Manufactured in 2024, it was installed at Saeul Unit 1 in January 2025 and operated for 18 months under actual nuclear power plant conditions until the scheduled preventive maintenance conducted in July 2026.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has successfully completed an 18-month continuous operation of a nuclear power plant component manufactured using 3D printing technology.
The 3D-printed multi-blade impeller is used for cooling the generator circuit breaker at Saeul Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.
This marks the first case in Korea in which a 3D-printed nuclear power plant component has demonstrated stable, long-term operation under actual nuclear power plant operating conditions.
Conventional multi-blade impellers are manufactured by assembling multiple blades onto a base plate, creating potential weak points at the joints between the base plate and the blades.
Service provider DAEGUN manufactured the base plate and blades of the 3D printed impeller were manufactured in 2024 as a single component. By eliminating the joints created during conventional assembly, the design fundamentally reduces the risk of connection-related damage and improves overall durability.
Before installation, the 3D-printed impeller underwent heat treatment, mechanical property testing, airflow performance testing, and other verification procedures to confirm its performance and durability.
Based on the success of this demonstration, KHNP plans to expand the application of 3D-printed components to other nuclear power plants.
Beyond repair applications, the company also intends to utilize 3D printing for the development and manufacturing of new components for next-generation nuclear power plants, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
Don-Kuk Lee, Director of the KHNP Central Research Institute, said, “We will continue our research and development efforts so that 3D printing technology can be applied not only to the replacement of existing components, but also to the manufacturing of new components for advanced nuclear power plants such as SMRs.”
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