TPT May 2014

Industry News

Cooperation between welding and testing institute and

Polysoude THE new centre of automated welding technologies has opened at CNIITMASH (a part of Atomenergomash group of companies). In market conditions this equipment is necessary. Automated welding does not just reduce NPP’s construction terms, it also ensures the highest quality of welding performance. “CNIITMASH is engaged in welding since 1929,” Yuri Volobuev, deputy general director, director of welding and testing institution, says. “Of course, the technology has made a gigantic step ahead. Methods and consumables of the automated welding will be developed in the new centre, not only for nuclear and thermal power applications. Innovations of such kind will come handy in aviation, space, construction and other industries.” French company Polysoude supplies welding equipment for the centre. “As you know NPP has lots of piping. Until now most of them have been welded manually,” Yuri Volobuev tells. “Automated narrow gap welding of primary coolant circuit, for instance, is two times as faster as manual welding using conventional bevel. One joint is treated manually for 100 hours. Do you imagine scope of economy? Quantity of control actions reduces and occurrence of defects comes to minimum.” CNIITMASH is sure that its tech- The technology centre is well equipped with orbital and mechanised welding equipment

nology is better than that of competitors: “We have made a complex approach and specially developed a new welding wire, which prevents porosity appearance.

Apart from that, our technology allows to perform narrow gap welding,” Mr Volobuev shares his professional secrets. “When will we be able to talk about broad introduction? We are on the way: we will employ automated welding for primary coolant circuit for constructed power unit at Rostovskaya NPP.” Vyacheslav Khodokov, head of laboratory in CNIITMASH, pointed out disadvantages of manual welding to the visitors during the inauguration ceremony. “Nowadays, a lot of manual welding is needed at NPP construction works but there is a lack of qualified personnel. Drastic way is to switch over to automated welding. People are easier to teach. Have a look around, we employ young and well-educated engineers who are attracted by improved working conditions.” “Previously welders even climbed

Left to right, Hans-Peter Mariner (CEO Polysoude Group), Alexey Doub (CEO Cniitmash) et Andrey Nikipelov (CEO Atomenergomash)

You can meet general specialists of welding and testing and non- destructive metal research institutions of CNIITMASH in the centre. In the future, it is intended to do attestations of other companies’ personnel, which will adopt technologies of automated welding. CNIITMASH’s know-how is waited at ROSATOM’s overseas construction sites. Afterwards it will become a serious competitive advantage of the corporation in the global market. Alexey Doub, general director of CNIITMASH and head of CJSC Nauka i innovatsii, told that automated welding should be used for producing vessel equipment at NPP Akkuyu in Turkey. Progressive technology of the research institution allows the nuclear power plant building division to broaden range of production, be more competitive, and reduce production time. Not long ago Atomenergomash group, having acquired a row of assets, became a full range service supplier for primary coolant circuits, starting from pipe manufacturing at Ukrainian Energomashspetsstal to pipe cladding at Petrozavodskmash while applying automated TIG welding developed by CNIITMASH and Polysoude for the NPP.

into a pipe but now everything is distant,” Alexander Abrosin, senior scientific officer of the institution, explains. “Human factor is minimised. When welding manually it’s unclear how well the joint has been made, but now all is under control. We have welded four pipes with narrow gap, using Polysoude equipment. There’s experience and testing shows that technology’s prospects are very good.”

Polysoude – France Website: www.polysoude.com

18

www.read-tpt.com

M ay 2014