On June 12 on a ceremony in Kremlin three scientists were awarded with RUB 5 million prizes. The high award was granted to Georgy Karzov, General Director of Central Research Institute of Structural Materials “Prometey”, Yaroslav Shtrombakh, First Deputy Director of the NRC Kurchatov Institute and General Director of CNIITMASH (Central Russian Research Institute of Machine Building, part of Rosatom), Alexey Dub. The result achieved by the three institutions is an undisputable breakthrough.
It can be conventionally divided into two lines. The first one is connected with creation of new type of steel. The reactor vessels of the previous generations, as we know, were designed for a 30-40 years’ term. The steel offered by the prize-winners is able to prolong the life-span of future units up to 80 years, which in future may turn out as many as 120!
The second – life expanding of operating pile assemblies due to new annealing practice almost twice. “Ageing process, familiar to everyone, is fair for materials as well, – says Alexey Dub. – Under certain influence, of heat and radiation, a material loses its initial viscosity, gets more fragile. We studied and understood the basic mechanisms that affect ageing and offered to slow them down. To a certain extend we can call ourselves materials’ gerontologists”.
The materials developed by Russian scientists are unique, with no analogs abroad. It has become possible to decrease the risk of heat and radiation embrittlement not only due to a special chemical composition and several impurities’ restriction, but also to original technology, applied yet at production stage. It removes welding joint from active zone. This plays a significant part in a reactor vessel life-span prolongation.
To be continued in practice
According to Alexey Dub, an award of such a level for a scientist is a great achievement and pleasure: “The big work, seriously affecting atomic energy development, was properly acknowledged”. However this work is not yet finished. Now the developers have to safely introduce the new technology into industrial production. Today an important project is being implied – a whole pile assembly production from these types of materials.
“Of course it consists of various elements welded together. But it is a whole vessel, that can be applied for construction of some particular power unit based on VVER-TOI project and with operating life of 60 years and more”, – says Alexey Dub. The new materials are likely to be used for the Turkish Akkuyu and Kursk NPP-2.
