Nuclear fuel rod end plug weld inspection

Patent · Tue Nov 19 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5692511

Parker, M A; Patrick, S S; Rice, G F

Apparatus and method for testing TIG (tungsten inert gas) welds of end plugs on a sealed nuclear reactor fuel rod. An X-ray fluorescent spectrograph testing unit detects tungsten inclusion weld defects in the top end plug's seal weld. Separate ultrasonic weld inspection system testing units test the top end plug's seal and girth welds and test the bottom end plug's girth weld for penetration, porosity and wall thinning defects. The nuclear fuel rod is automatically moved into and out from each testing unit and is automatically transported between the testing units by rod handling devices. A controller supervises the operation of the testing units and the rod handling devices.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4554128
• OSTI ID: 5692511
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CLOSURES
DEFECTS
DESIGN
DETECTION
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
EQUIPMENT
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL RODS
INCLUSIONS
JOINTS
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METALS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
REACTOR COMPONENTS
SPECTROMETERS
SPECTROSCOPY
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
ULTRASONIC TESTING
WELDED JOINTS
X-RAY SPECTROMETERS
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY