Engineers within the machine-building division of the “Rosatom” state corporation have successfully manufactured and tested full-scale structural components for a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR), utilizing unique carbon-carbon composite materials. The corporation reported that crucial assemblies—specifically, a 1650 mm long core support block and a flexible control system assembled from 500 mm sections—underwent rigorous, extreme testing. These materials demonstrated their physical integrity up to 1300 °C and maintained their mechanical performance characteristics all the way to 1600 °C.
According to Fyodor Grigoriev, the project supervisor from JSC “Concern Rosenergoatom,” the knowledge gained facilitates future application of this technology, not just for fabricating other HTGR components, but also for diverse next-generation projects within Russia’s nuclear sector. Rosatom emphasized that employing this novel composite, notable for its stable properties across wide temperature variations and exceptional radiation resistance, yields substantial benefits: it enhances operational reliability while permitting a reduction in the size and weight parameters of reactor installations.
This development is specifically intended for a Nuclear Energy and Technology Facility (NETF) featuring a thermal reactor with a 200 MW capacity. The reactor, which uses helium as its coolant, is designed to deliver outlet temperatures reaching 850 °C, enabling the production of superheated steam at 750 °C. Substituting conventional metallic alloys with carbon structures not only allows for a lighter and more compact reactor design but also permits operation in harsh environments, thus providing high-potential heat required for industrial chemical processes such as the synthesis of hydrogen and ammonia.
Critically, the manufacturing process was refined using standard, serial industrial equipment belonging to a technological partner. This confirms the feasibility of integrating large-scale production into existing industrial lines without necessitating the construction of entirely new facilities. Corporate representatives noted that this successful development marks a significant milestone in realizing the NETF with an HTGR and a chemical technology loop. Furthermore, it represents a substantial advancement in developing modern, efficient materials for the future of nuclear energy, aligning perfectly with Rosatom’s strategic agenda for advancing capabilities in the hydrogen power sector.
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