End cap for nuclear fuel rod having an angled recess and welding thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017206984-A1
Application number	US-201615277869-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 27, 2016
Priority date	Jan 20, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An end cap for a nuclear fuel rod and methods of welding the end cap to a cladding tube, particularly an HT9 end cap to an HT9 cladding tube, such as by resistance pressure welding or pressure resistance welding. The end cap includes an annular shoulder and an angled recess. Also provided are welding techniques and techniques for classifying fuel rod welds.

First claim

1 . An end cap for a nuclear fuel rod, the end cap comprising a tip end, an opposite abutment end for attaching to a cladding tube, and an exterior surface proximate the abutment end; the abutment end having a recess therein and an annular shoulder defined by the outer surface and an outer wall of the recess, the outer wall of the recess forming an angle, with respect to the exterior surface and proximate the abutment end, no less than 5 degrees.

2 . The end cap of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall of the recess forms an angle, with respect to the exterior surface at the abutment end, no less than 5 degrees.

3 . The end cap of claim 1 , wherein the recess is a groove defined by the outer wall and an inner wall, the abutment end further having a central pedestal defined by the inner wall.

4 . The end cap of claim 3 , wherein the groove has a width at the abutment end between the angled outer wall and the inner wall of 1-2 mm.

5 . The end cap of claim 1 , wherein the recess has a depth of 0.5-5 mm.

6 . The end cap of claim 1 , wherein the angle is 10-20 degrees. (Original) The end cap of claim 1 , wherein the angle is 70-80 degrees.

8 . The end cap of claim 1 in conjunction with a cladding tube having a wall thickness, the annular shoulder being at least 0.05 mm wider than the wall thickness of the cladding tube.

9 . The end cap of claim 1 in conjunction with a cladding tube having a wall thickness, the annual annular shoulder being at least 0.1 mm wider than the wall thickness of the cladding tube.

10 . The end cap of claim 1 in conjunction with a cladding tube, each of the cladding tube and the end cap comprising HT9.

11 . An end cap for a nuclear fuel rod, the end cap comprising an abutment end for attaching to a cladding tube, the abutment end having an annular shoulder and a recess having an outer wall defining the annular shoulder and forming an angle no less than 95 degrees with respect to the annular shoulder.

12 . The end cap of claim 11 , wherein the angle is 100-165 degrees.

13 . The end cap of claim 11 , wherein the recess has a depth of 0.5-5 mm.

14 . The end cap of claim 11 , wherein the recess is a groove defined by the outer wall and an inner wall, the abutment end further having a central pedestal defined by the inner wall.

15 . The end cap of claim 14 , wherein the annular groove has a width at the abutment end of 1-2 mm.

16 . The end cap of claim 11 in conjunction with a cladding tube having a wall thickness, the annular shoulder being at least 0.05 mm wider than the wall thickness of the cladding tube.

17 . The end cap of claim 11 in conjunction with a cladding tube having a wall thickness, the annual annular shoulder being at least 0.1 mm wider than the wall thickness of the cladding tube.

18 . The end cap of claim 11 in conjunction with a cladding tube, each of the cladding tube and the end cap comprising HT9.

19 . A method of forming a fuel rod, the method comprising:
providing an end cap having an angled recess in an abutment end, the recess having an outer wall with an outer wall angle, and attaching an end cap electrode to the end cap; providing a cladding tube and attaching a cladding electrode thereto; abutting the end cap to the cladding tube; applying a current from the end cap electrode to the cladding electrode while applying a compressive force to the end cap and the cladding tube; and plastically deforming a portion of the end cap and/or the cladding tube to form a weld joint.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the outer wall angle is at an angle of no less than 95 degrees to the abutment end.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the outer wall angle is at an angle of no less than 5 degrees to an exterior surface of the end cap proximate the abutment end.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the recess defines a shoulder on the end cap, and wherein the method comprises abutting the shoulder with the cladding tube.

23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein at least one of the end cap and the cladding tube comprises HT9.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein each of the end cap and the cladding tube comprises HT9.

Assignees

• Terrapower Llc

Inventors

• Lee Jeffrey Todd
• Barger Earl Brian
• Fitzner Scott
• Ridgeway Roger D
• Hackett Micah J

Classifications

• G21C21/02

  Manufacture of fuel elements or breeder elements contained in non-active casings · CPC title

• G21Y2004/30

  Physics · mapped topic

• G21C3/10 Primary

  End closures {; Means for tight mounting therefor} · CPC title

• Y02E30/30

  Nuclear fission reactors · CPC title