Russian nuclear company Rosatom has obtained regulatory approval for the primary 3D-printed element of an RITM-200 small modular reactor plant. The element, a terminal field, was produced by the Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering and has obtained certification from the Russian Maritime Register of Transport.
RITM-200 reactors are at present utilized in Russia’s nuclear icebreakers and function the muse for the nation’s deliberate floating and land-based small modular reactor vegetation. The prototypes accomplished complete testing earlier than receiving regulatory approval, based on Rosatom.
Yuri Vytnov, Chief Technologist at Afrikantov OKBM, stated: “Acquiring regulatory documentation for the primary component for the RITM-200 reactor plant manufactured with the usage of additive applied sciences makes it doable to duplicate 3D printing expertise sooner or later to create numerous gear for marine nuclear energy vegetation, in addition to nuclear trade gear of different varieties and functions,”
This marks the primary time Russia has used 3D printing expertise for reactor elements, although the nation has beforehand employed additive manufacturing for check gear and course of tooling. Ilya Kavelashvili, Director of the Additive Applied sciences Enterprise Unit at Rosatom’s Gasoline Division, stated: “Using 3D printing opens up new prospects for design and manufacturing. Components with optimised geometry and improved traits might be created. This permits for elevated effectivity and reliability of the gear, in addition to a discount in weight and value.”
The nuclear trade has more and more adopted 3D printing expertise in recent times. Earlier functions embrace a 3D-printed impeller put in at a Slovenian reactor in 2017, channel fasteners put in by Oak Ridge Nationwide Laboratory in a U.S. reactor in 2021, and a chrome steel gas element put in by Framatome at Sweden’s Forsmark nuclear energy plant in 2022.
Russia joins a number of different international locations, together with South Korea and the UK, in utilizing additive manufacturing for nuclear trade functions. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company has recognized vital potential for 3D printing expertise within the nuclear vitality sector.
Supply: atommedia.on-line
