COMPARISON OF AC AND DC FOR WELDING ALUMINUM-CLAD FUEL ELEMENTS
D-c welding was found to be far superior to a-c welding for aluminum- clad fuel elements. Three comparison tests were made involving 1700 fuel elements, and it was found that with d-c there was a 77% decrease in pinholes, a 34% decrease in weld cracking, and a 44% increase in braze mixing. It was also found that d-c welding solved many of the present operating problems, such as obliteration of stamping, oxides due to poor arc strikes, melting of the contour, and oxide problems resulting from a deformed electrode. In addition, the weld height was found to be much more uniform than the height of the present a-c welds. Some revisions to the present weld-inspection standards will be required since the d-c weld had a thin film of oxide at the edges of the weld. There was a 19% decrease in total weld rejects with d-c. Thus, an increase in production weld rejects is not anticipated. About 3500 fuel elements were welded using varied welding conditions, and it was found that a double pass, 25-rpm weld using helium shielding gas was optimum for d-c welding. Additional helium will be required for this weld; however, no problems are anticipated in procuring the additional helium. There wili be a reduction in the operating cost with d-c, but this reduction will be offset by the cost of the increased helium consumption. Consequently, it is expected that the welding costs for d-c will be about the same as for a-c. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-005751
- OSTI ID:
- 4128511
- Report Number(s):
- HW-66354
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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