Rosatom subsidiary ordered a "digital double" of the process of making nuclear fuel for 120.5 million rubles

The fuel company TVEL, a subsidiary of Rosatom Group of Companies, ordered the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) to develop a digital double of the initial stage of nuclear fuel.

As TAdviser was told in the press service of TVEL, the company actively uses the technology of digital doubles, as this allows to reduce the development time of new products on the market by 35-40% and reduce the time to market by 25-30% and reduce maintenance and repair costs by 20%.

Digital engineering and the creation of digital twins allows you to conduct multiple tests of the prototype in a digital environment without the cost of producing and refining an intermediate product, to test all possible "what if" scenarios in virtual production.

TVEL TC on October 19, 2021 concluded an agreement with SPbPU for the development of digital doubles of the initial stage of the nuclear cycle for two types of fuel FA-K PWR and FA VVER. Research work should be completed by December 30, 2024. The amount of the contract is 120.5 million rubles. SPbPU was the sole bidder.

The initial cycle of nuclear fuel includes the stages of production/purchase of raw materials - uranium or plutonium - its preparation and enrichment, as well as the process of producing fuel in the form of ready-to-use FAs (fuel assemblies). TVS support from 18 to 313 TVEL (fuel elements), and happen several types: PWR is tetrahedral or six-sided VVER. They are used as fuel in nuclear reactors of nuclear power plants.

The Russian TVEL TC is one of the largest suppliers of nuclear fuel to the world market. Photo - Open Sources

According to the press service of TVEL TC, SPbPU is a traditional partner of Rosatom Corporation, many projects have been implemented with its participation, including process modeling and the creation of digital doubles. A cooperation agreement was signed between TVEL and SPbPU until 2023.

The technology of "digital doubles" itself is actively used by TVEL TC, a number of landmark projects have been implemented. In particular, a complete digital copy of the Radiochemical Plant was created at the site of the Siberian Chemical Plant (Seversk, Tomsk Region) and a digital information model of the Siberian Ring Photon Source Collective Use Center (SKIF CCP), which will be built near Novosibirsk in 2023.