From Obninsk to the Arctic

Inventors from the science city became participants in the project to create a new generation of atom-powered vehicles!

Eight years ago, in the depths of the Obninsk center of science and technology, an innovative company with a telling name "Aerofilter" was born, engaged in the production and sale of new generation high-performance aerosol filters, as well as filtration units for nuclear power plants, pharmaceutical, chemical, metallurgical and other enterprises whose activities are associated with radiochemistry.

Today, the company is part of one large organism - "MC InnoInvest", the head of which is Leonid KATUKHIN.

PATENTED TECHNOLOGIES

Reliable protection of the environment, prevention of harmful, hazardous to human health, industrial waste from entering the atmosphere are the most pressing tasks of today in technological processes of the most various industrial enterprises. Especially dangerous are such air-gas emissions during operation of modern facilities of nuclear power, chemical and petrochemical, pharmaceutical, wood-processing and other industries.

According to General Director Leonid Katukhin, Aerofilter produces all types of aerosol and iodine filters used in the nuclear industry, including unique filters that are not available from other developers. The company currently holds eight patents for the production of various types of filters.

"Our products are designed for highly efficient air (gas) purification in industrial premises, preventing the release of radioactive and toxic aerosols of various origins into the atmosphere through ventilation, purification, and discharge systems. We offer a wide range of filters with different designs and capacities," explained Leonid Katukhin.

UNIQUE FILTERS FOR A UNIQUE VESSEL

By the way, the Obninsk enterprise had the honor of participating in the most promising Russian project in the history of shipbuilding, which was supported by President Vladimir Putin.

Aerofilter was developing a new filtration system for the Arktika icebreaker, the most powerful and largest nuclear-powered vessel currently in service.

Two more of the same type will follow. They are designed to strengthen Russia's position in the Arctic in general and on the Northern Sea Route in particular. Just recently, as Katukhin said, it became known that the responsibility for the production of filters for these two subsequent icebreakers would fall on the shoulders of the Obninsk developers.

- As part of this agreement, three unique filters were created that can capture both radioactive aerosols and iodine compounds. For this purpose, we have developed and patented a new technology that allows us to meet the specified parameters," says Maxim LARICHEV, Executive Director of Aerofilter LLC.

The company's specialists note that their filters are particularly compact. They have even developed special housings for them. The mounting system allows for any installation method. They can be placed directly on the deck, ceiling, or wall of the cabin, which is crucial in the limited space available on ships.

ONLY IN OBNSK CAN THE EFFECTIVENESS BE TESTED

It is worth noting that the effectiveness of their creations is tested by Aerofiltr specialists directly at the production site. The company has its own stand - PAIF, which has no analogues throughout the country.

Its advantage is that management practically does not require human labor. The entire system is computerized. It is enough to simply bring the filter to the stand on a special trolley, where it is fixed by a special system. Further all manipulations are carried out using a computer.

By the way, this stand fully complies with the GOST R EN 1822 standards, which were adopted in December last year. This means that no aerosol or iodine filter can now be put into operation without undergoing testing.

Currently, the stand is undergoing certification. Once it is added to the register of measuring instruments, the company will be able to test not only its own filters but also those of its competitors. The result of these tests will be a protocol, which will be issued by Aerofiltr in Obninsk.

In addition, the company has its own mini-stand for testing filter paper. As Larichev explained, this is also a very important technological element in the operation of such a company, as filters are made from paper of a certain quality that must meet strict standards.

In other words, the Obninsk-based company Aerofiltr today holds a leading position in the specialized market. It is dynamically developing and expanding its product range by introducing new technologies and modernizing existing ones.

Source: Obninsk Week newspaper

Author: Daria Gumerova