The Kalpakkam Fast Breeder Reactor attained criticality, an essential step in the nation’s ambitious three-stage nuclear power program. This achievement reinforces India’s commitment to sustainable and self-reliant energy. Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL) has engineered and supplied primary and secondary heat transport pumps, critical components, and the only rotating equipment within the reactor system. These pumps represent a remarkable feat of engineering, each weighing approximately 135 tonnes and constructed using exotic materials to withstand extreme operating conditions. Designed to handle liquid sodium at temperatures exceeding 500°C, they exemplify precision, durability, and innovation.
In addition to these high-performance reactor pumps, KBL has also supplied concrete
volute circulating water pumps for this nuclear power plant. Developed using advanced seismic and computational fluid dynamics techniques, these pumps are uniquely designed to integrate seamlessly with the KBL-engineered compact intake system, ensuring efficient and reliable water management. Each of these pumps delivers 9,500 litres per second of seawater, and their reliability has eliminated the need for a standby pump. This is the first time in the world that such pumps have been used for circulating water application for a fast breeder nuclear reactor.