- In the area of Critical Infrastructure
- In the field of Security and Defense
- Assessment of rest life time and safety of the engineering infrastructure
In the area of Critical Infrastructure
- Investigations on the structural characteristics of the metal of reactor pressure vessel of “Kozloduy” Nuclear Power Plant and important equipment of NPP and other installations in various industrial branches.
- Investigations on the rest-life time of important equipment of NPP and other power plants and development of programs and recommendations for extension of their service life.
- Мethods, programs, expert reports, technical requirements, etc., for control and safety of nuclear reactors type “WWER”. Participation in joint research projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency, European Atomic Energy Community, 5th EU Framework Program and several bilateral projects on the WWER reactors safety.
- Devices for measurement of structural characteristics of the metal of “Kozloduy” NPP equipment; establishing Laboratory for mechanical tests and metallographic examinations of irradiated surveillance specimens in “Kozloduy” NPP.
- Technologies and equipment for deactivation, transportation and storage of irradiated materials.
- Design and manufacture of elements of NPP equipment.
In the field of Security and Defense
- Development and improvement of fuse systems incorporating sensors based on various physical principles which operation modes (activation, self-neutralization, self-destruction) are preprogrammed or remote controlled.
- Improvement of fuse systems hardware and software for providing maximum probability of target detection and identification, maximum safety and reliability of operation.
- Improvement of explosive charge efficiency using the effect of explosive formed projectiles which provide maximum piercing ability and damages on the target.
- Improvement of communication between control units and executive devices for minimizing probability of wrong activation.
Development of camouflage coatings and jamming devices which make the mines practically undetectable by the enemy. - Development of new compositions of armor materials and new original constructions for protection of vehicles – light and heavy armored machines, helicopters, etc., against various ammunitions.
- Development of anti-diversion and anti-terrorist devices, including devices for personal protection.
The department is involved in several international defense projects:
- NATO Program for protection of helicopters against RPGs (the Institute is leading organization).
- NATO Program for harbor protection against terrorist actions.
- NATO Program for development of anti-personnel mines alternative (the Institute is the leading organization for Bulgaria).
- Several bilateral projects on improved protection of armored vehicles against kinetic projectiles and shape charges.
Assessment of residual life time and safety of the engineering infrastructure
The research department “Deformability and analysis of metals and alloys” is the only research unit in the country that participates in the surveillance and assessment of the metal properties degradation of the installations in the first loop of the units in NPP Kozloduy. This is directly related to the nuclear safety, security and reliability of the power units.
The department is a leader in the development of the programs for supervision of the metal of the reactor pressure vessels of the units in NPP Kozloduy and actively participates in the development and fulfillment of the modernized program for supervision of the reactor pressure vessels of units 5 and 6.
The Institute, together with NPP Kozloduy, has established laboratory for mechanical tests and structure examinations of radioactive specimens in the special zone of unit 5.
After approbation of the test methods by international round-robin tests the Institute of Metal Science was chosen to perform the Program for supervision of the metal of the reactor pressure vessels in NPP Kozloduy.
There is established the effect of the neutron irradiation on the microstructure and morphology of metal fracture of seam 4 of unit 1 in NPP Kozloduy.
Assessment is made of the metal residual life time of the reactor pressure vessels of units 1,2,3 and 4 in NPP Kozloduy and it is found out that the radiation life time reaches the design predicted one.
By testing of irradiated to five burning cycles surveillance specimens from units 5 and 6 it is proved that the neutron induced metal embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessels of both units goes considerably slower than the design predicted one.
By developing and carrying out new experiments it is proved that after irradiation by over-design neutron fluence the rate of neutron embrittlement of the metal of seam 3 of units 5 and 6 is lower than the accepted standard and the possibility for extension of the exploitation term is grounded.
There are established the radiation induced changes which occur in the microstructure and morphology types of the fractured surface of the surveillance specimens of the metal of seam 3 of units 5 and 6.
Program is developed for observation of the metal of the reactor pressure vessels type WWER440 of NPP Kozloduy and through irradiation of surveillance specimens in host reactors the lateral law of re-embrittlement of the reactor pressure vessel metal after rehabilitation annealing is confirmed.
By examination of the temperature field on the surveillance specimens by a new type of monitors in the standard observation positions and the water channels of the active zone limiter it is proved that the irradiation temperature in both positions is representative for the reactor pressure vessel.
