Engineering Sciences

The sodium metal is a raw material for pharmaceutical uses and is also used as a coolant in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR). No commercial production/ technology is presently available in India, hence total Indian demand is met by import only. CSIR-NML has successfully designed, fabricated, and operated 500A closed sodium cell and produced sodium metal by molten salt electrolysis of sodium chloride. Based on the expertise a 3000A pilot-scale closed sodium cell was designed, fabricated, and demonstrated at the premises of M/s Sree Rayalseema Hi-Strength Hypo Ltd. (M/s SRHHL), Kurnool, AP. The pilot plant was operated successfully for at least a month and produced a significant amount of sodium metal. The purity of the metal was between 99.9 to 99.83% and the cell efficiency was about 83%. The indigenously developed cell design was successfully proven. Based on the success of the pilot-scale operation the commercialization/ industrialization of sodium metal production technology is under progress at the premises of M/s SRHHL, Kurnool up to a capacity of 144000A which includes 12000A of 12 cells aiming to produce 700MT per annum.