Wilmington, North Carolina-based GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH has been selected by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to take the lead on a new USD $2 million additive manufacturing research project. The project in question will consist of 3D printing replacement part prototypes for nuclear power plants and subjecting the samples to a number of tests.
As part of the research project, GEH will 3D print metal samples of nuclear power plant replacement parts at the Power Advanced Manufacturing Works in Greenville, South Carolina. Once printed, the parts will be shipped to the Idaho National Laboratory to undergo an irradiation process (or in other words, they will be exposed to radiation). GEH will then be able to test the irradiated parts and compare them to unirradiated materials, in order to determine the uses and potentials of deploying 3D printing parts for fuels, services and new plant applications.
GEH is also currently participating in a DOE-funded project with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to develop stainless steel with enhanced stress corrosion cracking and irradiation resistance.