Status of Design and Technology Development of Additive Manufacturing in Small Modular Reactors

GUO Zihao; ZOU Yaolei; WU Jun

doi:10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.03

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Status of Design and Technology Development of Additive Manufacturing in Small Modular Reactors
Vol. 56, Issue 4, Pages: 20-30(2026)
Received：26 December 2025，

Revised：2026-02-06，

Published：20 April 2026
DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.03
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郭子豪，邹尧磊，吴君.增材制造技术在小型模块化反应堆领域的应用现状与发展趋势［J］.电焊机，2026，56（4）：20-30. DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.03.

GUO Zihao, ZOU Yaolei, WU Jun.Status of Design and Technology Development of Additive Manufacturing in Small Modular Reactors[J].Electric Welding Machine, 2026, 56(4): 20-30. DOI： 10.7512/j.issn.1001-2303.2026.04.03.

摘要

小型模块化反应堆作为一种在三代堆与四代堆技术基础上实现小型化与模块化的新兴核能技术，已成为全球核能科技创新热点。增材制造技术可以赋能小型模块化反应堆领域，支撑先进核材料的性能提升，助力复杂部件的设计制造，以及推动关键设备的批量化生产。首先，基于国际原子能机构的《小型模块化反应堆：2024年进展报告》所收录的反应堆名录，全面调研了增材制造技术在小型模块化反应堆技术开发中的应用现状，在小型模块化反应堆的六条技术路线下，横向对比各堆型方案应用了金属增材制造技术的材料、部件与设备，分析相较于传统制造技术实现的性能或经济效益提升。其次，围绕美国、俄罗斯、法国、英国、加拿大等传统核能强国的核能增材制造项目布局以及相关科研院所、高校的研究方向开展纵向研究，分析国际上金属增材制造技术在小型模块化反应堆领域的发展趋势。最终，结合横向对比与纵向研究，研判得出金属增材制造技术已在小型模块化反应堆领域积累良好的应用实践，包括氮化铀TRISO燃料、U3Si2燃料、全陶瓷微胶囊燃料等先进燃料以及镍基超合金、难熔金属基合金、碳化硼复合丝等先进核材料的生产，几何形状复杂的燃料组件底座与支架、控制阀等反应堆部件的制造，压力容器试件、印刷电路板式换热器等关键设备的制造。增材制造技术在小型模块化反应堆领域的发展将呈现从非核心部分到核心部分、从样件到部件再到模块的趋势。随着增材制造技术成熟度的提升和标准的建立，将形成从原料、打印设备、工艺到检测认证的完整产业链，推动具有广大市场前景的小型模块化反应堆领域的成本下降和规模化应用。

Abstract

Small modular reactors (SMRs)

as an emerging nuclear technology with miniaturization and modularization based on Generation III and IV reactor technologies

have become a global hotspot for nuclear technology innovation. Additive manufacturing technology can empower SMRs by supporting the performance enhancement of advanced nuclear materials

facilitating the design and manufacture of complex components and promoting the mass production of key equipment. Initially

based on the directory included in the International Atomic Energy Agency's "Small Modular Reactors: Progress Report 2024"

a comprehensive survey was conducted on the current application status of additive manufacturing technology in SMRs development. Across the six technical routes of SMRs

a horizontal comparison was conducted among materials

components

and equipment which utilized metal additive manufacturing technology in various reactor designs. Compared with traditional manufacturing technology

the performance or economic enhancement of additive manufacturing was well studied. Moreover

a vertical study was carried out focusing on the layout of nuclear additive manufacturing projects and the research directions of relevant institutes and universities in traditional nuclear advanced countries such as the United States

Russia

France

the United Kingdom

Canada and so on. The international development trends of additive manufacturing technology in SMRs was revealed. Finally

by synthesizing the horizontal comparison and vertical analysis

it was concluded that metal additive manufacturing technology has already accumulated substantial practical application experience in SMRs. This includes the production of advanced fuels such as TRISO fuel with uranium nitride

U3Si2 fuel and FCM fuel

as well as advanced nuclear materials like nickel-based superalloys

refractory metal-based alloys and boron carbide composite wires. It also encompasses the manufacturing of geometrically complex reactor components such as fuel assembly base and support pieces

control valves

as well as the manufacturing of key equipment like pressure vessel test pieces and printed circuit heat exchangers. The development of additive manufacturing technology in SMRs will show a trend progressing from irrelevant to essential parts

and from prototypes to components and then to modules. As the maturity of additive manufacturing technology increases and the standards of which are established

a complete industrial chain from raw materials

printing equipment

relevant processes and inspection certification was funded

promoting cost reduction and large-scale application in SMRs

which holds a vast market prospect.

关键词

Keywords

references

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