Russia's Atommash deploys weld inspection robot, speeding up complex nuclear equipment inspection by 30%
en.Wedoany.com Reported - Atommash, a plant under Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, has commissioned a robotic ultrasonic weld inspection system. Designed for products with complex geometries such as nuclear reactors and steam generators, the system boosts inspection speed by approximately 30% compared to manual operations.
The robot scans welded joints using two methods, identifying defect types and determining their coordinates. Traditional contact ultrasonic inspection requires personnel to move the probe along the product surface; the new system drives the scanning device via a control unit, reducing the dependence of inspection results on manual operation.
Atommash currently operates two robotic non-destructive testing systems for critical nuclear equipment, enabling scans in areas inaccessible to personnel while also reducing the consumption of ultrasonic testing consumables. Ultrasonic inspection is primarily used to detect internal weld defects that cannot be identified through visual examination.
Maxim Zhidkov, head of Atommash, stated that the robotic inspection system has been certified in accordance with Russian and international standards, and the company plans to replicate the technology across more production and inspection processes.
Since 2023, Atommash has manufactured 9 nuclear reactors and 35 steam generators for nuclear power projects in Russia and abroad. The plant is currently producing two Generation III+ nuclear reactor pressure vessels, as well as 12 steam generators for Egypt's El Dabaa nuclear power plant.
Atommash primarily manufactures VVER-type nuclear reactors and steam generators for large nuclear power plants. Rosatom's mechanical engineering division has also shortlisted 30 robotic automation projects covering processes such as transportation, welding, cleaning, and quality inspection, which are expected to save approximately 500,000 standard man-hours.
