The revenue of Tvel, Rosatom fuel company, received from non-atomic production realization increased almost by RUB 2 billion during the year: from RUB 13,898 billion in 2011 up to RUB 15,877 billion in 2012. We would like to tell our readers about promising incidental production of the State Corporation, developing successfully since the previous year.
Siberian Chemistry
In 2012 a new project was launched at the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) within the limits of the chemical complex development – a joint project of TVEL, “Industrial Innovations” company and “Rosnano” group (implements the state policy in the industry development) – “Cathode materials”. The goal of the project is to create import-substituting industrial production of cathode material based on lithium-iron phosphate for rechargeable lithium-ion cells with annual productive capacity of 3500 tons by 2015.
After the year of work the NCCP received a fabrication technique license of nanometer compositional cathode material. The specialists have already practiced the technology of its synthesis and produced pilot lots. Shortly the NCCP will be able to establish serial production of the material.
Challenging Alloys
In 2012 the concept of creating an industry expertise center of metallurgy (OCM) at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant (enterprise specializing in production made of natural and depleted uranium, calcium metal, being one of the key elements in technological chain of production of fuel, construction materials and atomic industry items). Within the bounds of the OCM project different alloys are being developed for the needs of atomic, aviation, defense industries and ship-building.
Thus, the last year there was acceptance inspection of a batch of riffled tubes made of titanium with spiral finning with cold twisting. The first batch (500 kg) of titanium bars was produced upon the contract with ValMetEngineering (India). Within the bounds of the same project at the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant a design project of a pilot plant for zirconium oxide granulated material was developed, the scope of production being 3 tons a year. Also there were some contracts signed, concerning supply and assembly of equipment, the main amount of which had been delivered in 2012. The zirconium oxide granulated material stabilized with scandium is used for solid oxide cell (SOC) components kit, as well as for items made of different purpose engineering ceramics.
Besides at the plant an experimental installation for collective rare-earth concentrate separation was launched and the samples of neodymium oxide were delivered. Further the product can be used in metallurgy and chemical industry, as well as in producing magnets. The Plant also produced two classific batches of superconducting wire for MRI machines as the part of the “Superconducting Materials” project.
The SM production allows the usage of the existing ti-tech potential of the Plant for new scientific projects within the country – in medicine, space, electrical energy industry, geologic exploration, air, water and railroad transportation.
Industrial Park
A joint production of electricity and heat metering devices was established at VPA Tochmash. Besides, within the bounds of non-atomic production development, Tochmash continued developing the project of the industrial park. Today at the production site there are more than 30 residents located, occupying more than 60 square meters of space.
Among the residents are the affiliates: Tochmash-Auto (accessory equipment for leading auto-concerns), Stankomash (machinery and equipment), IF “Pioner” (instruments, molding tools, block dies) and Promparkservice (space lease, maintenance and logistics of infrastructure). In 2012 a concept of creating a similar park in Novouralsk, Sverdlov region, was developed.
