Development of underwater plasma arc cutting

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · Weld. J. (Miami), v. 55, no. 1, pp. 15-24

OSTI ID:4097728

Wodtke, C H; Plunkett, W A; Frizzell, D R

Procedures for underwater plasma arc cutting and piercing and unique operating cycles were developed to cut the 1-in. stainless steel plate of the inner thermal shield of the ERR. A plasma torch manipulator and a cutting control panel were designed and built for remote automated underwater plasma arc cutting of the inner thermal shield and for subsequent in-air cutting of other components. Commercial plasma arc cutting equipment was usable with only minor modification to torches and high frequency generator. The cutting equipment and operating procedures were demonstrated to be workable and practical by cutting and piercing fairly large test plates in a full size mockup of the ERR vessel. At the ERR, underwater plasma arc cutting and removal of the inner thermal shield were accomplished in five weeks under difficult remote working conditions. The plasma arc cutting torches and associated equipment performed satisfactorily. Certain minor changes in cutting parameters were made necessary by job circumstances. The control panel and the plasma torch manipulator proved suitable for underwater plasma arc cutting of the inner thermal shield, and also for in-air plasma arc cutting of the reactor vessel and for torch manipulation during oxyacetylene cutting of the outer thermal shield. 13 figs (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• NSA Number: NSA-33-019406
• OSTI ID: 4097728
• Journal Information: Weld. J. (Miami), v. 55, no. 1, pp. 15-24, Journal Name: Weld. J. (Miami), v. 55, no. 1, pp. 15-24; ISSN WEJUA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*ERR REACTOR-- REACTOR DISMANTLING
*REACTOR DISMANTLING
*REACTOR VESSELS-- CUTTING
*THERMAL SHIELDS-- CUTTING
210100* --Nuclear Power Plants--Power Reactors
Non- Breeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
CUTTING TOOLS
ELECTRIC ARCS
N77100* --Reactors--Power Reactors
Non-breeding
Light- water Moderated
Boiling Water-cooled
STAINLESS STEELS