Welding nuclear reactor cores to close dimensional tolerances - using fully automatic large scale plant with electronic control

摘要

Welding tubular elements with a circular cross-section onto the periphery (I) of a circumferential welded seam, comprises several identical welds made simultaneously at a number of locations (II) on the periphery (I), the locations (II) possessing radial symmetry w.r.t. the tubular elements in an assembly in which the welding process is regulated so that there is an identical relationship between the input of heat and the vol. of metal deposited along the welded seam at each of the locations (II) throughout the entire welding cycle, the locations being displaced (e.g. rotated) w.r.t. the seam during welding. Used e.g. for the assembly of cylindrical cores for nuclear reactors. Two burners located at 180 degrees w.r.t. each other can be simultaneously employed either on the outside or in the reactor core, both being continuously regulated so that thermal contraction, and therefore any deformation, can be precisely controlled.