JSC Atomenergoprom Annual Report slide image

JSC Atomenergoprom Annual Report

INNOVATIONS AND NEW PRODUCTS JSC ATOMENERGOPROM / ANNUAL REPORT / 80 Development of new materials and technologies for advanced energy systems (fourth federal project included in the CP DTTS) The Company's research organisations carried out 12 government R&D contracts worth a total of more than RUB 1.7 billion. Research is focused on three areas: the development of new materials and technologies for existing and advanced power generation units; the synthesis of superheavy elements and the study of properties of matter under extreme conditions (MEC); the development of a molten salt research reactor (MSRR). More specifically, in 2022, specialists from the Company's research organisations developed and produced two 3D printers that can be used to manufacture products from ceramic materials (using the FDM/LDM and SLA techniques) and polymer materials (using the FDM technique). This method significantly reduces the lead time for the required parts and helps to optimise production costs. Research on MEC involved building a test bench to study metal corrosion from simultaneous exposure to humid air and ionising radiation, reducing the required duration of experiments several thousand-fold. Specialists at JSC Science and Innovations also developed technology for introducing catalytic particles into a reactive medium, restoring the catalytic activity of activated particles, and producing passive catalytic recombiners for flameless hydrogen combustion. International projects In 2022, the Company fulfilled all its obligations to foreign customers under existing contracts carried out jointly with organisations in Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia and aimed at developing high- technology sectors, such as thermonuclear power, improving the safety of nuclear technology, developing and improving new types of nuclear fuel and new materials. In addition, contracts were concluded with new partners from China, India and Thailand for the supply of products manufactured by the Company's enterprises and for the provision of services and conducting high-technology experiments using Russian research facilities. At the ATOMEXPO 2022 International Forum in November 2022, a research cooperation agreement was signed with the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Under the agreement, the parties will jointly implement projects and conduct R&D in the field of radiation materials science and astrophysics and will cooperate in order to develop technologies for the production of radionuclides for nuclear medicine. Overall, over the past five years, revenue from new products of JSC Science and Innovations has increased six-fold, accounting for around 50% of total revenue. Intellectual property management The Company continued to take steps to ensure legal protection of intellectual property of JSC Atomenergoprom and its organisations in Russia and abroad. In 2022, specialists at the Industry-Wide Competence Centre for Intellectual Property Management (the IP operator) filed 52 foreign patent applications. Based on applications filed in previous years, 16 Russian and 153 foreign patents were obtained in 2022. Principal patented areas include key components and technologies for VVER reactors, radiopharmaceuticals based on medical isotopes, new materials for nuclear reactor units, and fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors for NPPs. In addition, employees of the IP operator filed 13 Russian applications for inventions and utility models and six applications for state registration of computer software and databases as part of projects included in the Consolidated Industry-Wide Plan of R&D Topics (CIPT). Overall, in 2022, the Company's specialists registered the rights over 624 items of intellectual property. Development of technologies supporting the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation The Company consistently develops technologies and new products to ensure the country's technological sovereignty by developing and implementing solutions that do not rely on imported technology. JSC Research Institute of Nuclear Materials (INM, Zarechny, Sverdlovsk Region) carried out reactor tests of fuel for a new type of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) and the initial stage of comprehensive pre-irradiation and post-irradiation examination of micro-fuel elements, fuel compacts and matrix graphite. This research has helped to optimise the fuel fabrication technology for HTGRs. Based on applications filed in the reporting year for this type of research, in 2022, JSC INM obtained two Russian patents. Reactors of this type are intended to be used for more efficient hydrogen production. At the request of TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company, Japan), researchers at JSC INM validated the safety of storage of sorption columns used for the treatment of water contaminated with caesium-137, strontium-90 and tritium radionuclides (the water was used to cool damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP in March 2011). Plans for the medium term Innovative development priorities in the nuclear industry are informed by prioritised areas approved by ROSATOM's Strategic Council and formalised in the Government Programme 'Development of the Nuclear Power and Industry Complex in the Russian Federation', the CP DTTS and other government programmes of the Russian Federation involving JSC Atomenergoprom. As part of the third federal project included in the CP DTTS, the Company plans to develop a compact high-intensity neutron source for the testing of fusion reactor components, with completion scheduled for 2024. As part of the fourth federal project included in the CP DTTS and focused on the development of new materials and technologies for advanced energy systems, by the end of 2024, the Company plans to produce six samples of new equipment and at least 11 new materials with higher strength and corrosion resistance and improved radiation properties for the same service life. By the end of 2030, the Company will start to manufacture products from basic materials on an industrial scale, which will enable it to design advanced energy systems using them. INNOVATIONS AND NEW PRODUCTS JSC ATOMENERGOPROM / ANNUAL REPORT / 81
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