How 3D printing can contribute to an accelerated energy and transport transition is one of the topics of the Innovations in AM forum on May 16, 2024 at Rapid.Tech 3D. The focus will be on developments in the fields of energy and hydrogen.
“We will cover everything from fuel cells and gas turbines to fusion reactors and, in addition to industrial applications, show how school projects on 3D printing are already arousing interest in these topics,” says Dr. Eric Klemp, Head of Hydrogen and Additive Manufacturing at Whitecell Eisenhuth GmbH & Co. KG, gives an insight into the content of the forum.
The member of the Rapid.Tech 3D Advisory Board is responsible for the focus on energy and hydrogen.
Putting the “green” kilometer on the road
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles are becoming increasingly important for clean transportation solutions. Bipolar plates are key elements of a fuel cell stack. Whitecell already has extensive experience in this field of technology. Among other things, the company uses 3D printing for the production of graphite bipolar plates. These plates are manufactured quickly and individually using a special screen printing process. In his presentation, Dr. Martin Hintermann, CEO of Whitecell Power AG from Switzerland, will present processes and applications that are helping to put the “green” kilometer on the road.
Entry into fuel cell production for everyone
The Open Fuel Cell project at the Duisburg Center for Fuel Cell Technology offers an introduction to 3D printing and energy technologies for everyone. Livia C. Wiedau, Head of the 3D Fab Lab at the University of Duisburg-Essen, reports on how students are taught about additive and subtractive manufacturing using a practical example. They receive instructions and equipment to produce simple fuel cells for generating electricity from hydrogen themselves. The open source construction plan can be used by anyone interested.
AM as the key to hydrogen gas turbines
Clean power generation on a large scale is the topic of the presentation by Dr. Sebastian Piegert, Head of Department at Siemens Energy Gas Services. Siemens Energy wants to operate its gas turbine portfolio with 100 percent hydrogen by 2030. This requires a comprehensive realignment of the combustion systems. The key to their production is the additive process of laser beam melting. It enables the creation of complex cooling functions and fuel guides that cannot be produced using conventional manufacturing techniques.
Printing dense tungsten with electron beam powder bed fusion
Fusion energy is seen as a potential solution to the world’s energy problems. However, the fusion reaction takes place under extremely high temperatures and intense radiation. This places high demands on the materials used in the fusion reactor, especially for the plasma-side components. Pure tungsten is currently considered the most suitable material for this. However, the metal is difficult to process, which has limited the areas of application and manufacturing methods to date. Freemelt has succeeded in printing dense tungsten parts at high speed using electron beam powder bed fusion. Dr. Ulric Ljungblad, CIO of the Swedish company, will present the process.
Other topics at the Innovations in AM forum
In addition to energy and hydrogen, the Innovations in AM forum will cover two other topics. An overview of 3D-printed electronics and application examples will also be provided in a forum section on May 16. On the day before (15 May), speakers, including from Rheinmetall, will report on the importance of additive manufacturing for the production and maintenance of defense technology.
Congress with eight industry and science forums
In addition to the Innovations in AM specialist forum, other forums at the Rapid.Tech 3D specialist congress will offer insights into the latest AM developments and applications. On the first day of the event (14 May 2024), the AM4industry format organized by the VDMA Additive Manufacturing Working Group will be held for the first time, as well as the established Aerospace Forum. The AM Science Forum will also start on this day and continue on the second day (May 15, 2024). On the second day, the Forum Chemical & Process Engineering – presented by DECHEMA and the Forum Software, AI & Design will also be held. The Mobility and AM Science by Fraunhofer forums will also take place on the final day (May 16, 2024).
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