Product Code: ICA12_P168

Laser Welding of Seal Tubes for the Instrumented Fuel Irradiation Test
Authors:
Soo-Sung Kim, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; Daejeon South Korea
Ki-Hwan Kim, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; Daejeon
Ho-Jin Ryu, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; -
Yoon-Sang Lee, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; Daejeon
Jong-Man Park, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute; -
Presented at ICALEO 2012

This work was carried out to obtain sound welds FIBER lasers and to select the most suitable binary metal joints seal tubes linking three combinations which include STS316L to Inconel600, Inconel600 to Ti and Ti to Zircaloy-4 for the instrumented fuel irradiation test. To do this, the Taguchi experimental method was employed to optimize the experimental data. In addition, metallographic examinations, micro-focus X-ray radiography and a micro-hardness test were also conducted to examine the welds. Visually, the penetration depth and bead width as well as from the standpoint of the weld defects, the laser welding of STS316L to Inconel600, Inconel600 to Ti and Ti to Zircaloy-4 joint combinations is characterized. The investigating weld conditions are reviewed for a circumferential joining between the seal tubes and the MI (Mineral Insulator) cable on the instrumentation.