Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM) is an enabling technology for novel designs and complex shapes that cannot be produced using traditional manufacturing methods. For many nuclear applications, AM could help streamline manufacturing and the supply chain, and could potentially reduce production costs while achieving higher performance through improved heat transfer, thermal hydraulic (T/H) performance, material life and accident tolerance. These benefits would improve fuel reliability and operating margins. Additionally, there are a significant number of potential applications for light water reactors (LWRs) and next generation reactors.
AM is also opening the potential to produce obsolete and legacy components which could enable plants to continue operations expediently as well as economically. The use of reverse engineering to digitize components lends itself to AM as this is the first step in producing a component with AM.
The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) is actively engaged in the evaluation of AM as well as other Advanced Manufacturing Techniques to better regulate their usage as needed. Engagement with the NRC is important to ensure regulations are grounded in understanding these technologies.
Several examples of additive manufacturing use, to improve performance and capabilities, are presented.
