Westinghouse
Assembly Line
Westinghouse Electric Company additively manufactured bottom nozzles improve debris resistance by 30%
Westinghouse Electric Company has used additive manufacturing to produce bottom nozzles that are said to improve debris capture and fuel endurance within its Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) fuel assemblies. The company believes this application of additive manufacturing is a world-first and ‘demonstrates its leadership in the nuclear industry to achieve cutting-edge solutions using AM techniques.’
Leveraging additive manufacturing, Westinghouse says the components have demonstrated a 30% improvement in debris resistance, thanks to significant improvements in debris filtering that are enabled by additive’s enhanced design freedom. The 3D printed parts are said to have reduced the diameter of debris that can enter into the reactor, reducing the likelihood of debris-wearing action on the fuel rod cladding (debris fretting). Debris fretting is considered to be the primary source of leaks in PWR fuel assemblies.