CleanupBot II at 21:51, 13 August 2023

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The '''Dhruva reactor''' is [[India]]'s largest nuclear [[research reactor]]. It was the first nuclear reactor in Asia proper.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Office of Scientific Intelligence |author-link=Office of Scientific Intelligence |title=Indian Nuclear Energy Program |url=https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu//NSAEBB/NSAEBB187/IN01.pdf |website=[[National Security Archive]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |accessdate=7 June 2020 |date=26 March 1958}}</ref> Located in the [[Mumbai]] suburb of [[Trombay]] at the [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre]] (BARC), it is India's primary generator of [[weapons-grade plutonium]]-bearing spent fuel for its [[nuclear weapon]]s program. Originally named the R-5, this [[open pool reactor]] first went [[Criticality (status)|critical]] on 8 August 1985 after 10 years of construction. However, the unit did not attain full power until 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm|title= Selected Indian Nuclear Facilities|author=Andrew Koch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011215135620/http://cns.miis.edu/research/india/nuclear.htm|archive-date=15 December 2001|year=1999}}</ref> The reactor experienced at least one serious accident when {{convert|4|metric ton}} of [[heavy water]] overflowed from the reactor core in 1985 following vibration problems.<ref name="NTI">{{cite web|title=Dhruva Research Reactor|url=http://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/837/|website=Nuclear Threat Initiative|accessdate=21 May 2017}}</ref>

Designed as a larger version of the [[CIRUS reactor]], Dhruva was an Indian designed project built to provide an independent source of weapons-grade plutonium free from safeguards.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Menon|first1=Amarnath K|title=Indian scientists achieve major landmark in atomic energy programme with Dhruva|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-scientists-achieve-major-landmark-in-atomic-energy-programme-with-dhruva/1/354434.html|accessdate=21 May 2017|work=India Today|date=3 January 2014}}</ref> The Dhruva project cost 950 million rupees. The reactor uses [[heavy water]] (deuterium) as a [[neutron moderator|moderator]] and coolant. Aluminum clad [[fuel rod]]s containing [[natural uranium]] are used to obtain a maximum thermal power output of 100 [[megawatt]]s.<ref name="NTI"/> The reactor can produce {{convert|20|–|25|kg}} of [[weapons-grade plutonium]] per year.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Albright |first1=David |last2=Hibbs |first2=Mark |date=31 August 1992 |title=India's Silent Bomb |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAwAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 |magazine=[[Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists]] }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sidhu |first1=Waheguru Pal Singh |title=Enhancing Indo-US Strategic Cooperation |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |isbn=978-1-136-04608-7 |page=22 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bRQHjOslWeIC&pg=PA22 |language=en}}</ref>

[[Dhruva]], in Indian mythology, is a prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star by [[Vishnu]]. It can also mean 'immovable' in Sanskrit.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Vinay|first1=Dr|title=Linga Purana|date=2006|publisher=Diamond Pocket Books|isbn=9788128806797|page=41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zhIbyxoxHMgC&pg=PA41|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[N. S. Satya Murthy]]
* [[India and weapons of mass destruction]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/india_military_pluto-05.pdf|title=India’s Military Plutonium Inventory, End 2004|date=7 May 2005|publisher=ISIS|author=David Albright}}

{{Nuclear power in India}}

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[[Category:Nuclear research reactors]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology in India]]
[[Category:Atomic and nuclear energy research in India]]
[[Category:Military nuclear reactors]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Maharashtra]]

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Dhruva reactor - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 21:51, 13 August 2023