Nuclear Reactor Components 3D Printed by ORNL Now Installed at TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
August 9, 2021 | ORNLEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Four first-of-a-kind 3D-printed fuel assembly brackets, produced at the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have been installed and are now under routine operating conditions at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 2 in Athens, Alabama.
The components were developed in collaboration with TVA, Framatome and the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy–funded Transformational Challenge Reactor, or TCR, program based at ORNL.
“Deploying 3D-printed components in a reactor application is a great milestone,” said ORNL’s Ben Betzler, TCR program director. “It shows that it is possible to deliver qualified components in a highly regulated environment. This program bridges basic and applied science and technology to deliver tangible solutions that show how advanced manufacturing can transform reactor technology and components.”
“ORNL offers everything under one roof: state-of-the-art printing capabilities, world-class expertise in machining, next-generation digital manufacturing technologies, plus comprehensive characterization and testing equipment,” said Ryan Dehoff, ORNL section head for Secure and Digital Manufacturing.
ORNL used novel additive manufacturing techniques to 3D print channel fasteners for Framatome’s boiling water reactor fuel assembly. Four components, like the one shown here, were installed at the TVA Browns Ferry nuclear plant. Credit: Framatome
The channel fasteners’ straightforward, though non-symmetric, geometry was a good match for a first-ever additive manufacturing application for use in a nuclear reactor.
The current focus of the TCR program is to further mature and demonstrate industry-ready technology informed by advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, integrated sensing and deployment of a digital platform for informed certification of components.
ORNL’s broad nuclear research and development activities are directed toward providing science and technology breakthroughs to extend the viability and operations of the nation’s nuclear power plant fleet, while also accelerating the deployment of new, advanced nuclear power technologies.
“Collaborating with TVA and ORNL allows us to deploy innovative technologies and explore emerging 3D printing markets that will benefit the nuclear energy industry,” said John Strumpell, manager of North America Fuel R&D at Framatome. “This project provides the foundation for designing and manufacturing a variety of 3D-printed parts that will contribute to creating a clean energy future.”
“TVA is actively engaged in developing new nuclear technology for tomorrow,” said Dan Stout, TVA’s director of Nuclear Technology Innovation. “Partnering with ORNL and Framatome in this innovative manufacturing approach could pave the path for use across the existing nuclear fleet and also in advanced reactors and small modular reactors.”
Operations at Browns Ferry resumed April 22, 2021, after a planned outage to replace a variety of components for continued safe, reliable operation and delivery of carbon-free electricity. The brackets will remain in the reactor for six years with regular inspections during that period.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
Suggested Items
Ambiq Apollo510 Delivers 30x Power Efficiency Improvement to Unleash Endpoint AI
03/27/2024 | AmbiqAmbiq, a technology leader in exceptionally energy-efficient semiconductors for IoT devices, is introducing the new Apollo510, the first member of the Apollo5 SoC family, which is uniquely positioned to kickstart the age of truly ubiquitous, practical, and meaningful AI.
A Replacement for Traditional Motors Could Enhance Next-gen Robots
03/25/2024 | Stanford UniversityWhether it’s a powered prosthesis to assist a person who has lost a limb or an independent robot navigating the outside world, we are asking machines to perform increasingly complex, dynamic tasks.
NVIDIA GTC Focuses on Empowering Healthcare and Manufacturing with High-Performance, Low-Energy Chips
03/22/2024 | TrendForceTrendForce's analysis of NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference (GTC) spotlights the Blackwell AI server architecture as this year's standout hardware innovation. Enhanced by the second-gen Transformer engine and fifth-gen NVLink technology, Blackwell supports AI training and real-time inference for models with up to 10 trillion parameters.
NVIDIA GTC Focuses on Empowering Healthcare and Manufacturing with High-Performance, Low-Energy Chips
03/21/2024 | TrendForceTrendForce's analysis of NVIDIA's GPU Technology Conference (GTC) spotlights the Blackwell AI server architecture as this year's standout hardware innovation. Enhanced by the second-gen Transformer engine and fifth-gen NVLink technology,
BTU International Redefines Operational Value and Efficiency with the Aurora Platform of Reflow Ovens
03/20/2024 | BTU International, Inc.BTU International, Inc., a leading supplier of advanced thermal processing equipment for the electronics manufacturing market, is proud to announce that its new Aurora platform of reflow ovens is designed to minimize the Cost of Ownership (CoO) while maximizing performance and operational value for its users.