Published on: 2026-09-03
Source: Saint Petersburg Peter the Great Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
We continue to tell about the polytechnic teams of “Priority 2030.” Next up is the project “Development of Advanced Design Methods for Equipment of Atomic and Thermonuclear Reactors” led by the lead programmer of the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Atomic and Thermal Power Engineering, Viktor Modestov.
The project team is involved in implementing key projects defined by the strategic directions of the development of Russian energy. These include participation in the intergovernmental agreement on the design of a thermonuclear tokamak, as well as developments in the field of closed fuel cycle, in particular the design of equipment and the BREST-OD-300 reactor.
Work is being carried out in two main areas within the framework of the key scientific and technological direction “System Digital Engineering” under the leadership of the chief designer, director of the PISH “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov.
The first direction is related to the development of closed fuel cycle technologies. This year, the project team is developing methods for accounting for loads from equipment vibrations, pressure pulsations in the coolant flow channels, and rotor oscillations, taking into account the added mass of the medium and simulating the thermally stressed state of the BREST-OD-300 reactor unit housing. The work is being carried out on order from JSC NIKIET and JSC Breakthrough to create an advanced fast neutron reactor installation with a lead coolant. The features of this type of reactor include an operating temperature above 450 °C, which determines the specifics of the mechanics of structural materials, and a unique heat transfer mechanism due to the complete immersion of equipment in liquid lead and the liquid lead itself.
The second direction is thermonuclear energy. Here, project participants are developing digital twins of diagnostic equipment for domestic tokamaks and the international experimental thermonuclear reactor ITER. The key partners in this area are the A. F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, the G. I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, the ITER Project Center, the UTS Center, MEPhI, and others.
Thanks to the support of the “Priority 2030″ program, we have established a stable staffing schedule, secured funding for a number of formalized items, and paid membership fees to join the self-regulatory organization for particularly hazardous facilities. We also maintain the necessary licenses and systematically improve the qualifications of our employees,” said Viktor Modestov, the project manager for “Development of advanced methodologies for designing atomic and thermonuclear reactor equipment.”
The core of the team consists of graduates from the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes of the Physical-Mechanical Institute of SPbPU. The team includes more than 20 highly qualified engineers and researchers from the Scientific and Educational Center “Digital Engineering in Nuclear and Thermonuclear Energy.” Many are involved in teaching activities at the Digital Engineering Educational and Scientific Center, including within the framework of the specialized master’s program “Digital Engineering in Nuclear and Thermonuclear Energy.”
Please be advised; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.