Designing Quality For 37 Element PHWR Fuel

Abstract

Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), Hyderabad, has supplied the fuel and structural components for the first indigenously designed 540 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water reactors (PHWR) at Tarapur, India. The new fabrication route coupled with more number of components called for redesigning of the quality system. The new quality system emphasized on the following: Modifying the process flow sheet; Carrying out capability analysis for various processes; Development of inspection methods to suit modified process flow sheet; Minimise the product appraisal cost. The paper brings out the details of the above mentioned aspects, adopted during the manufacture of fuel to initial core of 540 MWe PHWR.