ISP NPP and Fraunhofer IWS cooperation
Specialists of the Institute for Safety Problems of NPP of the NAS of Ukraine conducted joint research on the destroyed nuclear infrastructure decommissioning in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS, Germany. Oleksandr Proskurin, a leading engineer of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department, participated in the 6-month research, which began in early 2023. The research focused on laboratory experiments as part of the project of fuel-containing materials localization from the lower marks of the Shelter object using advanced technologies and methods of laser fragmentation.
The Fraunhofer Foundation promotes scientific exchange between German and Ukrainian researchers to help rebuild infrastructure, repair war damage, and prepare for recovery using climate-friendly and environmentally friendly technologies. For this purpose, the foundation fully finances Ukrainian specialists and their research activities for up to six months at Fraunhofer institutes in Germany. Oleksandr Proskurin, who joined Fraunhofer IWS in Dresden, became the first scientist from Ukraine invited to participate in this initiative.
Fraunhofer IWS develops complex system solutions for the laser and materials engineering industries. The institute positions itself as a driving force for ideas, developing solutions based on laser applications, functionalized surfaces and innovative materials and processes — from easy-to-integrate user solutions and cost-effective solutions for small and medium-sized businesses to industry-wide solutions. In the five future innovative fields of battery technology, hydrogen technology, surface functionalization, photonic manufacturing systems and additive manufacturing, Fraunhofer IWS is working diligently to create a foundation that will provide the technological answers to the future.
The project was led by Dr. Andreas Wetzig, Head of Fraunhofer IWS Cutting and Joining Technology. Research is aimed at studying the possibility of lava-like fuel-containing materials localization, such as black and brown ceramics. An analysis of existing structures and the possibility of reproducing reliable synthetic imitators was carried out. The development of laser fragmentation methods was carried out using alternative imitators of silicate materials, such as basalt and metallurgical slag, as well as research on laser cutting of unstable structures using reinforced concrete samples as an example.
This work was the beginning of cooperation between scientific organizations of Ukraine and Germany with further exchange of experience and wider involvement of Ukrainian specialists in the future. As part of the project, stable fragmentation methods of fuel-containing materials simulators were developed and a road map was drawn up for the implementation and testing of the technology within the Shelter object. Meetings were held with representatives of Plejades GmbH, Onet technology, and Dresden TU to resolve future challenges. The cooperation was covered in the German media.
https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/zdf-morgenmagazin/future-laser-tschernobyl-100.html
