TOMSK, March 3. /TASS/. The Governor of Tomsk Region Sergey Zhvachkin and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Gazprom PJSC Vitaly Markelov opened a new experimental section on the basis of Tomsk Vakrushev Electromechanical Plant, which uses technologies to find the smallest defects in complex parts of gas pipelines, the press service of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), which developed this technology, reported.

"Tomsk Polytechnic University has strong ties with Gazprom. This facility was created in the interests of the company in cooperation with our industrial partner, Tomsk Electromechanical Plant. This is a unique site that combines three physical principles of non-destructive testing. There is a powerful X-ray installation that allows to shine through metals up to 40 cm, and robotic installations that combine laser topography and ultrasound diagnostics," said Acting Rector of TPU Andrey Yakovlev at the opening ceremony.

Installations at this site allow to find the smallest defects in details that are not visible to the naked eye, and to study their internal structure without damaging them in any way. This effect is achieved by the effect of optical topography, which allows to obtain a three-dimensional image of the part and compare it with the part model. In turn, X-rays, ultrasounds work like X-ray and ultrasound, but for complex industrial parts.

The project was supported by a federal grant, having received 150 million rubles from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, the plant invested another 150 million. The site was created over three years. Among the developments of the TPU Engineering School of Non-Destructive Testing used in this project: the world's smallest particle accelerator — the betatron, and an ultrasonic flaw detector operating according to a fundamentally new scheme, and specialized software.

"Integration of science and production is our strong suit, and the project of Tomsk Electromechanical Plant and Tomsk Polytechnic University is a vivid example of effective cooperation between the scientific and educational complex of Tomsk and the real sector of the economy, when the developments of Tomsk scientists are used to solve production problems, in this case, the tasks of Gazprom", noted Zhvachkin, who presides over TPU Supervisory Board.

It is planned to check the parts under the greatest pressure in such an area. For example, axial anti-surge and control valves, which are used on all gas pipelines. Defects on such valves can lead to gas leakage or failure of an entire section of the gas pipeline.