Home-Lightbridge secures European patent allowance for 3D printed multi-zone nuclear fuel design
Lightbridge Corporation, a U.S.-based nuclear technology company, has received a Notice of Allowance from the European Patent Office for a patent covering its “Multi-Zone Fuel Element” nuclear fuel design. The patent extends intellectual property protection for the company’s advanced fuel technology across 39 European contracting states, including major nuclear energy markets such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
The allowed patent application covers a nuclear fuel architecture featuring three distinct radial zones composed of different materials, with zone thickness varying along the axial direction. According to the company, the configuration enables more precise control of neutron flux distribution throughout the operational lifetime of the fuel.
Lightbridge stated that the fuel elements can be manufactured using additive manufacturing, enabling the production of complex multi-material geometries that would be difficult to achieve using conventional nuclear fuel fabrication methods. The patent claims also cover additive manufacturing processes for metallic, ceramic, and cermet (ceramic-metallic composite) fuel systems.
The company said the radial zone structure is intended to support optimization of reactor performance, safety margins, and fissile material efficiency across the fuel cycle. Applications include existing light-water reactors, pressurized heavy-water reactors, and future small modular reactor (SMR) platforms.
“Receiving this allowance from the European Patent Office is an important validation of the technical depth and novelty of Lightbridge Fuel,” said Seth Grae, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lightbridge. “Europe is home to a significant installed base of nuclear generating capacity, and the countries and utilities advancing nuclear energy as part of their clean energy programs represent a natural market for Lightbridge Fuel.”
The allowance expands Lightbridge’s existing international patent portfolio as the company continues development and commercialization efforts for its advanced nuclear fuel technology.
Additive manufacturing advances qualification and nuclear applications
Additive manufacturing is gaining traction in the nuclear sector as researchers and manufacturers evaluate its ability to produce complex geometries and advanced material architectures for safety-critical applications. Recent efforts have increasingly focused on qualification pathways and performance validation, particularly for components intended to operate under reactor conditions.
Earlier this year,Argonne National Laboratorysubmitted a proposal to theAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME) aimed at establishing a formal qualification pathway forLaser Powder Bed Fusion in nuclear reactor manufacturing. Separately,Oak Ridge National Laboratorydeveloped3D printed reactor componentsdesigned to reduce construction timelines while enabling geometries difficult to achieve through conventional manufacturing methods.These developments reflect broader industry efforts to validate additive manufacturing processes for nuclear applications where material performance, repeatability, and regulatory acceptance remain key constraints.
Source: 3D Printing Industry
