Computer-aided orbital welding reaches a new level of performance

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Welding Journal (Miami); (United States)

OSTI ID:6441409

Galloway, J G; Maak, P Y.Y.; McNabb, S C ^[1]

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1. Ontario Hydro, Toronto (Canada)

This article documents the development of a custom-built microprocessor controller which overcomes the major shortcomings of existing commercially available pipe welding systems. This unique control design effectively extends the one-knob-control concept of the power source industry to the control of a complete mechanized welding system. Magnatech, East Granby, Conn., a manufacturer of orbital welding equipment, will be commercializing this technology into its Pipeliner welding system in the near future. Ontario Hydro Research Div. purchased a commercial pipe welding system for both laboratory welding development and field trials. Its applications were targeted for pressure piping in both nuclear power and fossil fuel fired electricity generating plants. They demonstrated the feasibility of using a mechanized continuous wire welding process to weld the fill passes of carbon steel piping to stringent inspection standards of nuclear pressure piping. They also concluded that significant improvements to commercial pipe welding systems can be achieved through the use of microprocessor controls.

• OSTI ID: 6441409
• Journal Information: Welding Journal (Miami); (United States), Vol. 72:2; ISSN 0043-2296
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
PIPES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
ARC WELDING
CARBON STEELS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FIELD TESTS
MICROPROCESSORS
PERFORMANCE
SHIELDED METAL-ARC WELDING
ALLOYS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
FABRICATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINING
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ON-LINE CONTROL SYSTEMS
ON-LINE SYSTEMS
POWER PLANTS
STEELS
TESTING
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WELDING
220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories
200104 - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Components
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication