MISIS University scientists have presented a system that will allow checking the condition of industrial installations of oil refineries without stopping production. It is based on muonography, a non—invasive method for determining the internal structure of objects that records the degree of absorption of the natural muon flux by detectors.
Muons are elementary particles that are born in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere in interaction with cosmic rays. They are able to pass through a significant thickness of matter. The density of the material affects how much muons pass through an object: the denser the area, the more it weakens the particle flow. By registering muons, it is possible to obtain information about the internal structure of various objects. It is this principle that NUST MISIS scientists propose to use for the diagnosis of distillation columns — large industrial installations in which oil is divided into separate fractions. Unlike traditional gamma scanning of distillation columns, muonography does not require radioactive sources and the shutdown of the production process.
"For the muonographic examination of the equipment, we install autonomous detectors outside the columns, consisting of plates of nuclear photoemulsion. During the exposure time, the detectors register muons passing through the equipment. Then the plates are developed and scanned, and the information obtained is processed using specialized software. Based on the distribution of the detected particles, it is possible to restore the internal structure of the object and give an opinion on the condition of the internal contact devices of the column," said Natalia Polukhina, PhD, a leading expert at the NUST MISIS MegaScience Infrastructure Cooperation and Partnership Center.
The scientists have developed a detector design, a measurement technique, and software tools for processing the data. At the next stage, the team plans to create a ready-made solution for regular monitoring of industrial equipment and launch a diagnostic service for oil refineries based on it. It will include taking measurements, processing data, and preparing results. To interact with customers, client software is also being developed, with which it will be possible to make requests, accompany work and store the history of measurements.
"Emulsion detectors do not require power supply or an artificial radiation source, and all components of the detector system are of domestic production. After the necessary amount of data has been accumulated and processed, the customer receives the results of the examination and a diagnostic report. Muonography technology makes it possible to detect signs of stagnation zones and mechanical defects in distillation columns. This information can be used by the technical services of the enterprise to assess the condition of the equipment and determine the need for repair work," said Yulia Krasilnikova, project manager, Head of the NUST MISIS Science Department.
The author's technology is based on long-term research by specialists from NUST MISIS and the Lebedev Institute of Physics (FIAN) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Previously, scientists used muonography to study cultural heritage sites, search for features of the internal structure of large industrial facilities, and solve problems in oil and gas geology. In 2025, the MISIS and FIAN group, together with Tatneft specialists, delineated a bituminous sandstone deposit site in Tatarstan. The experience gained became the basis for further development of the method in relation to industrial equipment. The application of the technology at the existing Moscow Refinery was one of the group's first works at industrial facilities. The development was presented at the face-to-face stage of the technological leadership project development program "From idea to Product".
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