External attachment of titanium sheathed thermocouples to zirconium nuclear fuel rods for the LOFT reactor

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5193233

Welty, R. K.

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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
FABRICATION
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PINS
JOINING
JOINTS
LASER WELDING
LOFT REACTOR
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PERFORMANCE
PWR TYPE REACTORS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
THERMOCOUPLES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
WELDED JOINTS
WELDING