[Legacy Report] Report on Field Trip to Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad

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Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology

Event Details:
Date: 8^th January 2016
Timings: 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. 
Venue: Nuclear Fuel Complex, Maula Ali, Hyderabad

Introduction:
IEEE SB MJCET organized a field trip to Nuclear Fuel Complex on 8^th January 2016. The Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), established in the year 1971 is a major industrial unit of Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. The remarkably powerful, nuclear fuel can produce 200 MeV of energy. To understand the significance of this powerful and efficient source of energy, IEEE SB MJCET executed this trip with gusto.                         

Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha: Homi Jehangir Bhabha was an Indian nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Colloquially known as "Father of the Indian Nuclear Programme". Bhabha was the founding director of two well-known research institutions, namely the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment; both sites were the cornerstone of Indian development of nuclear weapons which Bhabha also supervised as its director.

Vision behind the India’s 3 stage Nuclear Program:
Bhabha paraphrased the three-stage approach as follows: “The total reserves of thorium in India amount to over 500,000 tons in the readily extractable form, while the known reserves of uranium are less than a tenth of this. The aim of long range atomic power programme in India must therefore be to base the nuclear power generation as soon as possible on thorium rather than uranium… The first generation of atomic power stations based on natural uranium can only be used to start off an atomic power program. The plutonium produced by the first generation power stations can be used in a second generation of power stations designed to produce electric power and convert thorium into U-233, or depleted uranium into more plutonium with breeding gain… The second generation of power stations may be regarded as an intermediate step for the breeder power stations of the third generation all of which would produce more U-233 than they burn in the course of producing power.”

Event Description:

The executive committee members of IEEE Student Branch MJCET along with their Branch Counselor, Dr. Arifuddin Sohel and faculty member Ms. Maliha Naaz, left Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology at 8:30 AM and reached Nuclear Fuel Complex by 9:30 AM. The Security check at NFC was pivotal. No electronic gadgets were allowed inside, strict scanning of the bags and security checks were done to help protect from radiations, and for safety. The team was taken into a seminar room where the concept of nuclear energy was explained, a brief presentation was given by Mr. Ramana Murthy (scientific officer at NFC) He shed light upon contrast between conventional usages of coal for energy production with the nuclear fuel – Uranium 235 (Isotopic separation from the natural ore) NFC is the global manufacturer of nuclear fuel for power production and not for bombs or other explosives.

There were facts shown like the per capita consumption in India 1010 kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2014-15, and the existence of usage of nuclear fuel for energy production by the grids.       

This session was followed by a brief moral lecture by Mr. Sajid Basith (H.R. at NFC) on life and enlightened the students about the importance of being passionate and considerate towards the environment, health issues, parents and family. The process of getting into NFC was also briefed.This was followed by a question & answer session in which the difference in the manufacturing process in India and in foreign countries was foregrounded with the concept of minimal wastage in India.

After this, a short film was screened describing all the activities carried out at NFC and the brief enlightening messages from the Chief executive – Dr. N. Sai Baba and various other officers.

During the break, IEEE SB MJCET resorted to sharing their views on their future plans and the importance of various issues in the lives of several individuals and how we can reform the society in a better way, Moral values, parenting, justice, the significance of divine relationship and how we can make our lives and others lives better by being compassionate, humble and considerate. And what purpose we serve as human beings towards the safety of the planet and how we can channelize resources to beat the various unanticipated social concerns.

After an extremely hospitable and delicious lunch provided by the NFC, IEEE SB MJCET headed towards the control room of the plant where the NFC employee, Mr. Reddy explained the entire process in detail with the visual block diagram. The interesting thing about the control room was, there were computers implementing SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, a system for remote monitoring and control that operates with coded signals over communication channels) The control signals and the various parameters like temperature, pressure etc. were monitored right from the control room. There is absolutely no need of any supervisor at the

IEEE SB MJCET accompanied by Mr. Reddy headed to the Workshop where the pellets were manufactured, designed and tested. The testing methods were based on image processing applications. location of the plant. Everything is monitored from the control room with current feedback being updated all the time. The entire process at the plant was divided into sections and monitored accordingly.

The pellets were tested for any faults like cracks, spacing and edge detection. The new technologies implemented in NFC were very fascinating.

After witnessing the colossal task of manufacturing the nuclear fuel, the students along with the Branch Counselor, Dr. Arifuddin Sohel, were extremely moved by the lessons given by Mr. Sajid at the end of the field trip. He enlightened the students about the ‘actual’ implementation of the engineering and how students can work towards their goals, engineering lives and transforming the society. We sincerely thank Nuclear Fuel Complex Hyderabad for their extreme hospitality towards IEEE SB MJCET and for making this a truly intriguing experience.

Report prepared by Ms. Sidra Ali, Secretary, IEEE PES MJCET

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