3D-printed nuclear power plant safety valve - photo

**Altair** · May 11, 2021, 06:07 AM

3D-printed nuclear power plant safety valve.

Fullsize image: https://diqn32j8nouaz.cloudfront.net...e_fullsize.jpg

Previously:

Russian nuclear power plant control rooms - photos
Nuclear power plant control rod room - photo
Nuclear reactor lid bolt - photo
Floating nuclear power plant - photos
Starting a nuclear reactor - GIF

**nova_robotics** · May 11, 2021, 07:01 PM

The valve body looks cast. Those two... flanges(?) on either side look printed. But I may be wrong.

I'm surprised they would allow this in a nuclear power plant. There is basically zero thought or action in a nuclear power plant without 171 signatures and signoffs. You can't buy a bolt from a different supplier without assembling the UN Security Council. And the cardinal rule, nobody does anything different. Ever.

**sniffipn** · May 12, 2021, 12:10 AM

https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/...-valve-183362/

testing - not installed

**Toolmaker51** · May 19, 2021, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by nova_robotics

The valve body looks cast. Those two... flanges(?) on either side look printed. But I may be wrong.

I'm surprised they would allow this in a nuclear power plant. There is basically zero thought or action in a nuclear power plant without 171 signatures and signoffs. You can't buy a bolt from a different supplier without assembling the UN Security Council. And the cardinal rule, nobody does anything different. Ever.

I'm glad to see both sides scrutinized, the product and testing. Innovation, processes and accepted usage do not function in a vacuum.
Even not buying bolts from a different supplier, we [NNSA] still examined inbound shipments for counterfeits. 100%, along with washers, nuts, wire of any kind, weld supplies, paints, materials.......everything.

**sniffipn** · May 19, 2021, 09:52 PM

and there is still innovation and problem solving - with highly creative thinking. the criteria to be achieved, before use in plant is, however, higher than is typical in other industries