Nuclear fuel rod end plug welding apparatus and method.

摘要

A welding apparatus (10) has a welding chamber (12) with an access opening (54) allowing passage of a cladding tube end fitted with an end plug to a welding position therein. A rotatable end plug stop assembly (36) disposed in the chamber (12) and axially aligned with the access opening (54) is adapted to engage the end plug when inserted in the welding chamber. An end of a electrode (58) of a girth welding assembly (42) disposed in the welding chamber adjacent to the rotatable end plug and tube end and in generally orthogonal relation thereto is operable to form a girth weld circumferentially joining the end plug and cladding tube end. An end seal welding assembly (46) mounted to the end plug stop assembly and having an electrode with an end disposed adjacent to and in axial alignment with an axial bore of the end plug is operable to form an end seal weld therein. The end seal welding assembly (46) also defines a path for flow of a fill gas along the electrode and both into the welding chamber and the end plug axial bore before formation of the end seal weld therein. The end plug stop assembly (36) includes an end stop (38) which receives an end seal welding electrode and flow of fill gas along the electrode, and an end plug-engaging insert (40) adapted to fit in the end stop (38) and engage the end plug leading end portion.