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Title: Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug

Abstract

A fuel rod for a nuclear reactor, including a cladding tube having a first end with an annular end face, a second end with an annular end face, and a cylindrical body portion extending therebetween, and a first tube end plug including a front portion, an annular lip with an annular end face, and a substantially straight cylindrical body portion extending therebetween, wherein the surface area of the annular end face of the first end of the cladding tube and the annular end face of the annular lip of the first tube end plug are substantially equal, and the annular end face of the first end of the cladding tube and the annular end face of the annular lip of the first tube end plug are connected by a resistance pressure weld.

Inventors:
; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
BWXT mPower Inc., Charlotte, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1824128
Patent Number(s):
11049623
Application Number:
16/562,986
Assignee:
BWXT mPower, Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B23 - MACHINE TOOLS B23K - SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
DOE Contract Number:  
NE0000583
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 09/06/2019
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS

Citation Formats

Barger, Earl Brian, Fitzner, Scott L., Lee, Jeffrey T., and Ridgeway, Roger D. Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug. United States: N. p., 2021. Web.
Barger, Earl Brian, Fitzner, Scott L., Lee, Jeffrey T., & Ridgeway, Roger D. Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug. United States.
Barger, Earl Brian, Fitzner, Scott L., Lee, Jeffrey T., and Ridgeway, Roger D. Tue . "Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1824128.
@article{osti_1824128,
title = {Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug},
author = {Barger, Earl Brian and Fitzner, Scott L. and Lee, Jeffrey T. and Ridgeway, Roger D.},
abstractNote = {A fuel rod for a nuclear reactor, including a cladding tube having a first end with an annular end face, a second end with an annular end face, and a cylindrical body portion extending therebetween, and a first tube end plug including a front portion, an annular lip with an annular end face, and a substantially straight cylindrical body portion extending therebetween, wherein the surface area of the annular end face of the first end of the cladding tube and the annular end face of the annular lip of the first tube end plug are substantially equal, and the annular end face of the first end of the cladding tube and the annular end face of the annular lip of the first tube end plug are connected by a resistance pressure weld.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2021},
month = {6}
}

Works referenced in this record:

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patent-application, July 2017


Nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system
patent-application, March 2011


Fuel rod for light water reactor and method for manufacturing the same
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Automatic welding apparatus for end plug of nuclear fuel rod
patent, October 2017


Lower and Upper End Plugs of an Annular Fuel Rod
patent-application, January 2008


Resistance pressure weld for nuclear reactor fuel rod tube end plug
patent, September 2019


TIG welded MOX fuel rod
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patent-application, October 2019


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Method and Apparatus for Welding and Checking Tubular Workpieces
patent, May 1969


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patent, September 1989


Fuel rod for a nuclear reactor having an improved end plug assembly
patent, February 1987


Guide Thimble Plug for Nuclear Fuel Assembly
patent-application, July 2011


Method for welding of fuel rod
patent, December 1994


Resistance Welding of an End Cap for Nuclear Fuel Rods
patent-application, October 2013


Automatic Welding Apparatus for End Plug of Nuclear Fuel Rod
patent-application, July 2014


Dual-Cooled Nuclear Fuel Rod Having Annular Plugs and Method of Manufacturing the Same
patent-application, October 2010