Westinghouse Creates and Installs First 3D-Printed Fuel Debris Filter at NPPs

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Westinghouse installed its StrongHold AM 3D printed nuclear fuel debris filters in two Nordic Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) units – Olkiluoto 2 in Finland and Oskarshamn 3 in Sweden – to further improve the plants’ operational reliability.  

Westinghouse created the StrongHold AM filter in close cooperation with plant operators Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) and OKG. The StrongHold AM filters are fully manufactured through 3D printing techniques and offer enhanced capture features to prevent debris from entering the fuel assembly and potentially damaging the cladding, which could cause unplanned and expensive outages. 

“As the first 3D printed fuel debris filter for insertion in a nuclear power plant, the StrongHold AM marks a major milestone in our effort to further improve the BWR fuel reliability,” said Dr. Carina Önneby, Westinghouse Vice President for EMEA Fuel Delivery.  

According to Westinghouse