Nuclear Waste Management in Indiaby Sudarshan Sreeram | 26-05-2017 12:35 |
|---|
 Nuclear energy is generated when a nuclear fuel atom undergoes a reaction in which it splits into two smaller atoms. This generates heat which is then used in driving steam turbines to produce electricity. The leftover smaller atoms, known as fission products, constantly emit energetic particles which can cause biological damage. These fission products are the main key component of nuclear waste. So, in simple terms, nuclear waste is a toxic and hazardous material that nuclear fuel turns into after it is used inside a nuclear reactor. Furthermore, nuclear waste can exist in solid, liquid, and gas forms with varying levels of radioactivity. Nuclear energy is the fourth most used form of energy in India after thermal, hydroelectric, and solar. India has a total of 22 reactors in 8 nuclear plants. In addition, India has planned to add 6 more new plants to its inventory of nuclear power plants. The BARC or Bhabha Atomic Research Center is an organisation under the Government Of India Department Of Atomic Energy. This organisation acts as the mother of many research and development institutions that carry out research in nuclear technologies, nuclear power production, and materials technology. For the management of nuclear waste in India, a clear set of principles and standards are being followed in accordance with international guidelines. Considering the safety of the environment, health of the human population, and protection of the future generations of India, the philosophy for the safe management of nuclear wastes in India is based on the concepts of "Delay and Decay", "Dilute and Disperse", and "Concentrate and Contain". Depending on the level and nature of radioactivity, nuclear wastes can be divided into exempt waste, low and intermediate level waste, and high level waste (HLW). Effective management of nuclear waste involves a sequence of steps:
Low and intermediate level wastes are relatively easy to dispose as their radioactivity levels are low. Storing them for about 10 to 50 years will allow the waste to decay, after which it is safe to dispose. On the other hand, high level wastes contain high radioactivity levels and hence should be isolated from a human populated environment. This type of waste should be handled with extreme care and always under constant surveillance. Management of HLW in India follows three steps:
The basic requirements for a deep geological repository are: remoteness from human population and ecological hot-spots, absence of circulating ground water, and ability to contain radionuclides (atoms which have excessive nuclear energy making it unstable) for long periods of time. Proper and safe disposal of nuclear waste is required for the preservation of environmental attributes such as soil, air, and water as well as the safety of humans. If not handled with proper care and treatment, nuclear waste can pose as a clear threat to human life and nature. Nuclear waste can cause cancerous growths and genetic alterations which increases the difficulty of surviving. There have been many minor accidents at various nuclear power plants spread across India some of which are listed below. Accidents at Indian Nuclear Power Plants:
Useful Links:
|
