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Department of Atomic Energy Inaugurates VDPP
The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) inaugurates the VDPP and commissions the 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell at the Heavy Water Board Facilities (HWBF) in Vadodara. The developments relate to producing high-purity deuterated solvents and nuclear-grade liquid sodium for scientific research and India’s nuclear programme.
VDPP, 24 kA Prototype Sodium Cell, and HWBF (Vadodara):
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| VDPP: output | VDPP produces specialized high-purity deuterated solvents. |
| VDPP: use-case coverage | VDPP output is essential for advanced scientific research, frontier technologies, and strategic applications. |
| Deuterated compounds: definition | Deuterated compounds comprise chemical compounds where ordinary hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium, a heavier isotope of hydrogen. |
| Deuterated compounds: uses | Deuterated compounds are essential for advanced scientific research, specialized electronics, pharmaceuticals, and strategic frontier technologies. |
| Sodium cell: definition | Sodium Cell comprises an industrial electrochemical system used to produce high-purity, nuclear-grade liquid sodium with existing HWBF. |
| 24 kA: specification | A 24 kA cell comprises a high-capacity electrical system rated at 24 kiloamperes. |
| Nuclear-grade liquid sodium: use | Nuclear-grade liquid sodium is the critical coolant required for India’s Fast Breeder Reactor (FBRs) Programme, the 2nd stage of the nuclear power programme. |
| FBRs: programme position | FBRs represent the 2nd stage of India’s 3-stage nuclear power programme. |
| HWBF: output and administrative control | HWBF produces heavy water (D₂O), under DAE, which is used as moderator and coolant in nuclear reactors. |
| Strategic Materials Hub: functions | The Strategic Materials Hub provides for producing deuterated compounds from heavy water and nuclear‑grade sodium through specialized chemical separation and purification processes for India’s nuclear programme. |