Electron beam welding in the power industry

Electron beam welding has been used in a variety of applications for the power industry. It is used to weld the reactive metal Zircalloy for the fabrication of nuclear fuel bundles. Thick section steel is welded to manufacture steam turbines. In nuclear waste disposal, TWI has investigated the use of EBW to manufacture and seal canisters from a variety of materials including copper, nickel alloy and steel. Electron beam's rapid joining rate and low distortion is of benefit to thick section welding of stainless steel for nuclear plant.

Assembly of nuclear waste canister for sealing using reduced pressure EB welding

Electron beam welding of fuel bundles

Electron beam welding is widely employed in the manufacture of fuel bundles. In one such production application TWI were able to help a member company who had problems aligning the beam with the joint line.

Reduced pressure electron beam welding

To date, the necessity to weld in a high vacuum atmosphere has restricted the application of the process to components and structures that can be entirely contained within a vacuum chamber. 'Reduced Pressure' Electron Beam however, demands upon local sealing and pumping are much less onerous than with high vacuum EBW, thus facilitating the application of the process to large structures and components.

More detailed information is available to TWI's Industrial Members:

Reduced pressure electron beam welding in the power generation industry

Electron Beam welding - copper canister sealing

Two welding processes are being investigated for the sealing of copper vessels that form the outer barrier of Sweden's spent fuel assembly disposal canisters. TWI Ltd in the UK has developed Reduced Pressure Electron Beam welding and Friction Stir Welding for 50mm thick copper.

Canister sealing for nuclear waste - video clip

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More detailed information is available to TWI's Industrial Members:

A comparison of copper canister fabrication by the electron beam and friction stir processes
Canister sealing for high level waste encapsulation
Nuclear waste disposal task calls on electron beam welding
Advanced thermal protection systems for combustor cans

Contact: electronbeam@twi.co.uk