Improving Global Quality of Life
Improving Global Quality of Life
Improving Global Quality of Life
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Following these codes assures initial high quality construction and appropriate ongoing inspections, with<br />
repairs performed to maintain the structural integrity <strong>of</strong> the systems necessary to assure a safe shutdown <strong>of</strong><br />
the plant once it has started operation.<br />
One can refer to Nuclear Construction Lessons Learned Guidance on best practice: welding – The Royal<br />
Academy - ISBN: 1-903496-82-9.<br />
Contractors that build these facilities mainly employ welders that are skilled in manual techniques using the<br />
GTAW and SMAW processes. Typically, piping butt welds are performed with GTAW for the root pass and<br />
followed by a second pass <strong>of</strong> GTAW, then the welds are completed using SMAW. This combination is meant<br />
to assure that the higher quality GTAW process is used to seal the inside diameter and the higher production<br />
process SMAW is used to fill the balance <strong>of</strong> the joint volume. This method has been in use since the early<br />
1970s and is still the predominant method to date. Since 2005, there has been a desire to use new highly<br />
developed GMAW power sources such as Miller Electric’s RMD and Lincoln Electric’s STT to replace the<br />
GTAW/SMAW method. These two methods are starting to be placed into the hands <strong>of</strong> welders. It should be<br />
noted that many welders do not transition well to this change without adequate training.<br />
Equipment manufacturers’ employ SAW for typical construction. This process is well established with both<br />
high production and high quality benefits. In a factory environment where the vessels can be manipulated,<br />
SAW is a nearly perfect process. SAW can easily be incorporated into an automated production line. When<br />
more portable welding is necessary or for certain smaller production assembly, FCAW is typically employed<br />
with gas shielding.<br />
The various issues relating to welding technology for nuclear power plants must keep pace with the advances<br />
and innovations in welding technology. While materials pose exciting challenges and thus opportunities to<br />
materials scientists, development <strong>of</strong> welding technology for joining these materials pose further exciting<br />
challenges for technologists, to enable realisation <strong>of</strong> the objectives <strong>of</strong> sustainable development <strong>of</strong> the<br />
nuclear energy option. Development <strong>of</strong> welding technology for nuclear energy systems involves exploitation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the full potential <strong>of</strong> the latest welding processes, and also the harnessing the benefits through developing<br />
<strong>of</strong> knowledge-based expert systems for failure analysis and suggesting repair and refurbishing strategies and<br />
weld process modeling and control, weld-bead pr<strong>of</strong>ile analysis for quality control, microstructure prediction<br />
and mechanical property estimation.<br />
Alloys that were used in the first generation <strong>of</strong> nuclear plants have been improved on since the service<br />
conditions are now better understood. Examples include the use <strong>of</strong> unstabilised 304 stainless steel in Boiling<br />
Water Reactor Recirculating Coolant Systems and the use <strong>of</strong> Inconel 600 fillers and base metals in the vessel<br />
nozzles which are both attacked by Inter Granular Stress Corrosion Cracking. Other corrosion mechanisms<br />
and fatigue will be addressed by material improvements using new alloys and by cladding existing alloys<br />
with exotic materials by Explosion Welding. New welding processes and techniques will also be used to<br />
address fatigue damage (chamfered fittings or 2 to 1 pr<strong>of</strong>ile socket welding) and lower residual stress from<br />
GMAW versus GTAW/SMAW.<br />
In the future, large equipment manufacturers’ will continue to use SAW but high quality Hot Wire GTAW<br />
will find a place in attaching smaller bore nozzles such as the numerous Control Rod Drive Mechanism<br />
housings. The introduction <strong>of</strong> the new highly automated process will require new equipment which is now<br />
just beginning to be developed. Welding Operators for this specialised fabrication will be in high demand.<br />
Currently the training for such equipment is <strong>of</strong>fered by the equipment suppliers.<br />
Due to the heightened safety requirements <strong>of</strong> nuclear power all welding will require certification testing <strong>of</strong><br />
individuals and full documentation <strong>of</strong> welding consumables used and recording <strong>of</strong> the welding procedure<br />
variables that are used. This is carried out by the Welding Engineering pr<strong>of</strong>essional and/or <strong>Quality</strong> Control<br />
personnel. Presently the collegiate system is not prepared to train which is attributed to a lack <strong>of</strong> focused<br />
foresight by national leadership. Costs for teaching welding pr<strong>of</strong>essionals is considerably higher than other<br />
92 <strong>Improving</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Quality</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Through Optimum Use and Innovation <strong>of</strong> Welding and Joining Technologies