Innovative component manufacturing for enabling sustainable energy transition - COMPOSE

Purpose and goal

Powder metallurgy is an attractive, alternative method to manufacture large components for nuclear power plants. It provides several positive attributes in form of flexibililty for the nuclear energy industry. The aim of the project is to develop further powder metallurgy hot isostatic pressing (PM HIP) method to achieve minimum oxygen content for massive components and thereby improve their material properties and performance as well as allow new component designs.

Expected results and effects

The availability of PM HIP technology for manufacturing large components with minimum oxygen content improves competitiveness of Swedish industry, even as new market opportunities can arise. In nuclear power plants, security controls will be made in a shorter time, as fewer joints are to be inspected. Shorter stand-stills facilitate increased energy production with reduced CO2 emissions. Life time of nuclear plants can be prolonged by making resource efficient replacements. Delivery time of the components will be shortened. New reactor designs can be made.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is carried out through four steps. First, preparations for a manufacture of a massive component will be made through an iterative process optimization stage and by defining the powder specification. There after the manufacture of a massive component will be realized. It will be sectioned to study its properties and structural integrity in a large characterization campaign. Finally, the achieved material properties will be compared to the codified requirements and the gathered knowledge will be spread in publications and workshops.