Pressure vessel manufacturing and assembly presents rate-limiting challenges for constructing new advanced nuclear power systems. Using current met…
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
January 21, 2020
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Pressure vessel manufacturing and assembly presents rate-limiting challenges for constructing new advanced nuclear power systems. Using current methods qualified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requires forging heavy components, machining these components to specifications, and conventional arc welding, and these processes take more than two years to complete. The proposed project investigates using electron beam (EB) welding and powder metallurgy with hot isostatic pressing (PM-HIP) to reduce vessel fabrication time and cost.