VALVE MAGAZINE Summer 2024

LATEST LAUNCHES

Teadit Receives Certi fi cati on of Standard Achievement Teadit, an industrial sealing solutions manufacturer, announced it has achieved the highly coveted U-Stamp certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This achievement marks a milestone in Teadit’s commitment to providing high-quality and innovative solutions for unfired pressure vessels. The U Stamp accreditation is awarded to organizations meeting stringent ASME standards for pressure vessel design, fabrication, inspection and testing. These stamps differ from other QA/QC stamps as they are granted based on standards that a third party develops. This accreditation underscores Teadit’s dedication to maintaining the highest levels of safety and reliability. teadit.com

SAMSON Awarded Certi fi cati on for Additively Manufactured Pressure Equipment SAMSON has been certified for its additively manufactured pressure equipment for use within the scope of the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) 2014/68/EU (PED). The certificate issued by TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH confirms that SAMSON is qualified to additively manufacture high-quality pressure equipment in series and to place this equipment on the market. This certification is a major achievement in valve engineering.

Additive manufacturing is of strategic importance to SAMSON since it opens up new opportunities that go beyond conventional manufacturing methods. 3D printing, as the method is more commonly known, offers SAMSON new ways of optimizing its products and supply chain processes to better serve its customers. Additive manufacturing also helps SAMSON meet the increas ingly stringent requirements that apply in certain industries, such as chemicals, petrochemicals or oil and gas. Valves are classified as pressure equipment if they are operated at a maximum permissible pressure (PS) of more than 0.5 bar. The Directive 2014/68/EU applies to the economic operators (manufacturers, authorized representatives, importers and distribu tors), material manufacturers, operators of pressure equipment as well as the notified bodies or user inspectorates, which are commissioned to conduct conformity assessments. The Directive regulates the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies. samsongroup.com

Westinghouse’s AM Innovation Improves Safety and Efficiency

In an industry first, Westinghouse Electric Company used additive manufacturing (AM) to fabricate bottom nozzles that improve debris capture and fuel endurance within its fuel assemblies. The nozzles were integrated into four lead test assemblies delivered to Alabama Power’s Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant operated by Southern Nuclear, in the first quarter of 2024. Debris-wearing action on the fuel rod cladding — known as debris fretting — is the primary source of leaks in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) fuel assemblies. AM technol ogy offers significant improvements in debris filtering thanks to enhanced design freedom which reduces the diameter of debris that can enter into the reactor. In testing, the addi tively manufactured components demonstrated a 30% improvement in debris resistance. “Over the past decade, Southern Nuclear has led the industry in the development and implementation of new technologies that improve fuel resiliency,” said Southern Nuclear President Pete Sena. “The existing nuclear power fleet is the backbone of our country’s clean energy supply, and we are innovating nuclear fuel today to be more robust to

deliver safer, more affordable and more reliable car bon-free clean nuclear power for decades to come.” “Our additive manufacturing technology is allow ing us to achieve breakthrough performance with an immediate positive impact for our customers,” said Tarik Choho, Westinghouse President of Nuclear Fuel. “This significant technology innovation for PWR reactors mitigates the risk of leakage in the fuel rods due to the accumulation of debris, strengthening the safety and efficiency of our customers’ operations.” For more information, visit westinghousenuclear.com.

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SUMMER 2024

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