Plug-Welding of ODS Cladding Tube for BOR-60 Irradiation Test-2; Determination of Welding Condition and Actual Results of Welding

Seki, Masayuki; Ishibashi, Fujio; Kihara, Yoshiyuki; Hirako, Kazuhiko*; Tsukada, Tatsuya*

Irradiation test in BOR-60 at RIAR to judge practical use prospect of ODS cladding tube at early stage is planned as Japan-Russia a joint research. Irradiation test is done for five years from June, 2003 aiming at burn-up 15at%.The first stage irradiation test was achieved target burn-up 5at% in May, 2004.The second stage irradiation test begins in May, 2005. JNC Tokai welded martensitic ODS cladding tube and upper endplug by pressurizing resistance welding, and inspected, it was transported to RIAR. As well as last time, Use of long scale cladding tube caused problem that bending transformation occurred in cladding tube by welding pressure. However, we solved this problem by adopted a changeable pressurizing system. This system can suppress the transformation of the cladding tube because it can set the pressurizing power when beginning to connect it low. Manufacturing was enabled by using this system. A permissible value of the welding condition was expanded by having adopted the changeable pressurizing system, it has a advantage for the design of the hot device. The cladding tubes with upper endplug passed the inspection by OEC on 15 December 2004 were shipped on 13 January 2005 for RIAR.