Logo projektu CentriX

"Establishment of an information and implementation center for industrial radiation techniques CentriX" is a project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under: Priority Axis I , "Utilization of research and development activity in the economy" Action 1.1 , "Research and development activity of scientific units" of the Regional Operational Program of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship for 2014-2020 on the basis of Grant Agreement No. RPMA.01.01.00-14-8516/17-00.

The aim of the Project is to create an innovation and implementation center for industrial radiation techniques CentriX, and the basic premise is to achieve the objectives of the research agenda in line with the objectives of the regional smart specialization of Mazovia. Laboratories created as a result of the Project will be used by industry (economic objective of the project) and science (non-economic objective of the project).

The direct goal of the CentriX Project is to increase the productivity and innovation of Mazovian companies by supporting their ability to use ultra-modern non-destructive testing techniques, tailored to the needs of their customers, and unavailable in the current economic system. Non-destructive testing (NDT), which will be carried out at CentriX's central laboratory, is primarily radiation testing. They are used, among other things, for:

  • Control of products allowing to: reduce shortages, hidden defects, the number of complaints, increase awareness of the reliability of the products of enterprises in Mazovia;
  • quality control of raw material supplies, e.g. coal, aggregates, cement, road bases and others;
  • technical control of infrastructure facilities, including: roads, bridges, buildings, elements of general technical infrastructure, airports, industrial facilities;
  • control of industrial processes, such as: flows and transportation of materials and raw materials;
  • control of production infrastructure, resulting in increased reliability and reduced times of unplanned downtime, which contributes to increased economic efficiency.

As part of the CentriX project, research infrastructure will be produced and purchased for the dual purpose of developing technologies and equipment at the National Center for Nuclear Research that can serve industrial customers, as well as for direct, economic use of this infrastructure through the implementation of non-destructive research and development work for entrepreneurs.

The CentriX project is directly related to the main objective and selected specific objectives of the ROP. In particular, with regard to the main objective of the WM ROP 2014-2020, i.e. "smart, sustainable development increasing social and territorial cohesion using the potential of the Mazovian labor market". Implementation of the general objective is focused on the development of a competitive economy of the region based on innovation. The project assumes close long-term cooperation with entrepreneurs (both through their direct presence in the consortium at the stage of project implementation, as well as through the participation of entrepreneurs' representatives in the Technical Board of the project. This fulfills the conditions for intelligent linking of activities of scientific institutions that are members of the consortium (NCBJ and Warsaw University of Technology) with representatives of the business community. At the same time, the above-mentioned applications of non-destructive testing not only have a direct impact on the increase of Mazovia's competitiveness and, consequently, the Mazovian labor market, but also contribute to the reduction of threats brought by the aging technical infrastructure, which allows the realization of more general social goals.

The project consists of investment works (11 tasks), as well as project management and promotion. The anticipated project implementation period is 48 months. The laboratories created as a result of the project will devote 51% of their working time to economic use, and the remaining 49% of their working time to non-economic use, including the implementation of the research agenda. Customers will be manufacturing companies (steel, mechanical equipment, industrial laboratories) and research institutions.

Planned results:


As a result of carrying out the project, a Central Laboratory will be established, which will include:

The goal of the establishment of the laboratory is to obtain the ability to conduct research and services in the fields of low-energy and high-energy digital radiography, high-speed radiography (image registration times of the order of 10-9 s) and fast neutron neutronography. As part of the infrastructure under construction, it is envisaged that:

  1. production by NCBJ of a linear electron accelerator of modular design, accelerating electrons in the range of 4-30 MeV,
  2. construction of detectors allowing realization of assumed tasks - standard radiography, high-speed radiography and tomography,
  3. implementation of dynamic radiography with the use of a discharge lamp,
  4. manufacture of a system for converting and guiding the neutron beam for its derivation for neutron relocatable radiography,
  5. generation of an electrical capacitance tomograph for imaging the spatial and temporal distribution of electrical permeability. The primary application of this imaging diagnostic technique is the monitoring of dynamic processes in chemical and process engineering. The tomograph is expected to satisfy growing user requirements for a large number of images per second and measurement sensitivity. The device will be built by specialists from the Warsaw University of Technology - a member of the consortium formed in connection with the CentriX Project.

The laboratory will be equipped with a test station for gamma-ray and neutron detection systems for strong neutron sources and for new material analysis technologies. This will enable both research and development and the development of industrially important detection technologies. The Detection Systems Laboratory will be equipped with:

  • A test station for gamma-ray and neutron detection systems for strong neutron sources and for new material analysis technologies. The stand will model conditions close to real measurement conditions for strong neutron sources and for new material analysis technologies. The stand will consist of three model blocks, which will correspond to the corresponding chemical standards: Si, Al, Ca, Mg, C, O. 
  • Suitable neutron sources: Am-Be, compact neutron generators designed for initial testing of neutron beam detection systems and for technology development for the mining industry (sources must be suitable for high temperature and pressure conditions);
  • Neutron detection systems for the neutron source under construction and for new material analysis technologies;
  • Gamma ray recording detection systems for the neutron source under construction and for new material analysis technologies.

The laboratory will be equipped with a Raman Spectrometer, which will be used to study the structural properties of materials used in the energy, aerospace, nuclear and metallurgical industries. This device will allow the determination of the phase composition of materials that corrode during operation under the operating conditions of a given facility. The purchased instrumentation will allow comprehensive analysis of materials and preparation of phase composition maps in 2D and 3D. In addition, the 3D attachment will make it possible to conduct studies of the effect of ion implantation (and thus simulating the effect of neutrons) on the structure of materials. In the future, it is planned to retrofit the above-mentioned device with a high-temperature attachment, which will enable structural studies under in-situ conditions.

The configuration of the test bed and the selection of laboratory equipment were made as a result of an analysis of the needs of potential service recipients, the possibilities of technology development and market analysis. In particular, they correspond to the identified global trends in technology development, and, above all, to the results of discussions held over the past few years with Polish industrial partners, which indicate the following directions of development of nondestructive testing using radiation:

  • Development of techniques related to digital radiography and tomography,
  • Digital ultrafast radiography
  • Neutron radiography
  • High-energy radiography
  • Activation analysis using X-rays with an energy of 30 MeV and neutron radiation, produced by X-ray photons with energies up to 30 MeV
  • Production of rare radioisotopes for research, medical and industrial purposes obtained by reacting native material with X-rays of 30 MeV energy or neutrons - Development of neutron methods: spectrometry, activation analysis, use of TOF (Time of Flight) technique.

The laboratory under construction, which will use Raman Spectrometry, is an ideal complement to the above non-destructive testing.

The test station has been designed by specialists from the Department of Nuclear Equipment HITEC (NCBJ) who have been involved in building accelerators for medical and industrial applications for many years. It will consist mostly of components and equipment purchased from suppliers (elements of the power supply in HQ, electrical power supply, control system). Elements of the support structure and beam guiding system as well as the magnetron linear modulator will be manufactured, based on experience gained in the construction of previous systems. The station will be assembled and commissioned by NCBJ-ZdAJ specialists.

Project value:

The total value of the project is PLN 27,916,756.25

European Funds contribution:

PLN 17,686,257.52 (European Regional Development Fund funds)

Data zakończenia projektu
Finansowanie
RPOWM