USA to design 3D-printed reactor by 2023

Researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have announced they are working on improving the design of a 3D-printed nuclear reactor core. In the framework of its Transformational Challenge Reactor Demonstration Program, the lab focuses on scaling up the 3D printing process necessary to build a nuclear core, while also developing methods to confirm the consistency and reliability of its printed components. The goal is to have the 3D printed reactor functional by 2023. According to the lab, 3D-printed nuclear reactors promise a faster and more economical path to nuclear energy.