TOMSK, Oct 29 –
RIA Tomsk. Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) invest almost 90 mln rub over the next year in modernization of the
University Nuclear Research Reactor; work is funded by a grant from the
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, the head of TPU School
of Nuclear Science & Engineering "Nuclear Research Reactor" Artem
Naimushin told RIA Tomsk.
Earlier, the TPU
press service reported that Tomsk Polytechnic University won the competition of
the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation for the
modernization and development of unique research facilities (URF), which are
created to obtain new results.
"The
agreement provides for two stages: the first one – from the moment of
conclusion to the end of 2019, the second one – until September 2020. Strictly
speaking, this is not a grant, but a subsidy, and it compensates our costs: 50
million rubles in 2019, and 37.5 million – in 2020", – Naimushin
explained.
According to
him, in 2019 the university plans to purchase most of the equipment, and in
2020 to carry out installation and development of methods for working with it.
According to the
press service, in total, eight scientific institutes and universities of the
country became winners of the grant competition. Among them are the V.E. Zuev
Institute of Atmospheric Optics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy
of Sciences, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Special Astrophysical
Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Complex for new
technologies
At the reactor
will be created installations that will allow to obtain scientific results and
create world-class technologies in the field of cryogenic materials science,
neutron capture radiation therapy, synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals and
technological isotopes, creation of a component electronic base for the digital
economy, and so on.
"Cryogenic
material science: we irradiate various materials with a mixed stream of reactor
radiation (neutrons and gamma-ray quanta) in space cold conditions. The main
customers here are – Roscosmos and the developers of the satellites", – the
interlocutor of the agency explained.
Neutron capture
radiation therapy is intended for the treatment of oncology using reactor
radiation. "It is used in the case of inoperable tumors as a "weapon
of last chance". It is extremely effective, but very expensive", – the
expert said.
According to
him, the synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals and technological isotopes – is the
production of radioactive substances that are not found in nature. They are used
in medicine for diagnosis (for example, MRI with contrast) and treatment
(brachytherapy), for technical purposes – as sources of ionizing radiation
(x-ray machines, fire alarms).
In terms of the
component base of electronics, new installations at the reactor may be useful
for producing high-quality doped silicon in the future.
"Now we are
making an installation for doping silicon with a diameter of more than 200
millimeters. So far there are only three such installations in the world. The
most interesting thing here is that potentially our technology can be
implemented in any pool reactor, and these are the vast majority of research
reactors", – says Naimushin.
Also, a set of
equipment will be created at the reactor for the study of materials suitable
for use in nuclear and thermonuclear reactors of any type, including nuclear
rocket engines.
About the
reactor
The reactor of
Tomsk Polytechnic University – is the only active university nuclear reactor in
Russia. It was launched in 1967 and has since been repeatedly modernized. Over
the past 10 years, more than 650 million rubles have been allocated for the
modernization and updating of the park of scientific and technological
equipment.
As it specified
on the website of the university, the TPU reactor – is a unique educational
platform. Annually, 430 students undergo training at the reactor. They in
practice gain knowledge on managing a nuclear power plant, providing physical
protection for nuclear facilities, nuclear and radiation safety.
Moreover, among
Russian operating reactors only in Tomsk, at the TPU reactor, foreign citizens
can be trained. They are getting ready to work at nuclear facilities in their
countries. Since 2015, students from Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, India, China,
Tanzania, Brazil, Zambia, Iran and Vietnam have been trained here.
The reactor
conducts promising research in the field of environmental management and
materials science, nuclear medicine. TPU is one of the leading Russian centers
for the development and production of radiopharmaceuticals – medicines
containing radioisotopes.
Thus, on the
basis of the reactor, scientists receive a diagnostic isotope technetium-99m.
Here also operates the only in Russia production of scarce radioactive phosphorus-32.