High pressure laser welding of nuclear fuel rods

Details High pressure laser welding of nuclear fuel rods High pressure laser welding of nuclear fuel rods

1997-07-21

1999-09-28

Mills, Gregory

Electric heating

Metal heating

By arc

21912164, 21912184, 21912186, B23K 2612

Patent

active

059582677

ABSTRACT:
A high pressure laser welding method and apparatus enables seam welding of a nuclear fuel rod at hyperbaric pressure. In an automatic process, a loaded fuel rod and an upper end plug are mated within a sealable weld box. A pressure within the weld box is controlled relative to a pressure within the fuel rod, and a laser assembly welds the seam at hyperbaric pressure. Helium flowing through a laser window nozzle during welding prevents soot contamination of the laser window glass and prevents formation of ionic plasma. The upper end plug fuel rod welding operation is thus reduced to a single step and eliminates inspection related tasks with respect to a sealed hole.

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King, "Pressurization of nuclear fuel rods using laser welding," SPIE vol. 247, pp. 24-29, 1980.

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