| Functions & Duties of HEAVY WATER BOARD
Heavy Water Production
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Heavy Water Board
(HWB), a constituent unit of Industries and Minerals Sector under Department
of Atomic Energy, is primarily responsible for production of
Heavy Water (Deuterium Oxide-D2O) which is
used as a 'moderator' and
'Coolant'
in the nuclear power as well as research reactors. HWB has mastered the complex production
technology using two chemical exchange processes viz. H2S-H2O
bithermal process and NH3-H2 monothermal
process. India is one of the largest manufacturers of heavy
water in the world and is meeting
the heavy water requirements of the Indian Nuclear Power
Programme. The plants based on Ammonia-Hydrogen (NH3-H2)
exchange process are linked to the ammonia fertilizer plants
for synthesis gas feed supply while H2S-H2O
based plants are independent in this respect. HWB is
successfully operating six Heavy
Water Plants in the country. A technology demonstration plant using
Water-Ammonia
(H2O-NH3) deuterium exchange to make the ammonia based Heavy
Water Plants independent of fertilizer plants is also
developed and demonstrated at HWP, Baroda, Gujrat. All
Heavy Water Plants have well defined
Safety & Environmental
Policy and maintaining excellent records in these areas.
Heavy
Water Product from HWB meets stringent quality
specifications for international requirements. Heavy Water
Board has successfully exported Heavy Water to countries
viz. South Korea, China and USA.
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| New Activities |
In addition to producing Heavy Water, Heavy Water Board is
also engaged in following New Activities:
Production
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Production
of Tri-Butyl Phosphate and D2EHPA solvents required for
Solvent Extraction in Front End and Back end of Nuclear Fuel
Cycle.
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Production of B10
Enriched Elemental Boron through different processes engineered by
HWB, required for Prototype Fast Breeder
Reactors (PFBRs) .
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Developmental Work
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Based on lab technology from
BARC & IGCAR, processes for commercial production of new
solvents are being developed.
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Engineering &
Construction of a
facility to
convert Uranyl Nitrate Solution to Uranium Oxide powder. |
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Development of
Cryogenic Process System.
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Development of
process & technology for production of O18
isotope (D2O18) for PET Scanning &
Metabolic Studies.
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Setting up of a
R&D centre for developing NMR Solvents, Deuterium-labelled compounds and
suitable catalysts for Hydrogen – Water Exchange process.
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Development of
closed cell technology for Sodium Production to meet the requirement of
FBRs.
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Setting up of Rare
Material Recovery Plant.
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Development of
technology for direct conversion of boric acid to boron carbide.
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| Corporate Memberships: |
- Indian Chemical Manufacturers Association (ICMA)
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
- National Safety Council (NSC)
- Federation of Indian Chemical Industries (FICI)
- Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
- Institute of Directors (IOD)
- Indian Atomic Industrial Forum (IAIF)
- Fertilizer Association of India (FAI)
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| Management System Certification: |
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- HWB has been certified under ISO
9001-2008 for Quality Management Systems.
- Heavy Water Plant, Kota has been certified for ISO 9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems and IS 18000 for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems.
- Heavy Water Plant, Tuticorin has been certified for ISO 9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems and IS 18000 for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems.
- Heavy Water Plant, Manuguru has been certified for ISO 9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems.
- Heavy Water Plant, Hazira has been certified for ISO 9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems.
- Heavy Water Plant, Thal has been certified for ISO9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001 for Environment Management Systems & OSHAS18000 for Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems.
- Potassium Metal plant of Heavy Water Plant, Baroda has been certified under ISO9001-2000 for Quality Management Systems.
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| Services being Offered by HWB: |
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- Energy Auditing
- Flue Gas Conditioning
- Surplus Electrical Power Supply
- Process Retrofitting / Re-engineering
- Integrated Energy Management
- Commissioning Assistance
- Safety Assessment
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10 Lakh)
