METHOD FOR SEALING END PLUG FOR NUCLEAR FUEL ROD AND END PLUG BEING EQUIPPED THE ROD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To seal a leakage passage of an axial direction penetrating an end plug or fluid (streamer) due to a defect of inner substance along the inner end face of the plug. SOLUTION: To seal any fluid opening or passage along an axis of an end plug 20, the plug 20 for a nuclear fuel rod is spot welded along an inner end face of the plug 20. The welding is conducted by an automated laser welding system. In this system, a pallet 42 of the plug is supported onto an X-Y positioning table 32 under a laser 36 movable in a vertical direction. The plug 20 provided at the pallet 42 is continuously positioned under the laser 36. Thus, the spot welded part is formed along the axis of the plug 20 and the inner end face of the plug 20 to seal the plug 20.