Successful orbital welding on aluminium tubes of the research reactor on Reactor Institute Delft

11/18/2020

Bilfinger Noell developed and qualified a fully mechanical welding process on aluminium tubes at the beginning of 2020. This has now been successfully applied for the first time at a European research reactor at the Reactor Institute Delft as part of the Oyster-Project.

The special challenges included the radioactive environment with high dose rate, cramped space conditions, an aluminum alloy which was difficult to weld and the welding positions which were typically vertical in a tube. All manipulations were performed by means of suitable camera and remote handling technology.

"With the successful implementation of this welding process, which is unique in its execution, a reference unique in Europe was created", says Roland Pechtl Managing Director Bilfinger Noell.

Orbital welding on aluminium tubes

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Reactor Institute Delft movie about the beam tube modification

Successful orbital welding on aluminium tubes of the research reactor on Reactor Institute Delft

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