The History of Liquid Metal Pump Development in India

In a fast breeder reactor, the liquid sodium coolant is circulated through the core using vertical centrifugal pumps. These pumps are critical equipment for reactor operation and they have many unique design features. Indigenous development of pumps is vital for the demonstration and expansion of fast reactor technology which constitutes the critical second stage of our three-stage programme.

Indigenous design and development of vertical centrifugal sodium pumps was taken up more than two decades ago in close collaboration with Indian industry. This article provides an account of the work done in the areas of pump hydraulics, mechanical design and testing, and manufacture.