Sheffield Forgemasters just did something incredible—they built a full-sized nuclear vessel for a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in less than a day! Can you believe it? Normally, that kind of job takes a whole year, but these folks pulled it off in just 24 hours.
What’s even more impressive is the method they used—Local Electron-Beam Welding (LEBW). It’s some cutting-edge stuff. The vessel they put together is three meters wide and has walls that are a whopping 200mm thick.
Professor Jesus Talamantes-Silva, who’s in charge of the team, was absolutely thrilled about it. He couldn’t stop smiling, saying they nailed it perfectly without any hiccups.
But this isn’t just about showing off their welding skills. This breakthrough could shake up the whole nuclear industry. Dr. Michael Blackmore, one of the engineers, says it might help make building these reactors way cheaper and faster.
And get this—they didn’t do it alone. They had support from the government and their partners, Cambridge Vacuum Engineering.
So, props to Sheffield Forgemasters for leading the charge in nuclear welding. This isn’t just a win for them—it’s a win for making our world a little greener and brighter.
