Additively manufactured fuel component installed in commercial nuclear reactor

May 4, 2020

The metal additively manufactured fuel component has been installed in a nuclear reactor (Courtesy Westinghouse Electric Company LLC)

A thimble plugging device produced by metal Additive Manufacturing was successfully installed in Exelon Generation’s Byron Unit 1 nuclear plant during its spring refuelling outage, according to Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, USA, a supplier of nuclear power plant products. The installation is believed to be a first for the nuclear industry.

Ken Canavan, Westinghouse’s Chief Technology Officer, stated, “Westinghouse continues to lead the way with the development of the most advanced technologies to help the world meet growing electricity demand with safe, clean and reliable energy. Our Additive Manufacturing programme offers customers enhanced component designs that help increase performance and reduce costs, as well as provide access to components that may not be available using traditional manufacturing methods.”

Ken Petersen, Exelon Generation’s Vice President of nuclear fuels, commented, “Additive Manufacturing is an exciting new solution for the nuclear industry. The simplified approach helps meet the industry’s need for a wide variety of low-volume, highly-critical plant components. We are proud to have Westinghouse as a partner on this industry milestone and to help further demonstrate the viability of this technology.”

www.westinghousenuclear.com

www.exeloncorp.com/companies/exelon-generation/nuclear

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

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Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • Back to the future: A decade of Additive Manufacturing innovation and growth at Materials Solutions
  • Win or lose: A CEO’s reflections on Artificial Intelligence and Additive Manufacturing
  • AMS 2025 New York: A reality check for the Additive Manufacturing industry
  • Optimising powder removal in PBF-LB Additive Manufacturing: A Digital Twin approach
  • ValCUN’s MMD: A robust, wire-based aluminium AM technology for defence and industrial applications
  • Enhancing quality and reliability in metal Additive Manufacturing: The role of laser calibration

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About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

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The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

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