
at -20 OC, controlled purging time limited to 5 hrs. KAPS made recirculation mode.
sampling of all cylinders, AGMS dew PT, DP rise rate
(KGS-3&4).
KGS-3&4 leak identified thru AGMS, 1H3 sampling, boroscopic camera used
Yes.
Due to nodular corrosion.
Dew point has give indication in KAPS-1.
Kakrapara was once-through system.
We define the operating limit of the system  define the barriers to protect  Define the
design parameters to protect those barriers  define safety limit/criteria so that design
limit is not crossed  Define LSSS (tech spec) so that safety limits are not crossed 
define the operating trajectory
1. Availability of electricity, land, water, road (connectivity)
2. At least 5 km away from town (20000 population)
3. At least 30 km away major city town (>100000 population)
4. At least 30 km away from air force base / major military installation
5. At least 30 km away from airport / big railway station
6. At least 300 km away from major seismic fault line
7. Studied for flood / Tsunami level
To ensure safety of Rx. To ensure fundamental safety requirements (CCC) are met, to
protect the public.
North east, Himalayan belt, Kutch (Gujarat) (as it is seismic zone-5). NAPS – Zone-4
Seismic zone-5 (North east India) is very near. Grid is small size (approx 18000 MWe),
expertise (lack of experience).
OBE is to trip the rx as some of the equipments/buildings required for plant operation may
fail. SSE is to ensure fundamental safety requirements (CCC) are met, to protect the
public.
517. What are the inspection procedures followed after an earthquake? Field walk down to ensure healthiness of buildings, no failure in equipments/pipelines, no
fire, no casualty, radiation field in and around the facility is normal & initiate action in case
of requirement.
518. What is HCLPF? High-Confidence-of-Low-Probability-of-Failure (>95 % confidence that the probability of
failure is less than <5 %).
519. kalpakkam in which seismic zone? Kalpakkam is in Zone-2 (max 5 rechtor Scale earthquake)
Rawatbhata, Kalpakkam & Kudankulam  in seismic zone II.
Tarapur, Kakrapar & Kaiga  in seismic zone III.
GHAVP  in seismic zone III.
Narora  in seismic zone IV
520. Why the zone changed from zone 2 to zone 3? Strong tremors have been felt in the city during Pondicherry earthquake of Magnitude, Mw
5.5 on 25th September 2001 centered 100 km from Chennai and Sumatra Earthquake of
Magnitude, Mw 9.1 on 26th December 2004. Hence upgraded from Zone II to Zone III.
521. What is the importance of seismic design in reactor? To ensure safety of Rx. To ensure fundamental safety requirements (CCC) are met, to
protect the public.
522. How you will detect an earthquake? Seismic sensors are used. Seismograph, Tri-axial seismic switches are used. (Optical
fiber cable – is evolving technique).
523. Whats difference between earthquake wave and an explosion wave? Earth quake  weak P-wave followed by strong S-wave.
Explosion  P-wave & S-wave of same magnitude (strong)
524. What are the seismic sensors and their working principal? Seismograph  Mechanical fixed rolling paper & pen connected to hanging mass) &
electronic seismograph (Fixed coil & resilient inertial hanging magnet  electromagnetic
current in coil)
Tri-axial seismic switches  electronic seismograph (3 no of fixed coil in 3 dimensions &
resilient inertial hanging magnet.
(Optical fiber cable – is evolving technique).
525. Which country seismically vulnerable but having many reactors? Japan (Zones-1, 2,3, 4, 5, 5+, 6-, 6, 7)
526. Which earthquake recently effected Japan before Fukushima.
527. What are the lesson learned from this? Lesson learned were incorporated, e.g. Long term power arrangement, cooling water
source, core cooling external arrangements, parameter monitoring etc.
528. How you qualify piping system for an earthquake and what is the
failure mechanism.
529. Tell us about DBA for your facilities. LOCA + ECCS Failure (Moderator available as heat sink)
530. What are internal and external events. Internal events are caused by failure of plant systems/equipments/power supply/fire etc.
External events are the events which affect the plant operation e.g. earthquake, flood,
missile , cyclone etc.
531. Tell about internal events considered for your system Failure of Plant systems/piping/equipments/power supply/fire
532. How you decide DBFL level. Minimum 20 years monitored history of rainfall/tide/tsunami & max available experienced
rainfall/tide/tsunami
533. What is Tsunami level in Kalpakkam Max Tsunami Height 4.0 m (design Tsunami wall 5.5 m, with 1.5 m margin)
534. How you design your system for seismic events. Structure, supports, pipes, hangers, snubbers designed to withstand SSE.
535. What is EQ L-1 & 2 EQ L-1  126 OC , 0.85 +10% kg/cm2, 0.44 MRad, EQ L-2  60 OC , 0.7 +10% kg/cm2,
0.21 MRad
536. What EQL, you have designed your facility EQ L-1, EQ L-2, EQ-M1, EQ-M2

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537. Most of the reactors have a design life of 40 yrs but now it is 100yrs Most of the components are replaceable type. Most of the Systems designed passive.
why ?how is it achieved. Pressure vessel design thickness increased.
538. Life limiting component of a nuclear reactor? Pressure vessel, non-replaceable components, civil structure
539. Is there any difference between a permanently shut down reactor and  Permanently S/D Rx are still radiologically controlled
a decommissioned reactor ?  Decommissioned Rx is freed for public movement
540. What are the various barriers to release of radioactivity to the Pellet  clad  PHT  Containment  exclusion zone
environment? (Chairman sir)
541. Civil: What are the design requirement for reactor building? Leak tight for peak accidental pressure, seismic qualified, supporting plant equipments &
piping, designed for peak pressure of MSLB/LOCA.
542. Are you following any QAP for the fabrication of the works? (Quality Yes
assurance programme).
543. Which code are you using for design of the vessels? ASME (For dimension, tolerance & material to be used) (American Society for Mechanical
Engineers)
544. Why are you not using ASTM for design of the vessels? American standard for testing material  For quality of material
545. What is the difference in alloys and mixtures? Give practical Alloy is melted & uniformly mixed.
examples. Mixture is solid is powdered & mixed
546. What is cold welding? Cold welding or contact welding or vacuum welding is a solid-state welding process in
which joining takes place without fusion/heating at the interface of the two parts to be
welded. It was then discovered that two clean, flat surfaces of similar metal would strongly
adhere if brought into contact under vacuum.
547. For what pressure the reactor containment is designed? Standard PHWR  1.73, PHWR (700)  1.44, VVER  4.67, PFBR  0.25 kg/cm2.
548. Why you want to depressurize the reactor containment? In case of To ensure containment integrity.
accident?
549. How can you depressurize the reactor containment? Initially by loosing heat in structures & components, then by RB coolers, then by PCCD,
HCVS (Hard containment venting system containing NaOH & Na-Thiosulphate)
550. What reactivity can leak from the reactor in case of pressurization? Fission products like Xe, Kr, Iodine, Caesium, Tritium etc
551. How do you prevent I-131 release? By entrapping Iodine in suppression pool water (Cs-Iodide form at high PH), by using
PCFPB system(PCC), By using charcoal filter in PCCD/PC Exhaust line.
552. How do you prevent Tritium release? By using Vapour Recovery Dryers, vault/ Pump Room Coolers & entrapping Tritium in
suppression pool water
553. Why do we need to take care of stainless steel material? To avoid corrosion (SCC) & creep / swelling due to irradiation
554. Which is Tsunami prone and which is earthquake prone site? MAPS  Tsunami prone & NAPS is earthquake prone
555. What is the SSE and OBE setting for NAPS and KGS KGS  OBE-0.1g & SSE-0.2 g.
NAPS  OBE-0.1 g SSE-0.3g,
RR site – OBE-0.05 g SSE -0.1 g
556. On what basis you are declaring station as seismic prone? Seismic zone is declared based on seismic map issued by GOI (seismic records, tectonic
plate). Seismic prone means lying in Zone-4 area & occurrence of seismic is frequent.
557. Which code are you using for design of the vessels? ASME (For dimension, tolerance & material to be used)
558. Why are you not using ASTM for design of the vessels? American standard for testing material  For quality of material
559. What is the difference in alloys and mixtures? Give practical Alloy is melted & uniformly mixed.
examples. Mixture is solid is powdered & mixed
560. What is cold welding? Cold welding or contact welding or vacuum welding is a solid-state welding process in
which joining takes place without fusion/heating at the interface of the two parts to be

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 welded. When two clean (oxide less), flat surfaces of similar metal would strongly adhere if
brought into contact under vacuum or pressed.
561. For what pressure the reactor containment is designed? Standard PHWR  1.73, PHWR (700)  1.44, VVER 5.0, PFBR  0.25 kg/cm2.
562. Why you want to depressurize the reactor containment? To ensure containment integrity, so that ground releases can be maintained less.
563. How can you depressurize the reactor containment? Initially by suppression pool, loosing heat in structures & components, then by RB coolers,
then by PCCD, HCVS (Hard containment venting system containing NaOH & Na-
Thiosulphate) CFVS
564. What reactivity can leak from the reactor in case of pressurization? Fission products like Xe, Kr, Iodine, Tritium etc
565. For any component or process u work. Tell what are design criteria, LSSS provided to ensure  safety limits are not crossed
safety criteria and failure criteria... Implications of violating these Safety limits provided to ensure  design limits are not crossed
criteria..?! Design limits, if crossed  system may fail (>10% design limit)

Radiation/shielding/Radioisotopes use

566. Which kind of radiation cannot be completely stopped in reactor? spontaneous Neutrons, gamma, (Neutrons can be stopped after complete de-fuelling)
567. Which kind of radiation cannot be stopped at all in the reactor...? Neutrinos & anti-neutrinos
568. What are different approaches for radiological zoning? Which is best? 3-zone philosophy (700 MWe) & 4-zone philosophy, 3-zone philosophy is better as it
reduces inter zonal monitors, lesser waste generation, better utilisation of space/resources
569. what is dpa and NDTT? Importance? Displace per atom & Nil-ductility temperature. Both phenomenon make the metal brittle.
570. Radiation causes cancer and also radiation cures cancer? do you Yes, radiation over-exposure in uncontrolled manner, kills body cell & leads to cancer.
agree ? Radiation exposure in controlled manner, kills active cancerous cells.
571. Interactions of alpha, beta, gamma and neutrons with matter? Why  α  Electromagnetic interaction, cause direct ionisation in medium.
neutrons cause changes in material properties?  β Beta particles interact with the material viacoulombic interactionwith the electron
cloud of the material atoms. They also undergonuclear-electron elastic
interactionwhich provides zig zag movement to the electrons inside the material. They
also lose energy in form ofBremstralung radiationand Cerenkov radiation.
 ϒ&0N1 deposit their energy in particles & cause secondary ionisation.
 0N1 causes change in material property as normally after neutron absorption nucleus
under goes radioactive decay  with change in nuclear property.
572. Which will have less effect on mechanical properties due to radiation? BCC because it is more closely packed. It is well-known that ferritic and
FCC or BCC and why? ferritic/martensitic (BCC) steels develop much less swelling than austenitic (FCC) steels
during neutron or charged particle irradiation. Cold-work reduces swelling.
573. Threshold energy for material damage by neutron The threshold displacement energy is the minimum kinetic energy that an atom in
a solid needs to be permanently displaced from its lattice site to a defect position. It is
also known as "displacement threshold energy" or just "displacement energy". Threshold
displacement energies in typical solids are of the order of 10 - 50 eV.
574. Can we expect presence of Polonium in lungs of the common person ……………..the lung tissues of smokers who have died of lung cancer have absorbed
who is non radiation worker? about 80-100 rads of radiation. Some tobacco plants are grown using fertilisers that
contain a mineral called apatite. Apatite contains a radioactive element called radium,
which can eventually decay into polonium-210.Radioactive materials, like polonium-
210 and lead-210 are found naturally in the soil and air. They are also found in the high-
phosphate fertilizers that farmers use on their crops. Polonium-210 and lead-210 get into

Page 27 of 51
 and onto tobacco leaves and remain there even after the tobacco has been processed.
575. Interactions of neutron with metals? Q-570
576. Effect of alpha, beta and gamma radiations Q-570
577. Half-life of Pu isotopes Pu239 24100 years, Pu241 14 years
578. Behavior of the electronic components in radioactive environment? In high-radiation environments, such as near nuclear reactors or in outer space, the high-energy
particles can have a substantial impact upon the functionality of our electronics. Once the
radiation damage reaches a certain level, the components will no longer function as designed. The
process of protecting against these impacts is called radiation hardening (using radiation resistant
insulators e.g. silicon insulator).
579. What if the problem on cobalt-60 in reactor? Co60 comes from ARs ball screw mechanism (Stellite-60%Co). Poses problem during
maintenance. Now SS balls used.
580. What is the problem with older Kakrapara and Narora reactor w.r.t.
Cobalt 60?
581. What is problem with Monel? Monel to Co-60? Corrossive compared to Fe. Monel is a group of nickel alloys, primarily composed of nickel
(from 52 to 67%) and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon.
582. Civil: What concrete shielding is provided for Neutron shielding and Heavy concrete (mixed with Fe, Ca, Mn etc ores/minerals)
Gamma shielding?
583. Mechanism of irradiation damage? dpa, transmutation, change in mechanical property, hardness, ductility, embrittlement)
584. How to test materials for Radiation damage at IGCAR?
585. What is gamma energy emitted by CO-60? 1.17 & 1.33 MeV
586. What happens when gamma energy passes through the matter? How Photo electric effect, Compton effect, pair production (Energy is decreased through these
the energy decreases? What about charged particles? interaction). Charged particles cause molecular ionisation.
587. What is radiation exposure to general public due to background 2.4 mSv
radiation?
588. What is the max.energy of a particle that is obtained in reactor? Neutron up to 20 MeV, Fast neutrons (1-20 MeV)
Specially neutron?
589. Any accident possibility due to resonance neutron? In PFBR lead to  +ve Void coeff during LOCA. In PHWR also lead to +ve Void coeff during
LOCA.
590. How will you address people in case of iodine release from your KI administration, control on food stuff.
plant?
591. If H2S gas plant is near to your plant and a earth quake takes place. Main concern will be to handle the H 2S leak situation, because H2S is toxic & causes the
What will be the main consideration for the district collector and why? death (Limit is 15 ppm, 100 ppm for 8 hrs, 1000 ppm immediate death, 0.1 ppm smell
comes). NPP is seismically designed and CCCs can be met, immediate no casuality
concern.
592. What is Gamma energy emitted by Co.60? What happens when 1.17 & 1.33 MeV. Photo electric effect, Compton effect, pair production (Energy is
gamma radiation energy passes through matter? decreased through these interaction)
593. How the energy decreases? Q-592
594. What about charged particles when they passes through the matter? Charged particles cause ionisation in the medium through which they pass.
595. Offsite emergency? Emergency preparedness?
596. Dose allotment? Accidental 100 mSv (WB), 500 mSv (Thyroid). 250 mSv emergency dose

Reactor control/regulation/Reactor physics

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597. How n flux is increased for extracting higher power? Any explanation  Normally  DP raised & RR withdrawn to get more power.
 Remove the boron
598. Is it mere by control rods or any other changes? Fresh fuel loaded in central channels & used/DU/DDU in outer channels.
599. Why gadolinium nitrate solution and lithium pentaborate in PHWR In 220 SPHWR Lithium pentaborate used in LPIS for ensuring long term subcriticality & in
540/700 MWe Gadolinium used as SDS-2 for ensuring backup to SDS-1 (72 mK) & long
term subcriticality (300 mK)
600. Why two different materials for SDS in different reactor In SPHWR there was no experience in India of Gadolinium hence proven Lithium Penta
Borate was used.
601. Ratio of thermal to fast neutron flux in thermal and fast reactor Thermal Rx  1/3 fast flux (2-3% fast fission factor),
systems? Values and relevance in reactor physics/ operation Fast Rx  all fast neutrons
602. How to calculate the life of Boron as absorber and how to replenish it
when we use closed systems.
603. Whats life time or half life of neutron? Physical explanation Neutron Half life is 11 min, average life is 15 min
604. Why can't we use light water as moderator instead of heavy water? Neutrons will get absorbed in light water & Rx will become subcritical.
605. When it is announced that some reactor has become critical, generally When Rx is critical power is near zero power (Flux will be max approx 1012 N/Cm2/sec)
at what power it is done? Whether at full power or some low power?
606. What is One dollar criticality? One dollar equivalent to delayed neutron fraction.
607. Which element has got the highest capture cross section for Gadolinium-157 (approx 110000 barn), Gd-155 (44000 barn) (av-55000 to 60000 barn)
neutrons?
608. Which neutron absorbers are used in reactors Cobalt, cadmium, Boron (Lithium pentaborate/ boric acid in PHWR), Boron carbide in
PWR/PFBR, Dysprosium, Titanium
232
609. How Thorium gets converted into U233? (Bhardwaj) 90Th + 0N190Th233 (β-decay)90Pa233 (β-decay) 90U233
610. Boron uses in reactor? Poison, 0n1 shielding, Power measurement (Boron coated counters/chambers)
1 1
611. What will happen to a free neutron in the air? 0N 1H + Positron
612. How neutrons are detected? (SPND) Boron coated counters/chambers, ion chambers, SPNDs, Fission chambers (U235 coated)
613. What are the reactivity coefficients of all existing reactors? How they Void coefficient, temperature coefficient, power coefficient  By increasing these
are positive or negative? parameters if the power (neutron multiplication) increases, it is positive coefficient.
614. Xenon oscillations in reactor? In large (decoupled reactors)  effect of reactivity change in one region is not
experienced in other region. To keep the same power level, opposite effect noticed in
some other region.
615. What is atomic mass of Carbon and O2? C-12, O-16
616. Is water incompressible? In context to reactor engineering? Water is compressible, compressibility is very less
617. How to calibrate n detectors? Calibrated at research centre
618. Different reactivity feedbacks in different reactors? Q-613
619. Void coefficient in PFBR, PHWR, VVER, BWRs? PFBR  slightly +ve, PHWR  +ve, PWR & BWR  -ve
620. In your opinion, which reactor is radiologicallysafe?Which reactor is PFBR is radiologically more safe as actinides are fissioned & Fission products are
more safe? transmuted into non radioactive nuclei.
PWR  more safe
621. PFBR or PHWR? And controllable in terms of nuclear terms? PHWR are easily controllable as Delayed neutron fraction is more in PHWR, lesser in
PFBR due to Pu-239 presence. And power rise rate is slower in PHWR.
622. What is reactor poisioning? Xenon and Samerium) Xenon

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623. Can a negative void coefficient be a problem? In which type of It can be a problem in PWRs type Reactor, After LOCA during refilling of core. (That’s why
reactor? ECCS system uses Borated water)
624. What are the fission fragments in the fission reaction? Iodine, Cs, Sr, Xe, Kr, Ba, La, Tc etc
625. What is the energy liberated? Total 206 Mev/ fission.168 MeV is generated in each fission as KE of Fission Fragments.
626. Which fission fragment will have more energy and why? In fission nuclei breaks into two (1/3 & 2/3 mass ratio)  Lower mass FP has higher KE.
627. Why can’t you use enrich uranium in your plant? High enrichment will have certain issues like higher power density (heat removal issue),
RPS S/D capability will reduce (worth not designed), RRS is not designed to take care of
extra worth (Rx set back & ALPAS/LPIS capability).
628. Relation between neutron flux and neutron energy Neutron energy (av 2 MeV) remains in same distribution ration and is independent of
Neutron flux. Neutron flux rise leads to higher fission & hence power production.
629. If you put Heavy water to you reactor(BWR) and light water in PHWR? In BWR  sufficient neutron thermalisation will not take place before reaching to fuel,
epithermal neutrons will be absorbed in fuel as parasitic.
In PHWR neutrons will get absorbed in H2O, will not be available for fission in Fuel.
630. How will measure heat flux in AHWR?  By Reactor heat balancing (FW flow, steam flow BBD flow, DM water makeup etc),
 150 incore SPNDs, 9 outcore ion chambers, 3 out core startup counters,
631. Why is it required to do fast shut down of reactors? To suppress the power under certain neutronic/process transient which otherwise can lead
to fuel damage.
632. What is the material in PSS? Cadmium sandwitched in SS
633. What is the material in SSS? Lithium Pentaborate
634. What is the shutdown material used in FBR? Boron Carbide rods
635. What is used in TAPS? Boron Carbide rods
636. Can we use water as an absorbing material?  Water is used as absorbing material in ZCC in 540/700 MWe PHWR for Power control
 SSS in SPHWRs cannot use Light water as Light water scattering cross-section is
very high.
637. Do you use water in our reactors?  Water is used as absorbing material in ZCC in 540/700 MWe PHWR for Power control
 We use Heavy water as Moderator & coolant. Light water for other systems e.g. E/S,
C/V, PW, FW etc.
638. What is the setup at lab for RMU for testing?
639. Don’t you need the shut off rod drive mechanism for testing? Yes we need it, available in KGS TB-2
640. Why two shutdown systems? Because of +ve void coeff of reactivity feedback
641. What is done at MAPS/RAPS? Moderator water dumped to make Rx subcritical.
642. Having dumping alone as the only shutdown system which is slow is Sub-criticality achieved in 5 sec, reliability is ensured.
it safe? How do you justify? Even gas balance valve is sufficient to meet Rx S/D.
643. What is neutron life time? Average neutron life is 15 min
644. What is natural reactor? Sun, Oklo, Gabbon, South Africa. (Neodium & Ruthinium signature)
645. What is the moderator in natural reactor Light water, no moderator required at Sun
646. Give example of energy to mass conversion.  Photons from Sun get converted into energy in Photosynthesis
 Pair production (during gamma interattion)
647. Energy mass equation applicable to our reactor. E=mc2.
648. What is the gamma energy required for the pair production. Minimum 1.02 MeV (0.51 MeV / photon produced, electron & positron) rest mass energy
of electron is 0.15 MeV
649. First criticality

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650. Different moderators and properties. Moderator property  Good moderation, low absorption cross section, availability,
chemically/radiologically stable. Materials converged to H2O, D2O, Berrilium, Garphite
651. Fission chambers and ion chambers for FBR and PHWR – difference. PHWR  For thermal neutrons
 Boron coated counters or 2He3/BF3 gas filled ion chambers (96% enriched
boron).Boron/BF3 sensitivity 4/40 cps/nv. &
 U235 coated fission chambers for starting after long S/D.
PFBR  for Fast neutrons 
 First neutrons thermalised then detected  Liquid/plastic scintillater or 2He4 based
detector.
 U235 coated fission chambers
652. Moderating ratio

The moderating ratio is the ratio of the macroscopic slowing down power to the
macroscopic cross section for absorption. The higher the moderating ratio, the
more effectively the material performs as a moderator.

Spent fuel reprocessing/waste management

653. What's the radiation field of spent fuel assembly of PHWR, FBTR, LWR PFBR > PWR > PHWR (due to hi FP / Burnup)
When it comes for reprocessing
654. What are challenges in Thorium fuel reprocessing and LWR fuel  Thorium Fuel  Chemically inert, highly corrosive HF required to be mixed with Nitric
reprocessing? acid (Structural material issue), U232 & Actinides (hard gamma emitter).
 LWR  Actinides & fission products
655. How are two reprocessing procedures different? Highly corrosive HF used for Thorium fuel
656. What is difference between spent fuel reprocessing of PHWR&FBR  Thorium Fuel  Chemically inert, highly corrosive HF required to be mixed with
fuel? Nitric acid (Structural material issue), U232 & Actinides (hard gamma emitter).
 PHWR  Actinides & fission products
657. How Pa-231 is separated? selective ion exchange or ion Ion-chromatography/ chemical exchange (Ix) process
chromatography
658. What is pyro-electro refining technology ? (total recycling of Pyroprocessing is electrolytic reprocessing. (Spent fuel used as anode & Uranium,
transuranics) Plutonium, actinides dissolve and deposit at Cathode)
659. What is ILW / LLW / HLW per kg or per m3 or Ci/kg? LLW  low field <0.02 mSv/hr  Earthen trenches
ILW  Requires shielding, no cooling required  2-20 mSv/hr + partially 20-500 mSv/hr
HLW  Requires shielding & cooling > 500 mSv/hr + partially 20-500 mSv/hr
(>1R/hr/ml – from BARC paper)
660. Explain the difference in radiation protection programme of a PWR  Radiation field, Tritium, Fission products (Internal + external)
and a fuel reprocessing facility.  In fuel reprocessing  Radiation field, fission products, Actinides/Uranites (alpha
emitter)
661. Why sampling of Pu-239 is difficult? It requires Pu
662. What type of glass you are using in melter, is it same like window  Borosilicate galss is used for waste immosilation  radiologically/chemically stable,

Page 31 of 51
 glass. stable at higher temp (self heating temp due to decay), <1% leaching / year. A five
component system, SiO2–B2O3–Na2O–Fe2O3–TiO2 is presently used as the base
glass at AVS.
 Window glass is Lead Oxide + CaCO3 + Na2CO3
663. Do you aware about incident happened in AVS-1 Tarapur melter, due
to which decommissioning of melter was done. (Advanced vitrification
system)
664. What is difference between fabrication in glove box and in hot cell?  Hot cells are used in both the nuclear-energy and the nuclear-medicines industries.
They are required to protect individuals from radioactive isotopes by providing a safe
containment box in which they can control and manipulate the equipment required.
Hot cells are used to inspect spent nuclear fuel rods and to work with other items
which are high-energy gamma ray emitters.
 Glove Box facility forms the foremost important confinement system
at nuclear fuel fabrication facility for handling of Plutonium based
MOX fuels. Plutonium being radio toxic material with a higher
biological half-life, Plutonium based fuel fabrication facility requires
special techniques and confinement as a primary method for
protection against spreading of powder contamination. Glove Box
along with dynamic ventilation and HEPA Filters forms the
preeminent facility for safe handling of plutonium based MOX fuels.
665. What is the problem with protactinium. Pa233 half life is 27 days. It under goes β decay to form U 233 which undergoes (n,2n)
reaction to form U232.
666. How to separate it? What benefit after separation? Ion-chromatography. After separation U232 formation (n,2n) reduces.
667. Which emits more gaseous radionuclides a NPP or a reprocessing Reprocessing plant
plant?
668. What is the height of chimney for a reprocessing plant?
669. What is problem of nuclear waste? Radiation & decay heat
670. What fission products are found in nuclear waste? Iodine, Cs, Sr, Xe, Kr, Ba, La, Tc etc
671. How can we take care of long lived fission products? By burning in PFBR, ADSS or by vitrifying & disposing them in deep ground repositories.
672. What is dirty Plutonium? What is clean Plutonium?  Dirty plutonium is Plutonium produced from NPPS which contain other isotopes of Pu.
 Clean plutonium is Plutonium produced from Research Rx which contains <7% of
other Pu isotopes.
673. Half-life of Pu? Pu239 24100 years, Pu241 14 years
674. Main unit operation in your WIP plant? (Waste immobilasion plant) Tarapur & Kalpakkam (Advanced vitrification system)
675. Difference between reprocessing of PHWR and PFBR fuel?  PFBR  Thorium Fuel  Chemically inert, highly corrosive HF required to be
mixed with Nitric acid (Structural material issue), U 232 & Actinides (hard gamma
emitter).
 PHWR  Actinides & fission products
676. Hull waste management? Hull disposed off in tile holes.
677. Is this possible to reprocess the fuel of 540 MWePHWR in PREFRE-2? Fuel can be reprocesses (PUREX process) but PREFRE-2 is under IAEA safeguard,
What are the limitations? where as TAPS-3&4 are non-safeguarded Rxs

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678. What are the other reprocessing facilities in DAE? KARP (Kalpakkam), CORAL (for FBTR), FRFCF (PFBR)
679. Improvements in INRP? (Integrated Nuclear reprocessing plant) An integrated plant named as INRP (IP1) is in an advanced stage of
design. Many new features like use of bigger capacity equipment,
automation in head end systems and other process systems like
reconversion lab and pump maintenance, improved off gas clean up
system, minimization of ILW waste, removal of residual actinides from
waste, removal of dissolved TBP from aqueous streams and denitration
of effluents in Uranium Oxide Facility are planned in this plant. Many
resource conservation techniques like recycle and reuse of low active
condensate in main process systems, recycling of steam condensate,
recycle of TBP and n-Dodecane are planned for this plant.
680. What are the remote handling tools used in reprocessing plant? Decladding, chopping/cutting, pellet crushing, dissolution, Hull waste handling
681. What are the overall improvements carried out in remote handling in Decladding, chopping/cutting, pellet crushing, dissolution, Hull waste handling
last 15-20 years in reprocessing plants?
682. Areas of reprocessing where the remotization can be carried out? Fuel fabrication, waste management (immobilisation)
683. Why capacity of the SPSF is augmented? Considerations for this?
684. Operations in SFSF? (Spent fuel storage facility) Bundle inspection, canning, scooping, cooling, storage
685. What is pyro reprocessing? Pyroprocessing is electrolytic reprocessing. (Spent fuel used as anode & Uranium,
Plutonium, actinides dissolve and deposit at Cathode)
686. Weather electro refining for electro winning process only can make Chemical exchange reprocessing, Resin absorption, ion exchange chromatography
the flow sheet?
687. How reprocessing is done? Where is the separation of products PUREX (solvent extraction process used), HNO3, TBP, NaOH (or NaCO3), NH4OH (for U-
done? separation from Pu)
688. Weather Co-separation of Pu with MA (minor actinides) is good or bad
in pyro reprocessing? Why?
689. How much HLW waste is generated per Ton of fuel reprocessed for 3 % is high level waste in PHWR, 2-3% in PWR, <1% in PFBR
PHWR and PFBR fuel?
690. Special care in reprocessing of the PFBR fuel? PFBR  Thorium Fuel  Chemically inert, highly corrosive HF required to be mixed
with Nitric acid (Structural material issue), U232 & Actinides (hard gamma emitter).
691. What are PGM (Platinum Group Metals) present in nuclear waste? How Palladium, Rhodium and Ruthenium  They are is high level waste, their separation is
PGMs are problem in nuclear waste? an issue
692. Capacities of the current reprocessing plants in India? KARP & PREFRE  100 T/year each.
693. Which are the reactors in non-safeguard and which are in safeguard? non safeguarded Kaiga, TAPS-3&4, MAPS
Aspects of fuel reprocessing? safeguarded NAPS, RAPS, Kakrapara, TAPS-1&2
694. Purpose of reprocessing? What you do in reprocessing? Purpose of reprocessing is to separate the fissile content from the spent fuel & to reuse it.
695. Use of plutonium? PFBR (initial fuel), AHWR (initial fuel), PHWR (MOX fuel) and other strategic uses
(Nuclear bomb)
696. Which system you are facing problem? Why?
697. Problem of evaporators?
698. How you are handling it? What you are do for this?
699. Worked on ejector. Air ejectors / steam ejectors?

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700. Dimension factor for ejector transfer?
701. Are you measuring plutonium? DAC instrument of plutonium isotopic % measurement ICP spectrometry elemental &
mass spectrometry isotopic measurement. (384 kv of all average energy of Pu)
702. Which solvents are being used for fuel reprocessing and why Nitric acid, TBP

Fukushima/Nu accidents/Incidents

703. What's modifications done in taps 1&2 after Fukushima?  Fire water backup to steam drum/ Rx vessel, Fire water backup to torous, Air cooled
DG, Loop meters, Emergency water pond.
 In PHWRs, alternate hook up arrangements, power supply (air cooled DG set),
identified water sources (bore wells, fire water sump), submersible pump, loop meters,
240V inverters, onsite emergency control centre etc
704. Are you aware of any reprocessing plant accident like Chernobyl Tokaimura
reactor accident. Anything related to fire
705. What is china syndrome? Molten corium, if unattained, penetrate the concrete & soil bed of earth
706. What happened in Fukushima? Manmade or natural disaster.? Natural disaster propagating into accident due to man made system weakness.
707. Do you know what happened in Tokai Mura? The criticality accident occurred in a uranium reprocessing/enrichment facility, using
uranium enriched to 18.8% . Criticality was reached upon the technicians adding a
seventh bucket of an aqueous uranyl nitrate solution to the tank.
708. What will you do to prevent such accidents? Concentration, quantity, geometry, radiation monitors, Training, Vessel size limit etc.
709. What were the reasons behind Chernobyl accident? What corrections  A large amount of energy was suddenly released, vapourising superheated cooling
are done? water and rupturing the reactor core in a highly destructive steam explosion. This was
immediately followed by an open-air reactor core fire.
 INPO was formed
710. What are the type of nuclear accidents happened world over and their Chernobyl – RBMK, Fukushima – BWR, TMI – PWR, Tokaimura- enrichment plant for
type of reactors? FBR
711. After Fukushima accident they made big tanks? Why? Are you aware In 2013, 300 M3 of high radioactive waste developed leak.
these tanks are leaking why?
712. What are the Fukushima changes implemented Alternate hook up arrangements, power supply (air cooled DG set), identified water
sources (bore wells, fire water sump), submersible pump, loop meters, 240V inverters,
onsite emergency control centre etc
713. What day and time Tsunami affected MAPS? What are the systems 26 Dec-2004. Pump house got submerged.
affected
714. What is Chernobyl Accident ? The test was a simulation of an electrical power outage to aid the development of a safety
procedure for maintaining reactor cooling water circulation until the back-up electrical
generators could provide power. This gap was about one minute and had been identified
as a potential safety problem that could cause the nuclear reactor core to overheat. It was
hoped to prove that the residual rotational energy in a turbine generator could provide
enough power to cover the gap. During the planned decrease of reactor power in
preparation for the electrical test, the power unexpectedly dropped to a near-zero level.
The operators were able to only partially restore the specified test power, and this put the
reactor in a potentially unstable condition. This risk was not made evident in the operating
instructions, despite a similar accident occurring years before, and therefore the electrical

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 test was initiated nevertheless. Upon test completion, the operators triggered a reactor
shutdown, but a combination of unstable conditions and reactor design flaws caused an
uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction instead. A large amount of energy was suddenly
released, vapourising superheated cooling water and rupturing the reactor core in a highly
destructive steam explosion. This was immediately followed by an open-air reactor core
fire.
715. What is KAPS-1&2 incidence? PT failure due to nodular corrosion.
716. What design improvements have been done for 700MWe post Air cooled DG set, hookup arrangements to PHT/SG/GDWP/ES/CV
Fukushima?
717. Fukushima event? Tsunami followed by loss of power supply & core cooling leading to core melt down. It has
led to formation of H2 which led to containment pressurisation & H2 explosion.
718. How NAPS fire took place? How smoke entered control room TG blade failure leading to seal failure  H2/oil leak caught fire in cables  Fire through
cables propagated to C/R

ADS/accelerators/International projects/RRCAT/VECC:

719. What do you know about INO?  Indian Nutrino Observatory is located in Theni, Tamilnadu, has 50,000 T of Iron & lead
detector for detecting atmospheric neutrinos. Used for particle physics research
project to primarily study atmospheric neutrinos.
 Main magnetised iron calorimieter (ICAL) experiment will include the world's largest
magnet, four times larger than the 12,500-tonne magnet in the Compact Muon
Solenoid detector at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland
720. Why heavy shielding is required for INO project? Thick rock shielding to filter out effect of background cosmic radiations.
721. What is the detector used for neutrino? Why it has to be so specific?  ICAL (Iron calorimeter). 50,000 T of Iron & lead detector (48x16x14.5 m). ICAL
detector will have three modules, each module will have 151 layers of iron and 150
layers of RPCs, stacked one over the other.
 The neutrinos will interact with the iron to produce final state particles. The RPCs
(resistive plate chambers) will detect those final state particles which have charge and
will record the signals.
722. What is neutrino? Particles with mass <0.3 eV
723. Civil: Why INO is not being built in Darjeeling? Requirement of huge shielding rock (1.2 Km deep), The location of INO has attracted a lot
of attention from the neutrino physics community as the distance between INO and CERN
is very close to "magic baseline" – a distance at which the effect of the CP phase on the
measurement of Theta-13 is minimal
724. Give an international project in which India play major role? ITER & LHC (CERN), LIGO
725. How LHC project is different from LIGO?  LHC for nucleus subatomic particle study.
 LIGO for observing gravitational waves created due to some violent cosmic activity
like some star collision, supernova etc
726. Where you find more neutrinos, around KKNPP or at Theni? KKNPP
727. What is the detector used to detect neutrinos? How it works? ICAL (Iron calorimeter). 50,000 T of Iron & lead detector (48x16x14.5 m), 150 layers of
lead & 151 layers of magnetised iron (3 modfules). Chargeless neutrinos will interact with
iron and turn into charged muons, which will cause current to flow and current will be
detected.

Page 35 of 51
728. Tell us about any nuclear energy source that doesn’t generate nuclear Fusion reaction, Sun
waste.
729. what is fusion. Two small nuclei come together to form a single bigger nuclei & release some energy.
730. What is ITER International Thermonuclear experimental Reactor for fusion reactor
731. What are different types of confinements? What is used in ITER? Magnetic confinement & Inertial confinement. Magnetic Tokamak confinement is used at
ITER.
732. How plasma have been made.  Within the tokamak, we see field coils, the vacuum vessel, blanket modules, divertor
cassettes, and equipment for heating and diagnostics. Visible is one of the high-
energy neutral beam injectors that heat and drive the plasma. The fusion fuel consists
of deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of ordinary hydrogen (shown in red and
green in the visualization). To produce fusion reactions, the fuel must be heated to a
temperature of about one hundred million degrees - about ten times the temperature
of the core of the sun. At such temperatures, the electrons of atoms are stripped from
the nuclei forming as a state of matter called plasma. One method of achieving these
high temperatures is by injecting beams of high-energy neutral atoms into the
tokamak. An initial plasma is formed and heated by driving an electric current through
the fuel gas in the tokamak chamber. When the plasma reaches a sufficient density
and temperature, the injectors are turned on. Because injected atoms are electrically
neutral, they are unaffected by the magnetic field and can penetrate deep into the
plasma before being ionized by collisions with plasma particles.These very energetic
beam ions are trapped by the magnetic field and circulate throughout the plasma,
colliding with the plasma particles and transferring energy to them. As the temperature
of the plasma rises, due to the beam heating, fusion reactions between the plasma
deuterium and tritium begin to occur.
 Magnetic confinement fusion attempts to use the electrical conductivity of the plasma
to contain it through interaction with magnetic fields.
 The ITER Tokamak will rely on three sources of external heating that work in concert
to provide the input heating power of 50 MW required to bring the plasma to the
temperature necessary for fusion. These are neutral beam injection and two sources
of high-frequency electromagnetic waves.
 An initial plasma is formed and heated by driving an electric current through the fuel
gas in the tokamak chamber. (Plasma conducts electricity & can be controlled by
controlling magnetic field & current).When the plasma reaches a sufficient density and
temperature, the injectors are turned on.
733. What will come out from plasma. Neutron produces after Fusion reaction
2 3 4 1
734. What you will get from D-T reaction. 1D + 1T 2He + 0n +17.6 MeV
735. Do you know about ADSS. Accelerator driven sub critical system
736. Why proton of 1GeV energy is required. We will provide you Mev 1 GeV proton is required for neutron spallation (each spallation produces 15-20 neutrons),
energy proton. MeV proton will face repulsive force of Heavy nuclei & may not strike the nucleus to spall
the neutrons.
737. Why proton is required, we will give you electron of higher energy.
738. What is ADSS? Accelerator driven sub critical system
739. What happens in ADSS? High energy protons causes spallation of fast neutrons  high energy neutrons cause

Page 36 of 51
 fission
740. How do you generate neutrons in ADSS? By spallation
Spallation reaction is a process in which a light projectile (proton, neutron or light nucleus)
with the kinetic energy from several hundreds of MeV to several GeV interacts with a
heavy nucleus (e.g., lead) and causes the emission of a large number of hadrons (mostly
neutrons) or fragments. Spallationhas two stages: intra-nuclear cascade and de-excitation
741. Why ADSS is called safe? How?  It has subcritical mass distribution inside the core.
 As soon as Power supply of accelerator stops, fission stops.
 Has less decay heat.
 It burns actinides & transmutation of FPs takes place.
742. What are burners? FR and ADSS which one is preferred as burner?  Burner is a Reactor where Long lived actinides & active FPs are consumed.
Why ADSS is preferred as burner? Why we don’t install ADSS? What  ADSS is preferred, because it is well controlled and consumes Long lived actinides &
are challenges in ADSS? active FPs efficiently.
 Non-Uniform flux (peaking at centre), High temperature, Pb-Bi cooled system
technical demonstration.
743. What is LIGO? Laser inferometer gravitational observatory
744. What are gravitational waves? How these are detected? Gravitational waves are strong gravitational waves generated due to strong cosmic
activities like collapse of a giant star, collision of two neutron stars etc, which cause
distortion or ripple in space time domain.
745. What is CERN? Council of European Nuclear Research
746. What is the temperature in ITER? Approx 108OK (10 times in the core of sun).
747. What material is used to withstand that temperature? High electromagnetic field in Tokamak is used to contain high temperature plasma.
Tungsten is used as other materials to withstand high temperature.
748. How plasma is contained? High electromagnetic field in Tokamak is used to contain high temperature plasma.
749. What is the requirement of the magnets in ITER and what development Q-748
is needed
750. What is India’s contribution in ITER? 9 per cent contribution to the ITER project. This contribution is in the engineering and
development of key components, including cryostat, cooling water systems, vessel in-wall
shielding blocks, radio frequency heating sources, and diagnostic neutral beam system
among others.
751. What type of TBM is proposed by India? (Test Blanket Module) India has proposed LLCB TBM (Lead Lithium Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket Module)
concept to be tested in ITER
752. Are you aware about cyclotron being developed by IGCAR and VECC Assessment of fissile material in wastes from reprocessing facilities is a matter of
jointly? For what it will be used? + importance. It needs high flux neutron sources like an intense pulsed power D-T neutron
source. A critical issue in this is achieving high current of deuteron ions. Radiological
Safety Division has developed a novel technique to produce Deuterium beam by a single
ring cup magnetic field ion source. This technique has been patented and the pulsed
neutron source development is being developed.

Another significant development at IGCAR is Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) X-ray

source.- material science study?
753. What is ADSS? What is its alternate name? :- hybrid system Accelerator driven sub critical system. Alternate name is hybrid system.
754. why is it called subcritical reactor? It has subcritical mass distribution inside the core. As soon as Power supply of accelerator

Page 37 of 51
 stops, fission stops. It burns actinides & transmutation of FPs takes place.
755. What is its purpose? To produce energy and to transmute radioactive waste in a cleaner and safer way than at
present.
756. What was the hurdle till now for its development? Building of reliable GeV accelerator.
757. What is transmutation? Transmutation is the conversion of nuclei into another type of nuclei.
758. Are you aware of cyclotron being developed jointly by IGCAR and Q-752
VECC? For what it will be used?
759. What is the latest in neutronic waste disposal technique in site?  ADSS burns Transuranics & Transmutates FP
 Hybrid Fusion-Fission Reactor also does the same thing. Fusion Rx is used as
Neutron source & blanket of Uranium is used that causes fission & produces power.
760. What is the activity at RR-CAT? Synchrotron, Laser
761. What is Domiasart? Uranium mining project in Meghalaya.
762. What happens in ADSS? High energy Proton (>1GeV)  strikes heavy nuclei (Lead)  Neutrons produced by
spallation  These spallation neutrons cause fission
763. Why ADSS is called safe? (Reasons other than controlling spallation  It has subcritical mass distribution inside the core.
source through proton beam. Decay heat is less because there are  As soon as Power supply of accelerator stops, fission stops.
less fission products. How?)  Has less decay heat.
 It burns actinides & transmutation of FPs takes place.
764. How RRCAT and VECC mandate differ?  RRCAT  develop Synchrotron (Indus-1&2) & Laser  for application in particle
physics & laser for technological research & advancement. Social benefit.
 VECC  develop Cyclotron (K-150, K-500)  for medical, cancer treatment, food
preservation, grain mutation, grain preservation, municipal waste management
765. What is the mandate of different units of DAE  Developing and establishing indigenous technological base for deriving sustainable
benefits from nuclear applications, both for power production and for a wide range of
societal applications.
 Dev of advance tech like acceleratos, adv materials, etc
766. What is plasma. Plasma is considered the fourth state of matter. The three other states are solid, liquid,
and gas. Plasma is a cloud of protons, neutrons and electrons where all the electrons
have come loose from their respective molecules and atoms, giving the plasma the ability
to act as a whole rather than as a bunch of atoms.
767. What is the mass of neutrinos. Asked by committee  Particles <0.3 eV mass are called neutrinos
 Remember neutrino have finite mass ..... Their mass depends of which type of
neutrino it is.....electron neutrino, muon neutrino or tao neutrino
768. Tell some thing about ITER? International thermo-nuclear experimental reactor – France. Being built to demonstrate the
sustaining of Plasma & fusion reaction for 20 min at 500 MWe.
769. What is ITER Q-768
770. What is the reaction occurring Fusion reaction
771. How is tritium obtained By breeding Lithium
772. What is source of Tritium at ITER By breeding Lithium
773. How Synchrotron and Cyclotron are different, what you know cyclotron  Charged particles accelerate in spiral path
aboutSynchrotron radiation Synchrotron  Charged particles accelerate in circular path through a tube
774. What are the different laser applications DAE is into LASER applications  Laser cutting & welding, plasma, marking, material processing,

Page 38 of 51
 isotopic seperation
775. How DAE has contributed in CERN experiment Hardware, software as well as skilled manpower support. superconducting corrector
magnets-sextupoles (MCS), decapoles (MCD) and octupoles (MCO); mechanical
systems, namely precision magnet positioning system-jacks (PMPS-jacks); accelerator
protection system-quench protection heater power supply (QPS), quench detection
electronics (QDE) and control electronics for high current circuit breakers; vacuum
system-vacuum system design for long beam transport lines for beam dumps; cryogenics
776. What is proton richnucleons? How it is produced & what is its use?  An atomic nucleus in which the ratio of proton number to neutron number is much
larger than that of nuclei found in nature (N/P is less).
 Produced in cyclotron.
 Proton rich nuclei emit Positron and are used in PET.
777. Use of cyclotron ! Production of high energy charged particles & ions.Used to produce radio-isotopes,
particle physics study, medical steriliser, food preservation, fruits/vegetables/meat
preservation,
778. How to get neutron for this? By from heavy nuclei by proton spallation
779. What is subcritical reactor? How it work? A reactor with subcritical mass & geometry. Fission reaction occurs by neutron produced
by accelerator.
780. What are the uses of laser? Anywhere used? LASER applications  Laser cutting & welding, plasma, marking (bundle), material
processing, isotopic seperation
781. What is the medium through which laser signal is transmitted? Electromagnetic radiation can be transmitted through an optical medium, such as optical
(optical fiber) fiber, or through twisted pair wires, coaxial cable, or dielectric-slab waveguides. It may
also pass through any physical material that is transparent to the specific wavelength,
such as water, air, glass, or concrete.
782. What is electron beam? What will happen if an high energy, say 10 Group of electrons accelerated in Accelerator (Cyclotron or synchrotron). Plasma will form
MeV beam is thrown in ambient?
783. What is particle accelerator and its use. Particle accelerator accelerates ions & electrons. Used to produce radio-isotopes, particle
physics study, medical steriliser, food preservation, fruits/vegetables/meat preservation,
784. What is ITER, where is it located? purpose and indian's contribution? International thermo-nuclear experimental reactor – France. Being built to demonstrate
the sustaining of Plasma & fusion reaction for 20 min at 500 MWe.
Contribution:Hardware, software as well as skilled manpower support. superconducting
corrector magnets-sextupoles (MCS), decapoles (MCD) and octupoles (MCO);
mechanical systems, namely precision magnet positioning system-jacks (PMPS-jacks);
accelerator protection system-quench protection heater power supply (QPS), quench
detection electronics (QDE) and control electronics for high current circuit breakers;
vacuum system-vacuum system design for long beam transport lines for beam dumps;
cryogenics.

Uranium mining/resources

785. Uranium resource/inventory in India at present. U & Th  70000 T & 360000 T old value. New  approx 270000 &>900000 T
786. What is the half life of U-238 and U-235? U238 450 crore years, U235 70 crore years
787. When these radionuclides are formed? These radionuclides were formed during formation of earth.
788. Which these isotopes would have been more at the time of formation U238 (at the time of formation of earth U235 would have been approx 18%)

Page 39 of 51
 of earth?
789. What is the composition on U-235 in natural Uranium? 0.72%
790. Is it uniform throughout earth? If not, give the reasons? No. At Oklo-Gabbon-South Africa it is 0.44 to 0.6% due to presence of Natural reactor.
791. Explain the evidences for natural reactor? Oklo-Gabbon-South Africa (FP signature showed- Nd-143& Ru-99 were found 25-30 %, in
natural ore they are approx 12.5%)
792. Why the core of earth is in liquid form?  There are three main sources of heat in the deep earth:
(1) heat from when the planet formed and accreted, which has not yet been lost;
(2) frictional heating, caused by denser core material sinking to the center of the
planet; and
(3) heat from the decay of radioactive elements.
 Earth´s inner core and outer core are both made of an iron-nickel alloy. Inner core is
solid due to high pressure (300 GPa) & outer core is liquid due to lower pressure.
(5000 OC)
793. What is the ultimate source of Uranium? Justify? Sea, 3 ppb.
794. What are alternate source of Uranium other than mining? Sea water, phosphate rocks, Copper mine, monozites, coal power plant ash (10-30 ppm)
795. What is natural Uranium source? Mines
796. What is californium?  Cf-252, a californium isotope with a half-life of 2.645 years, is a very strong neutron
source.
 Californium-252 is produced in the High Flux Reactor at Oak Ridge National
Laboratory by the neutron irradiation of uranium, and is used exclusively as a neutron
source
797. 1 AHWR : No source (spontaneous fission of U-238)
2. FBR : spontaneous fission of U-238 in First criticality. Incore Detectors are used. so they are able to
detect very low levels of n flux.
In subsequent criticalities, out core detectors are used. And External neutron source
SubAssembly consisting of 19 pins of Sb2O3 surrounded by BeO block is used. The
length of Sb2O3 region is 35 cm and located below core middle level.
In first criticality, Sb is irradiated with neutron flux to make it gamma emitter. And it starts
working once it gets irradiated. So in subsequent criticalities, we get n flux from Sb-Be. This
source is same as in TAPS 1&2.

3. VVER KK : No source (spontaneous fission of U-238)

4. TAPS 1&2 : 8 Sb-Be

In VVER, Criticality is achieved by boron dilution and not by boron removal.

Yes in VVER, which is Russian design and Russians do not use source in their design. However,
boron meters are used for boron concentration monitoring online (INTURN MONITORING
approach to criticality).

It is also true that TAPS use Sb-Be source which is American design (GE). They are monitoring
criticality by measuring n flux.

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 In both cases source level before criticality will be very less. In one case it is managed by online
boron meters and in other case boron meters are not available so source augmentation is done by
Sb-Be source
798. What is the concentration of our ore? Approx. 0.05% U3O8 (Mostly less than 0.1%)
799. What is the difference between our ore and Australian ore? Indian ore low quality ore up to approx 1.0% U3O8, Australlian ore are good quality up to
20% U3O8
800. How can you find the presence of ore from aerial survey? The most useful techniques in uranium exploration are undoubtedly radiometnc surveys.
Indeed, the combination of aerial radiometric surveys, ground examination of the
detected anomalies and the gamma logging of drilled holes has resulted in the discovery
of a large proportion of known uranium resources
801. Methods to enrichment with explanation Centrifuge, Membrane separation, laser separation, ion exchange chromatography
802. Process from extraction of ore to making UO2 Ore dissolve in HNO3separate U3O8 by solvent extraction in TBP Stripping of TBP
with water (U – comes into water)  Add NH4OH in water to precipitate ADU  Filter, dry,
reduction and calcining to form UO2
803. Why U235 content in natural uranium in 0.72% what is U235half life? 70 crore years

Zirconium/Rare earth/niobium

804. What are Source of zirconium in India? Resources of zircaloy in india Source of zirconium is Zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) or Zircon sand at Kerala, Andhra
Pradesh Orissa, Tamilnadu coast.
Reduction process, Collected from coastal zircon-bearing sand.
805. Are we importing any zircaloy Not after 2016
806. Source of niobium for making PT ? Importing
807. Are we importing any niobium? Any other non nuclear applications? Used as alloying element in SS & other non ferrous alloys. Alsoused in superalloys for jet
engines and heat resistant equipment

Heavy water/Boron/solvents

808. From where heavy water comes? How it is produced? Heavy water comes from natural water. It is produced by H 2O- H2S / NH3-H2 chemical
exchange process.
809. Where are the plants located n which process they use. Kota & Manuguru  H2O- H2S chemical exchange process. Talchar & Tuticorin  NH3-H2
chemical exchange process.
810. What other products HWB makes. Their applications.  O18 PET
 Organic solvent  U235 processing & Fuel reprocessing
 Liquid Na  PFBR, other industrial applications
 Potassium  Potassium-amide catalyst in NH3-H2 exchange process
 Boron  Rx S/D rods, liquid poison, neutron detector, shielding, alloying element
 Heavy water  PHWR, O18 production, CDs, OFC, medical preservatives
811. What is the composition for natural boron? 20:80 (B10-B11)
812. Do we have any facility to enrich boron? Talchar Distillation, Manuguru  Ion-chromatography exchange
813. What is the use of enriched boron in DAE? PFBR/FBTR shut off rod (>90% enriched), ion chambers (>65% enrichment)

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814. Up to what percentage, do you think, boron should be enriched? What Boron enriched >65% for PFBR, >90% for FBTR. More enrichment leads to loss of costly
are the limitations? B-10.
815. What are the non-nuclear applications of heavy water? O18 production, CDs, OFC, medical preservatives, Lubricants
816. From where heavy water comes? How it is produced. Heavy water comes from natural water. It is produced by H 2O- H2S / NH3-H2 chemical
exchange process.
817. Where are the plants located n which process they use. Kota & Manuguru  H2O- H2S chemical exchange process. Talchar & Tuticorin  NH3-H2
chemical exchange process.
818. What other products hwb makes. Their applications. Q-810
819. Where are various solvants made in HWB? In which plant? Tri-Butyl Phosphate,
820. Where is boron enrichment and sodium production carried out in Talchar  Distillation, Manuguru  Ion-exchange
HWB?
821. How do we transport D2O?  Fresh heavy water is send as normal consignment under Security.
 Tritiated heavy water is send as nuclear consignment (<50000 Ci) (<27 Ci/lit).
822. What is boron? What isotope of the Boron is used?  For Thermal Neutron  Boron is neutron absorber B10 3800 barn, Natural Boron 
approx 600 barn, >65 % enriched  approx 2400 barn
 For Fast Neutron  Boron is neutron absorber B10 3-4 barn, Natural Boron 
approx 1-2 barn, >65 % enriched  approx 2-3 barn
823. What is the etichment(enrichment?)? Where is this used> Where is  Enriching the concentration of B10 in Boron.
this manufactured?  Boron enriched >65% for PWR/BWR, neutron detectors, >90% for PFBR /FBTR.
 Talchar  Distillation, Manuguru  Ion-exchange
824. What is distillation? What is reactive distillation? Give examples?  Distillation is the process of separating mixture of two liquids based on their boiling
Where is this used in HWB? point.
 Reactive Distillation column consists of Reactive column at the centre & Non reactive
rectifying & stripping column at top & bottom. A + B  C + D (equilibrium). Boiling
point is C < A < B < D i.e. BP of reactants A & B are between the BP of products C&D.
 Talchar  Distillation
825. Recent 5 achievements of HWB?
826. How reactive distillation process is applied?
827. Details of the H2S-H2O process in relation to D2O production? HDO + H2S  H2O + HDS. (At high temperature 130 OC, D2 goes in H2S & at low temp 30
O
C, D2 goes in water).
828. How tritium is separated? In HEWAC plant (Planned at Kota)
829. What is cryogenic distillation? Can it be used to separate Tritium? In HEWAC plant (Planned at Kota)
Where is this used in DAE?
830. How to transport D2O  Fresh heavy water is send as normal consignment under Security.
 Tritiated heavy water is send as nuclear consignment (<50000 Ci) (<27 Ci/lit).
831. D2O production process and difference between H 2S and Ammonia NH3 + HD  NH2D + H2
basedtechnology NH2D + HD  NHD2 + H2
NHD2 + HD  ND3 + H2
NH2D + NH2D  NHD2 + NH3
NH2D + NHD2 ND3 + NH3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O
HDO + H S  H O + HDS. (At high temperature 130 C, D goes in H S & at low temp 30
2 2 2 2

Page 42 of 51
 O
C, D2 goes in water.
832. Other than D2O production, what are the other activities HWB  O18 PET
isinvolved.  Organic solvent  U235 processing & Fuel reprocessing
 Liquid Na  PFBR, other industrial applications
 Potassium  Potassium-amide catalyst in NH3-H2 exchange process
 Boron  Rx S/D rods, liquid poison
 Heavy water  PHWR, O18 production, CDs, OFC, medical preservatives
833. How to produce D2O? Q-831
834. What is the biological half life of heavy water. 6 days
835. What is the weight difference between H2O and D2O Molecular weight  18 & 20
836. Boron enrichment  Enriching the concentration of B10 in Boron.
 Boron enriched >65% for PFBR, >90% for FBTR.
 Talchar  Distillation, Manuguru  Ion-exchange

Maintenance;

837. What is predictive maintenance? PM checks: Taking out the equipment from service, inspecting externally for any loose
components, support, cables, lugs etc & correcting it.
Overhauling: Taking out equipment from service, inspecting,
correcting/repairing/replacing any wear & tear component and bringing back the
equipment performance to its design value level.
838. What is TPM?  Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a system of maintaining and improving the
integrity of production, safety and quality systems through the machines, equipment,
processes, and employees that add business value to an organization.
 Total quality management (TQM) and total productive maintenance (TPM) are
considered as the key operational activities of the quality management system.
839. Are you following any QAP for the fabrication of the works? Yes

Refuelling/SFSB/dry storage of fuel

840. FM is made of which material and why Austenitic SS, it contains highly radioactive Fuel bundles
841. Difference between 700 and 540 MW fuelling machine 700  Ball screw type, 540  Rack & pinion arrangement.
F/M can be moved from one vault to other vault.
842. What is the concern of FARE? Flow Assisted Ram Extension
843. Why RE used? What is the safety concern? Ram extension is used in outer channels where flow is less
844. Suppose I load 37 element fuel bundle. What is your concern? 37 element bundle size is more can not be used in 220 MWe. If size is made same,
bundle power will increase, hence issue of heat removal will be there.
845. Why 8 bundles refueling. Optimised, less FM travel, less wear & tear, lesser leak chances from seal plug, less F/M
maintenance.
846. What was the concern earlier?
847. Why can’t we do 12 bundles refueling?  It will require 2 times Machine clamping on same channel.
 Less utilisation of fuel, more fuel wastage.

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  12 F/M magazine positions 1 – spare seal plug, 2 – ram extension, 1 – adopter, 1-
guide sleeve, 1 – snout plug, 1 – receiving seal plug, 1 – receiving shield plug, 4 –
receiving spent fuel bundles
848. What you optimise by refueling? Fuel burnup, Flux flattening, wear & tear in F/M
849. What are the interlocks provided for accidental unclamping Normal clamping mechanism backed up by Mechanical interlock for Machine clamping.
When Magazine is pressurised, M/C can not be unclamped.
 Manual switch for unclamping command & software interlock
 Oil cylinders rack & pinion (normal) – Motion lock check valve
 Snout emergency lock (24 kg locking starts & 42 kg/cm2 completes)
850. What is the safety class of FM Class-II
851. What is the difference between shutdown refuelling and onpower  S/D refuelling is done for the channels which have any history of seal leak.
refuelling Requirement of BARCIS or channel inspection. It requires SD clearance.
 There shall not be any D2O addition, no boron removal, shall not reduce subcriticality
margin, no job on PSS/SSS/ARs
852. What is the difference between 2pair refuelling and 4 pair In 2 BSS, 1 pair bundles are replaced on one alignment of M/C. In 4 BSS, 2 pair bundles
are replaced on one alignment of M/C.
853. What happens If I put Higher burnup bundle again in high flux region Bundle may fail as already Fission gas will be there and when fuel sees the high flux,
fission gases will further release, leading to high fission gas pressure inside the pencil.
854. How many bundls are kept in dry cask? 20 trays are kept in a cask & each tray has 11 bundles. (Total 220 bundles/cask)
855. How many casks are kept in dry cask area? 4 casks
856. How they are safe? Seismically qualified anchors+ protecting wall. Tested for crash/ leak, drop test, acoustic
emission test of cask.
857. Do we carry out inerting in the cask? If not why? No
858. Why criticality doesn’t occur in fuel pool? Light water is there in SFSB & fissile concentration is less.
859. What is ISFSI? Whether our fuel pool is ISFSI? independent spent fuel storage installation
860. How can you say that fuel pool is safe? Seismically qualified, pool in pool concept.
861. Leak monitoring of fuel pool?  Liners distributed in different module (approx 90)& tubing in inspection gallery, LS
provided in sump pit.
 The stainless steel liner is not designed as a load bearing structural component; it was
designed only as a leak tight barrier to prevent the loss of spent fuel cooling water.
862. Do we have separate liscence for our fuel pool? If not why? AAFR ?
who gives liscence?
863. Post fukushima implementations in fuel pool? RADAR, Thermocouple External water makeup arrangement, Temperature & level monitoring & alarm in C/R.
at 3 levels
864. In case of prolonged SBO what is required for fuel pool monitoring Temperature and level monitoring & alarm in C/R
post fukushima?
865. Dry cask monitoring what do we perform?
866. Dry cask has lead in between two layers of cask shell? What is the This lead is for shielding against gamma. Lead is transparent to fast neutron (that’s why
interaction of lead with neutron? lead is used in fast Reactors)
867. Neutron shielding material? Low atomic weight e.g. H2O, D2O, graphite, Boron etc
868. Why only limited period liscence is given for dry cask? – chandanbose
– details

Page 44 of 51
869. What is the basis of extending liscence for dry cask?
870. Is there any programme for extending the dry cask life:-
871. Original spent fuel racks were made of borated Aluminum. They have
been replaced with high density SS Racks Why ?
872. Fuel storage capacity has also been increased to 1532 bundles from
original 550 bundles to accommodate one full core unloading.
873.
874.
875. Why IGSCC doesn’t occur in fuel pool?
876. How SFSB pool visibility is ensured?
877. How inadvertent draining of the pool is avoided?
878. How can you say that your fuel pool is safe?
879. Criteria for Quarantineing of coolant channel. Why dry quarantine
of channel is not done ?
880. You have two SF bundles on table, one say 300-400 burn up, and
another say 6500 bu ….. how you differentiate ?
881. You do refuelling & Defuelling, what are difference between them?
What are different methods of defueling? If both FMs are engaged,
what will be the U/S FM configuration.
882. Explain function & operation (of it with FM) OF Guide Sleeve ….( on
board), where it touches on End Fitting ? Why ? What will happen if
GS is not there? Any incident happened anywhere?
883. 70 % to 100 % Power : What r d refuelling & physics related change ?
Control/Electrical
884. What do you mean by station black out?
885. Is power required in black out condition?
886. The nuclear installations in Europe and USA have latest, advanced
and reliable Control & Instrumentation. What about your confidence
level in C&I of today’s Indian PHWR?
887. What is Radiated Emission (RE) and Conducted Emission (CE)? How
Page 45 of 51
After testing & ensuring healthiness further clearance is given. Seismically qualified
anchors+ protecting wall. Tested for crash/ leak, drop test,acoustic emission test of cask.
yes up to 300 yrs with ageing management programme.
The stainless steel liner is not designed as a load bearing structural component; it was
designed only as a leak tight barrier to prevent the loss of spent fuel cooling water.
The spent fuel pool liner is not exposed to a corrosive environment under normal
operating conditions because of good control on water chemistry.
As system is designed to operate at low temperature with good control on chemistry,
therefore, IGSCC is of no concern.
To provide adequate visibility, pool water temperature is maintained below 125°F (51 oC) to
assure no "steaming"
To prevent inadvertent draining of the pool by siphoning; a siphon breaker is installed on
each return header, at the highest point of the fuel pool cooling system.
Seismically qualified, pool in pool concept, Huge inventory, chemistry controlled, external
water makeup arrangement available, access control, camera, level & temp monitoring in
C/R.
 When creep, diff creep or diametrical creep or sag reaches the design limit.
 There will always be some radiation heat, hence cooling provided to channels.
By radiation heat, by intensity of schirinkov radiation, by seeing the band of pellets on
collapsible clad
More fresh bundle refuelling in outer channels & lesser in central zones to achieve
flattened flux pattern
Class-IV & Class-III Power supply unavailable for >6 minutes
Yes, it is required to keep PHT system pressurised, operate minimum equipments
required to handle SBO, monitor the parameters. e.g. initiate crash cooling, injecting FW
to SG etc.
Indian PHWR control instrumentations reliability are as good as I&C used in advanced
countries. Their safety classification requirements are as per international standard and as
par with NPPs of other countries.
 are you minimise their effect?
888. How much quantity of heavy water is used as moderator in 220 MWe? 220  PHT/Mod  70/140 T, 540  PHT/Mod 168/293 T, 700  PHT/Mod 206/310 T
What about 700 MWe?
889. Where 220 KV supplies are there in our PHWRs? SUT, S/Y, GT downstream
890. What are the tests conducted for qualifications of the cables?
891. What are the reasons for drifting of the adjusters?
892. What are the advantageous of VFD (Variable Frequency Drives} over Low starting current, lower rating of insulation required, lower torque/stress on
conventional servo drives? components during starting
893. How you validated Russian CBS system? What about documents? Computer based system
894. Due to void in nuclear power plant what is the complexity of In 700 MWe,
instrumentation in various types of reactors?  CTM only up to 85% FP, beyond that bundle power limit, channel power peaking,
special power high are used for setback purpose.
 RRS correction is achieved by secondary side heat balance.
895. As far as instrumentation is concern which type of reactor is having  KKNPP has more instrumentations due to 4 safety trains.
more instrumentation? Elaborate details of instrumentation.  Power correction is done by ion-chamber + SPNDs + Core DT + secondary side
power
896. What are major considerations for developing a CBS for FHC? Isolation from other systems, safety class, repeatability, accuracy
(Computer Based system for Fuel Handling Control)
897. What is Auto positioning ? After giving the command to F/M, it moves and positions to the assigned channel on auto,
without any manual intervention.
898. How cycle time affects the system performance and safety?
899. What CBS life cycle ?
900. What is IV&V and How it help us in CBS development? Independent Verification & Validation helps to check & test the performance of the CBS
before and after installation.
901. What improvements will you suggest to improve IV&V and CBS life
cycle processes?
902. What is Layer 2 and layer 3 switch? How they work, differences?
903. What is Network Management and How it is done?
904. What is VOIP, how it works, what are the functionality losses in VOIP
in comparison to EPABX?
905. What is Anunet?
906. Whether linking of DAE's EPABX on IP is possible, how it could be
done?
907. What standards you have followed for the HIMS Software
development? What was the software and Hardware platform?
908. What is CMMI? What are the steps for the CMMI certification?
909. What are various levels in CMMI?
910. There was FHC incident in Canadian Reactor, are you aware?
911. What are the attributes of SRS?
912. What is software reliability? Reliability of software is the performance of software without any malware/virus affect.
913. What is the change management you follow? ECN, Jumper
914. Why do you do validation? After modification, performance testing is done through IV & V.

Page 46 of 51
915. How will you handle specification correctness?  Nuclear side one-to-one material is procured. If some change is required it has to go
through safety committee. Vendor has to present material test certificate from certified
national Labs and verified by our QA office.
 Secondary side material purchase goes through tender L-1 process.
916. Can you realise ETF through PLC?
917. What is known as software maintenance?
918. What is the evolution of ETF?
919. Why does a display screen freezes and how it will impact safety?
920. What is the control philosophy followed in MCR?
921. Are there any hardwired controls and the basis for these? Engineered safety systems (e.g. ECCS, PCFPB, SCRP, PCCD, Containment boxup) are
through hardware control system.
922. What is the quality of Instrument Air and why it is important? Dew point -20 OC. If moisture is in instrument air, it will lead to malfunction of
Instrumentation & internal corrosion/damage.
923. What do you look for, while doing Logic diagrams verification?
924. Safety and security, how you ensure that in a PLC?
925. New PLDs, like FPGA, what are the concerns for using them in NPPs?
926. If both the units of a split air conditioner are placed inside the room, No, when both units of AC are placed in same room, it will supply cool air in room as well
will the AC give the same effect as exhaust hot air in the same room. Instead it will increase room temp due to power
consumption of SAC.
927. What are the probable component failures in PLC? Card failure, due to temp, moisture, dust
928. What are Hot standby/ Cold stand by/Warm standby of PLC? What is
the difference between them, in terms of scan cycle?
929. How is the C&I fire load for MCR calculated?
930. What are the criteria for locating the fire detectors (in MCR)? All areas shall be covered by at least 2 types detectors. All cable/wire trays shall be
covered with LHS.
931. What is common cause failure? Is there something called common  Failure of 2 or more system due to common cause e.g. temperature, moisture, dust
mode failure? What is the difference? vibration, fire etc.
 When failure of two systems/components is in the same way at the same time, it is
called common mode failure (PSS & SSS are diversified to avoid common mode
failure)
932. What is the control philosophy followed for selection of controls for For critical systems Power supply/control supply for two pumps are from separate unit 
Common Services? to ensure system availability.
933. Why was there a requirement for preparation of manualforC&I logics,
wiring for 700 MWe? Will this document be applicable to all future
projects also?
934. What is MCR modernisation? Touch screen (OWS), Touch screen equipment operation (confirmation with password),
System mimic (with parameters value), SIGMAS, OL-DSS
935. Is modernisation being done for the sake of modernizing? Mimic helps in effective transient handling, reduced human error, effective decision
making during transient, easy action feed back monitoring, history, alarm. SIGMAS & DSS
help in emergency handling. Less cabling & more space.
936. As people are used to using computers for purposes like email etc., C/R console is fully isolated from internet & intranet. It doesn’t have any feature or
how can you ensure that operators will not spuriously actuate the connectivity with social media e.g. SMS, mail, browsing etc.
controls from console?

Page 47 of 51
937. What is your feed back from sites with regard to soft controls? Less failures, ease of fault rectification, data storage for analysis in different form e.g.
graphical, tabular etc.
938. Are 100% operators happy with this soft control concept? No, the persons trained & expertise in hard control system & those wo don’t want to
upgrade face problem in operating the soft control system.
939. Have you reduced field cabling also, along with changed C&I control Lots of cable reduction has taken place in C/R.
philosophy?
940. What is the connectivity between CER and MCR soft controls? Ethernet system
941. Can Ethernet be used for process control? How do you take care of Ethernet is only for data transmission.
data collision?
942. You have been a team member of task forces. What is your area of
expertise
943. What is the difference in the layouts of Main Control Rooms (MCR) of In earlier projects, MCRs were unitised while it is common control room for both the units
700MWe project and previous PHWR projects? in 700MWe projects. In TAPP-3&4, there were 18 number of MCRPs (C&I-11, Electrical-3
and FHC-4). In 700MWe the count has reduced to 10 (C&I-4, Electrical-3 and FHC-3) and
Large Video screens (5 number) have been introduced for the first time. Also, the 10
number of Secondary Instrument panels are no more in MCR and number of Operator
consoles is reduced to 8 from 16 in TAPP-3&4. All this has made the MCR very compact,
bringing all controls and indications closer to the Operator.
944. Is there any change in control philosophy in 700MWe projects? In our earlier projects, all the controls and indications were hardwired and operable from
MCR panel (MCRP) with operator in standing position. In 700MWe projects, most of the
controls are thru soft HMI from Operator console with Operator in sitting position. In
addition, Large Video screens have been introduced alongwith MCRPs for fast
assessment of the situation by MCR staff, enabling them to act quickly in case of any
abnormality.
945. Which are the controls, made console based and what was the The controls and indications, required for Shut-down of Plant, Maintaining in safe shut-
deciding criteria? down, Shut-down cooling, ECCS and Containment Isolation were continued to be
hardwired and controlled from MCRPs. Rest all controls and indications were made
console based. However, the controls required for Major equipment safety, human safety
or fire safety are given hardwired back-ups at MCRPs.
946. What was the effect on space requirement? There is a considerable saving of space in MCR, which was passed-on to Control
Equipment Room (CER), where space requirement is increased on account of increase in
the size of CER panels from 600*800 to 800*800 for convenience in maintenance. Overall
there was a marginal decrease (~ 5%) in the total area of MCR+CER.
947. How do you award a Engineering Consultancy contract? For awarding a Contract, first step is to prepare Cost-estimate & Technical Sanction and
get it approved from Competent authority. Next steps are preparation of tender
specifications, floating of Tender, pre-bid meeting, opening of tender, evaluation of bids,
negotiations (if required) and placement of Work-order.
948. Is there any difference in the Engineering Consultancy contracts for For KAIGA-3,4/RAPP-5,6 projects, the Consultancy contracts were awarded by individual
KAIGA-3,4/RAPP-5,6 and 700MWe projects? Sections for their scope of Drawings. For KAPP-3&4 a combined consultancy contract has
been awarded for entire engineering of the Project. In addition, 3D modelling of the plant is
being done for the first time, which will help in interferences checks at engineering stage
itself, resulting into smooth progress of Construction activities. The job scope is almost
same for RAPP-7,8 also.

Page 48 of 51
949. How did you evaluate the bids? Upto KAPP-3&4, the evaluation of bids were on the Lowest cost basis. For RAPP-7&8
consultancy contract, it was Quality and Cost based selection (QCBS) with Quality was
given 70% weightage in overall evaluation. Rest 30% was to cost.
950. Why QCBS? Quality of Drawings is always given prime importance. QCBS criteria has enabled us to
select more Quality conscious Consultants, even at a little more cost.

951. How did you evaluate the Quality of various bidders? The various parameter evaluated were –Quality Management system, Quality of their
Drawings, overall organisation of the Company, Qualification/experience/quantity of
available staff, availability of other resources – like floor area, computer machines,
printers, available softwares etc., Feedbacks from current/earlier Clients, Progress/delay
of ongoing projects. All these parameters were allocated certain marks totalling to 100.
The evaluation was done by visiting their premises and interviewing their personnel.
952. Which are the various type of C&I cables? The C&I cables till last project were PVC insulated FRLSsheathed cables. For 700MWe
we are going to use EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber) insulated LHLS (Low Halogen Low
smoke) cables. In addition, for special purposes, PEEK(Poly ether ether Ketone)
insulated, Fire survival and Co-axial cables shall also be used.
953. Why EPR LHLS? EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber - insulated) is a very flexible material therefore ease in
dressing of wires inside Panels/JBs. LHLS has almost halogen free (<2%) and gives very
Less smoke. These properties are very helpful for fire fighting.
954. Any LOCA qualified cable? PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) are LOCA qualified cables and are being used in CTM
and Shut-down systems.
955. How cables are qualified? For LOCA qualification, the cable is first subjected to Accelerated ageing, Radiation
ageing (100 MRads) and then subjected to LOCA environment (0.8 KG/Cm2 pressure
and 134 deg C temp) in LOCA chamber.
956. What is RMU? Why you monitor 90 % position in RMU? Why not 100 % Rod monitoring Unit. Up to 91% insertion, almost full reactivity is inserted. Beyond this
position? speed dampening takes place at fast rate & if 100% is monitored, it may lead to sensing
the delayed rod actuation & will lead to frequent SSS acuation alongwith PSS.
957. What is the difference between DPHS and the present system? DPHS (Duel processer hot standby) uses single computer with duel processor & DCHS
(Duel computer hot standby) uses duel computer.
958. Will there be a difference in output?
959. Will there be a bump during transfer because of this?
960. How do you take care of it?
961. Do you monitor watchdog?
962. Why RMU development was taken up? RMU was developed to identify PSS failure, which will actuate SSS for Rx S/D.
963. What was the difference between NAPS-RMU and others?
964. Through isolation what common mode failures are avoided Common mode failure due to temperature, moisture, dust vibration, fire etc.
965. What is difference between Panel based MMI/Control room and  Panel base C/R is Hard ware based, equipment operation is through HS.
Console based CR?  Console based C/R is software based, equipment operation is through touch screen
PC console.
966. Are there some studies carried out in India?
967. What will be issues in Console based CR? Training the people, hanging of PC console, software failure may lead to drastic abnormal
system behavior.
968. You have developed protocols, what layer they are working?

Page 49 of 51
969. What are characteristics of good protocol?
970. How do you ensure quality of service on your network? Through IV & V
971. How do you manage Protocol over head?
972. How are you using Ethernet for real time system?
973. How do you take care of loops formed in Ethernet switched network?
974. What features you have added in MMI (Man machine interface) to
improve operator response?
975. How reusable components are decided and developed?
976. How do you manage time stamping over all systems connected with
COIS?
977. What happens if some system fails to synchronize with CCS?
978. How do you take care of ESR time sync which requires 1 ms Sync
resolution?
979. You are having different system with different scanning requirements,
but you are using same input boards... Do you require any precaution
at input processing?
980. What type of sensors are used in CCTMS?
981. How do you take care of LEAD wire compensation?
982. How are you compensating RTD calibration error?
983. Balancing is tedious process do you have any software for this?
984. What is done with faulty RTD?
985. What is done when RTD is replaced during operating plant?
986. Why are you developing software, when it can be outsourced?
987. Can you name a detector/ sensor, which is very big?
988. What is application of Particle accelerator?
989. How particles are accelerated?
990. What is OLED?
991. What are advantages of LEP displays?
992. Can we use computer based system for Safety systems?
993. If No Why?
994. Can we use them for reactor control? yes
995. What were the major findings from the reverse engineering of IRV
diaphragms
996. What was the material considered and why
997. What were the other materials considered and why were they rejected
998. What sensor can be used for measurement of very low temperatures
999. How do we differentiate between cloud and grid computing
1000. Whether our stations are base load or peak load, if base load why. Droop is 4%, base load.
1001. How peak loads can be taken care of. Peak loads are taken care by hydel Power Plants, Diesel operated captive power plants,
Thermal power Plants, Oil/Gas fired power Plants.
1002. Base load why. Power variation will lead to Fuel failure
1003. How to share load During frequency variation major loads taken/rejected is by peak load operating plants.

Page 50 of 51
 There is reward & penalty by Grid for operating power plants against such varying
demands.
1004. Why our reactor cannot follow load Power variation will lead to Fuel failure

General/not categorized:

1005. Anybody knows about artificial sun?! Fusion reactor (ITER) is an artificial sun.
1006. How wi-fi works
1007. How 3g 4g different in working/principles
1008. What have you done in last one year.
1009. What's 3d printing
1010. What is difference between Ordinary river Water, Sea water, DM water  DM & Distilled water almost same (stream passed through IX), Distilled water
and Mineral water. (distillation process – steam is formed & condensed).
 River water contains less salt (0.012%), sea water contains high salt (average 2.75%).
 Hard water contains high concentration of Ca & Mg salts, soft water contains less salts
(produces lather from soap)
1011. What is difference between spectroscopy and spectrometry? Spectroscopy is study of spectrum of mass / energy. The stream of study is spectrometry.
1012. Have you heard about global emission? What is it and how nuclear  Global emission is emission of Green house gases world wide.
energy is useful in this regard?  Green house gases are Water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4),
nitrous oxide (N2O) and ozone (O3), responsible for global warming.
1013. What is the amount of carbon dioxide produced by burning a ton of 1 x 44 /12 Tones (3.67 T)
coal?
1014. What is the amount of coal required in a year for a thermal plant? Compare 220 MWe – 1 MWdt = 1 g U = 3 T coal,
so for 800 MWdt 800x3= 2400 T coal will require
1015. What is the source of energy in Sun? Fusion Reaction
1016. What s happening in Sun? How do you know about it? Fusion reaction is taking place. We know by study of neutrino oscillation study.
1017. What evidence you have to say the nuclear fusion happens on Sun? We know by study of neutrino oscillation study.
1018. What reactions are happening in Sun? How do you know its fusion? Gravitational force on the Sun contains the plasma
What is the force that contains the Plasma?
1019. Tell us your contribution to department
1020. Why u need to do in pile testing.
1021. What have you done in last one year?
1022. What is Kelvin Helmholtz and Rayleigh Taylor instability?(Expert)  Rayleigh Taylor instability - An instability of an interface between two fluids of
different densities which occurs when the lighter fluid is pushing the heavier
fluid.Examples include the behaviour of water suspended above oil in the gravity of
Earth,mushroom clouds like those from volcanic eruptions and atmospheric nuclear
explosions.
 Kelvin Helmholtz instability -Typically occurs when there is velocity shear in a
single continuous fluid, or additionally where there is a velocity difference across the
interface between two fluids. A common example is seen with wind blowing over
water.
1023. What’s a supercritical fluid? How is it different from normal fluid? A fluid above critical temp & pressure where we can not differentiate between liquid and

Page 51 of 51
 (Bhaduri) vapour phase e.g. for water it is 22.1 MPa & 374 OC
1024. How did you validate the supercritical loop CFD simulation?
1025. Would you solve a SC flow in the loop using in-compressible or
compressible methodology?
1026. Which software can provide analytical solution?
1027. What are the limitations of standard k-epsilon turbulence model? (Dir
BARC)
1028. Can we perform Monte – Carlo simulation for validation of CFD
simulation? (Chairman sir)
1029. How Deonar dumping yard fire happened?How to prevent Deonar like Nine scrap dealers, with warehouses close to the dumping ground, were responsible for
fire? the fires
1030. How Kolkata flyover bridge got collapsed? IIT reports on the Vivekananda Road Flyover on Wednesday revealed that the design of
the flyover was faulty. The report also points out at the lack of use of proper construction
material, faulty design approval and wrongful project execution of the Kolkata Metropolitan
Development Authority.
1031. Civil: How Himalayan mountain range are formed? Which tectonic The Himalayan mountain range and Tibetan plateau have formed as a result of the
plates are colliding? Name them? collision between the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate
1032. Civil: You have to make a 50 meter long column. Which configuration
is better? Overground, underground or partly underground?
1033. Define glass? What is the difference between a glass and solid?
1034. What you have been doing in last few years?
1035. What special instructions are given to person working in SwP?
1036. Is it safe to cut a line filled with ammonia gas? Ammonia is not highly flammable, but containers of ammonia may explode when exposed
to high heat. Ammonia gas can decompose at high temperatures forming very flammable
hydrogen and toxic nitrogen dioxide.
1037. Civil: What is e-tendering?
1038. Civil: What is NPP? Nuclear Power Plant
1039. Civil: What is CPP website?
1040. Civil: Where do you use steel structures and where RCC structures Steel construction is most often used in: High-rise buildings because of its strength, low
weight, and speed of construction. Steel structures can be built much faster than RCC
structures. For commercial structures which take a lease on the land for say 10 or 20
years, it makes sense to quickly build the structure and start business to make money. At
the end of their lease period, the building can be dismantled and steel can be taken away
with very less loss.
1041. Civil: What are the ore fabricated steel structures? what are their
advantages?
1042. Civil: What are various types of the concrete?
1043. What is very high density concrete of 5gm/cc density? Where it is Heavyweight concrete is primarily useful for nuclear radiation shielding. Gamma-rays and
used? X-rays can be shielded by a mass of material containing heavy atoms (e.g. Fe, Ca, Mg).
To shield against neutrons it is necessary to have a mass of material that contains atoms
that can both “thermalize” and capture neutrons. The hydrogen atom in water that is
chemically bonded in concrete “thermalizes” the fast neutrons which may then be captured
by other atoms such as boron which have high neutron-capture cross-sections.

Page 52 of 51
1044. Civil: what do you know about NFC accident?
1045. Civil: What cods to be referred for scaffolding design?
1046. Civil:what AERB says about accidents in DAE?
1047. Civil: How many fetal accidents take place in construction industry
and in DAE constructions?
1048. Civil: Who is responsible for NFC accident?
1049. Civil: before concreting, what safety precautions you have to take to
avoid such fetal accidents?
1050. One completed project which you feel is very important to DAE?
1051. Is there any antimatter produced in reactor?
1052. Solar flares?
1053. Sludge hygeinization?
1054. What is Graphene? What is Carbyne?
1055. Whats low leakage loading pattern in reactor?
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 Flammable zirconium scrap caught fire as the drums containing the material were off-
loaded from a lorry by the roadside killing innocent passers-by (India Today, April 16-
30. 1981).
 Blackened patch on the rocky scrubland that is used as the dump. The flammable
material, zirconium or anything else, would have had to have been present in
significant quantity to leave that tell-tale sign.
 Following the 1981 incident the NFC has double-fenced its waste disposal facilities
and is to strengthen it with a two-kilometre wall.
AERB enforces the proper investigation, identification of root cause & take necessary
recommended actions to prevent recurrence of the accidents/incidents. AERB reviews all
the recommendations & actions taken (Through safety committee, SARCOP).
Procedure & policy of dumping the scrap and fencing the area.
There are many- among them some are ADSS (To utilise Th), PFBR (to enter in third
stage programme), Accelerator for ADSS
 Anti neutrinos produced in fission (with β decay it emits antineutrino), with positron
emission it emits neutrino.
 In Fusion reaction neutrinos are produced.
A solar flare is a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun, usually observed near
its surface and in close proximity to a sunspot group. Flares are closely associated with
the ejection of plasmas and particles through the Sun's corona into outer space; flares
also copiously emit radio waves. If the ejection is in the direction of the Earth, particles
associated with this disturbance can penetrate into the upper atmosphere (the ionosphere)
and cause bright auroras, and may even disrupt long range radio communication.
Irradiation of municipal waste to kill harmful micro organism & make it harmless organic
fertiliser. (Ahmadabad)
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon in the form of a single layer of atoms in a two-
dimensional hexagonal lattice in which one atom forms each vertex.
In organic chemistry, a carbyne is a general term for any compound whose structure
consists of an electrically neutral carbon atom connected by a single covalent bond and
has three non-bonded electrons. The carbon atom has either one or three unpaired
electrons, depending on its excitation state; making it a radical.
Carbyne: A new form of carbon that's stronger than graphene. A new form of carbon,
dubbed carbyne, is stronger and stiffer than any known material. In fact, carbyne is about
two times stronger than graphene and carbon nanotubes, which until now were the
strongest materials by some margin.
Peaked flux operation is low leakage loading pattern.
1056. Where a naturally occurring nuclear reactor? Oklo Gabbon, South Africa
1057. What are Tea pot tests? (nuclear bomb tests series of 14)
1058. Tell me about simulator used in MAPS Simulator used is replica of main control room where actions are processed through
software logics (not actual process feedback) to replicate the actions.
1059. What type of simulator used in MAPS and purpose of simulator Purpose of simulator is to enhance understanding & skill of the licensed personnel to
handle the transient effectively through the use of operator fundamentals (monitoring,
control, conservatism, team work, knowledge) and reduce the human errors.
1060. TC – What is sensitivity? How will you improve the sensitivity of TC?
1061. What is the accuracy of TC? How will you improve
1062. Without cold compensation how will you measure?
1063. TC if it is open without checking by DMM how SIM will show you it will
open
1064. What are your contributions to the organisation in last 5 yrs? Why
should we consider you for the promotion?
1065. IGCAR director what you do?
1066. What are you doing for the past 3 years?
1067. What were your contribution to organisation in last few years?
1068. What was your contribution?
1069. What was the recent RAPP-5 incidence?
1070. What have been doing for the past 6 years?
1071. Which gas was released during deonar dump fire... Smoke & black sooth
1072. Why so much speed difference in 3G and 4G network and how does it
works.
Others
1073.  Amretium (α emitter) + Berillium  Neutron emitter  used as Neutron source
 Amretium (α emitter)  Used in ionisation type smoke detector
 Californium  emits Neutron by spontaneous fission  used as Neutron source
What is use of Heavier nuclei (heavier than Pu)
 Curium  has high specific heat 120 w/gm (due to α emission)  Heat can be
converted into electricity by thermo electric converter  can be used in satellite,
space vehicles
1074.
1075.
1076.
1077.
1078.
1079.
1080.
1081.
1082.
1083.
1084.

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 1085.

Independent Verification & Validation

3G Vs 4G speed

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