External attachment of titanium sheathed thermocouples to zirconium nuclear fuel rods for the LOFT reactor
The Exxon Nuclear Company, Inc., acting as a Subcontractor to EG and G Idaho Inc., Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho, has developed a welding process to attach titanium sheathed thermocouples to the outside of the zircaloy clad fuel rods. The fuel rods and thermocouples are used to test simulated loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions in a pressurized water reactor (LOFT Reactor, Idaho National Laboratory). A laser beam was selected as the optimum welding process because of the extremely high energy input per unit volume that can be achieved allowing local fusion of a small area irrespective of the difference in material thickness to be joined. A commercial pulsed laser and energy control system was installed along with specialized welding fixtures. Laser room facility requirements and tolerances were established. Performance qualifications, and detailed welding procedures were also developed. Product performance tests were conducted to assure that engineering design requirements could be met on a production basis.
- Research Organization:
- Exxon Nuclear Co., Inc., Richland, WA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 5193233
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-800719-4; TRN: 80-014666
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International symposium of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, San Diego, CA, USA, 28 Jul 1980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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External attachment of titanium sheathed thermocouples to zirconium nuclear fuel rods for the loss-of-fluid-test (LOFT) Reactor
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Related Subjects
LOFT REACTOR
FUEL PINS
THERMOCOUPLES
FABRICATION
LASER WELDING
PERFORMANCE
QUALITY ASSURANCE
WELDED JOINTS
FUEL ELEMENTS
JOINING
JOINTS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WELDING
220600* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors