The nuclear industry is one of the strategic sectors worldwide. The 450-plus reactors currently in operation produce about 11.5% of the world's electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Components used in the nuclear sector must be robust, reliable and resistant to high temperatures. HIP technology is a process for the treatment of high performance parts and stands as the ideal solution for the post-processing of such parts which are subject to high levels of demand. The great similarities with the oil industry will allow the application of all the knowledge acquired there to help with the development of solutions for the nuclear industry.
HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing) technology has also proven to be effective in the safe treatment of nuclear waste. In this respect, HIP minimizes and reduces the risk generated by radioactive waste, improves its safe long-term storage and eliminates intermediate level waste (ILW) and low level waste (LLW) from nuclear power plants.
HIP applications in this sector: parts, materials and techniques
The development and proliferation of small nuclear reactors has provided a great opportunity to manufacture small parts using HIP technology, as opposed to the large volume parts normally used by the nuclear industry. The experience acquired in different industrial fields in the use of HIP components now allows the same type of components to be used in the field of nuclear applications. For example, some of the components most commonly used in the nuclear industry (which can be treated by HIP) are similar to those used in the oil or gas industries. These components meet the most stringent standards, regulations and requirements demanded by nuclear power plants.
For the treatment of radioactive waste, it is sealed inside a specially designed container before the HIP treatment. As the temperature and pressure inside the container increase, the materials placed inside the container react and densify to produce stable, low-volume waste forms.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) stands as one of the techniques used for the manufacture of materials that best meet the demands of the nuclear industry. This technique makes it possible to manufacture very complex shapes and to supply spare parts quickly.
In the nuclear energy sector, there are two clear advantages of this: the ability to manufacture very complex shapes and the possibility of manufacturing spare parts to order. The lifetime of a nuclear power plant is long, and the availability and long lead times of obsolete spare parts can be a problem. At its worst, this causes lengthy, costly shutdowns for nuclear power plants. Therefore, the Additive Manufacturing technique together with HIP technology offers an attractive alternative for the production of high quality spare parts required by the nuclear industry.
MAIN BENEFITS OF USING HIP TECNOLOGY IN NUCLEAR SECTOR
For the nuclear industry, the use of HIP technology developed by Hiperbaric brings multiple benefits, such as the following:
Improves material properties and performance
- Increases the mechanical properties of parts that are subjected to pressure.
- Improves fatigue life.
Reaches 100% of theoretical part density
- Densifies porosities and eliminates possible internal defects.
- Gives greater statistical consistency to high performance materials.
Radioactive waste disposal
- Reduces costs and the life cycle of nuclear waste.
- Provides an efficient, durable solution to reduce and eliminate nuclear waste.
- Lower environmental impact.
