https://newatlas.com/energy/nuclear-reactor-weld-one-day/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories (c) 2024 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Energy Nuclear SMR welding breakthrough: A year's work now takes a day By David Szondy February 20, 2024 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # Nuclear SMR welding breakthrough: A year's work now takes a day The reactor vessel welded by the new method The reactor vessel welded by the new method Sheffield Forgemasters View 1 Image 1/1 The reactor vessel welded by the new method Sheffield Forgemasters [icon-mouse-sc] Small Modular Reactor (SMR) construction shifts into high gear, as UK company Sheffield Forgemasters welds a full-size nuclear reactor vessel in under 24 hours instead of the usual 12 months. The rollout of this game-changing tech could be massive. Modular reactors have the potential to revolutionize the nuclear power industry by turning nuclear generating plants from major civil engineering projects to factory-produced commodities. Instead of being essentially one-offs, modular reactors have a standardized design, can be mass produced, installed in any number required to serve local needs, and don't require the incredibly expensive buildings conventional reactors depend upon. The problem is that there are bottlenecks in how to build reactors of any size. One is welding the vessels used to contain the reactor core, isolating it from the outer environment. Using conventional techniques, this can take over a year, but Sheffield Forgemasters have reduced this to under a day using what is called Local Electron-Beam Welding (LEBW) to complete four thick, nuclear-grade welds. LEBW is a revolutionary method to weld two pieces of metal together using a high-energy density fusion process centered on a high-powered electron gun operating in a local vacuum. This melts and fuses components to one another and allows for an efficiency of 95%, deep penetration, and a high depth-to-width ratio. The upshot is that Sheffield Forgemasters was able to complete a vessel three meters (10 ft) in diameter with 200-mm (8-in) thick walls with what is claimed to be zero defects and at lower costs. In addition, the welding machine can handle innovative sloping-in and sloping-out techniques to start and finish the weld. This demonstration, a world first, is a significant milestone for the British nuclear sector, which has been moribund for decades with advances only in reactors for nuclear submarines, a couple of showcase power plants, and nuclear fuel processing. Now, the UK government is looking toward a nuclear renaissance, with new plants planned - including 15 modular reactors to be constructed by Rolls-Royce. "The implication of this technology within the nuclear industry is monumental, potentially taking high-cost welding processes out of the equation," said Michael Blackmore, Senior Development Engineer and Project lead. "Not only does this reduce the need for weld-inspections, because the weld-join replicates the parent material, but it could also dramatically speed up the roll-out of SMR reactors across the UK and beyond, that's how disruptive the LEBW breakthrough is." Source: Sheffield Forgemasters Tags EnergyNuclearWeldingIndustrial designBuilding and Construction MaterialsMetals * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn 6 comments David Szondy David Szondy David Szondy is a playwright, author and journalist based in Seattle, Washington. A retired field archaeologist and university lecturer, he has a background in the history of science, technology, and medicine with a particular emphasis on aerospace, military, and cybernetic subjects. In addition, he is the author of four award-winning plays, a novel, reviews, and a plethora of scholarly works ranging from industrial archaeology to law. David has worked as a feature writer for many international magazines and has been a feature writer for New Atlas since 2011. Most Viewed * Seafloor spreading rifts could offer some of the world's best geothermal resources, according to CGG Energy Massive geothermal potential found offshore, where the Earth splits * The Q1 computer Computers Priceless barn find: World's first microcomputers discovered by cleaners * Starship is larger and twice as powerful as the Apollo-era Saturn V Space Is Kennedy Space Center ready to withstand the power of Starship? Load More 6 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. Charles Yeomans February 21, 2024 02:20 AM Wow this should be main stream news, it is fantastic and great to see this is from Sheffield bringing work to the north. WONKY KLERKY February 21, 2024 03:13 AM As/previous and on a theme by PagaKlerky: So, we are to get one of these in every locale of demand , . . ....... With note to their big brothers of present, even in little ole UK we have large gentlemen with bang-sticks and dogs same wondering about the site perimeters in order to stop chance strolling on their grass within. If this not done to their proposed little brothers future, then the really naughty boys WILL take an interest. / Alternatively in these times of austerity, might I suggest an alternative course: Following on from our farmers success with rural crime ; they painted double yellow lines around their tractors - result 24hr attention from ye authorities . . . ...... Yours, making a saving, X. windykites February 21, 2024 03:16 AM This looks like a great export market, worldwide. Weld done, the UK! LOL EvA February 21, 2024 05:33 AM spent fuel halftime amd safety feels like the challenge jimbo92107 February 21, 2024 08:24 AM This makes it simpler and cheaper to produce small nuclear generators. Fantastic news for fans of SMR tech! Hope this company makes tons of money! jerryd February 21, 2024 08:39 AM At 440MW, it is not a SMR/small modular reactor. Smaller maybe, the size they were before they thought making them larger would work, didn't turn out that way. We need true small 1-200MW SMR inherently safe even a fool can run nukes like Pebble Bed gas cooled. No water cooled reactors can ever be safe, cost effective. To lower cost it needs to be walk away safe. Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. Get your daily dose of extraordinary ideas! Register * HOME + SUBSCRIBE + FEATURES + REVIEWS + ABOUT + ADVERTISE + TERMS + PRIVACY + CONTACT + RSS + FAQ * LIFESTYLE + 20th Anniversary + Architecture + Around the Home + Children + Collectibles + Good Thinking + Health & Wellbeing + Holiday Destinations + Outdoors + Pets + Remarkable People + Tiny Houses * SCIENCE + Biology + Electronics + Energy + Environment + Materials + Medical + Physics + Quantum Computing + Space * TECHNOLOGY + 3D Printing + Computers + Deals + Photography + Drones + Games + Home Entertainment + Laptops + Military + Mobile Technology + Music + Robotics + Smartwatches + Telecommunications + Wearable Electronics + Virtual Reality * TRANSPORT + Aircraft + Automotive + Bicycles + Marine + Motorcycles + Urban Transport Follow Us * twitter * instagram * pinterest * flipboard * facebook * linkedin (c) 2024 New Atlas