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Welding Solutions for the Nuclear Industry

Böhler Welding has a proven track record in the supply of high quality and innovative welding consumables for the nuclear industry, where it is known that welding itself is the most critical operationin the construction of a nuclear power plant. Thus, special attention must be paid to the welding procedure as well as the production and delivery of welding consumables. We have offered high quality solutions using the widest range of technical expertise with a consistent QA/QC standard. Trusted deliveries have been made to the world’s leading nuclear equipment manufacturers for use in both new reactors and plant modernizations all over the world.

Our products meet the nuclear industry requirements for tight chemical compositions and product purity, as well as for strength and corrosion resistance. Nuclear projects place a higher demand on product safety and reliability, requiring partners with extensive experience.

Our products are known for their outstand­ing quality and hence comply with the strictest quality standards. We are well acquainted with the leading trade standards and regulations such as ASME NQA-1, NCA-3800,RCC-M, RCC-MR, KTA 1408.2, 10 CFR 50 as specific project specifica­tions. This not only ensures that we manufacture products with industry-leading tolerance accuracies, but also that our grades for the nuclear industry meet the relevant industry standards in detail with certified material and quality documents.

Further proof of the international appreciation of the high quality of our welding consumables is the Quality System Certificate (Materials), ASME sec. III-NCA 3800, which has been awarded by ASME to the following production sites:

  • Hamm in Germany
  • Seneffe in Belgium
  • Kapfenberg in Austria

Welding the Reactor Pressure Vessel

The reactor pressure vessel consists of a thick-walled cylindrical steel vessel enclosing the reactor core in a nuclear power plant. The vessel is made of special fine-grained low alloy steel, well suited for welding and with a high toughness.

voestalpine Böhler Welding offers filler materials for the main welding processes (SAW, SMAW, GTAW) suitable for this application, ensuring high impact properties (also proven by the drop-weight test) and low level of impurities.

The inner surface of the reactor pressure vessel constitutes a severe corrosive environment due to the circulating coolant contaminated with radioactive elements. The part of the vessel in direct contact with the coolant is overlaid with stainless steel or nickel alloy welding consumables, in order to protect the vessel from corrosion. voestalpine Böhler Welding offers cladding solutions with submerged or electroslag strip cladding processes that guarantee higher production efficiency compared to SAW strip cladding. We offer high quality welding consumables for the GTAW and SMAW process for smaller surfaces and not easily accessible surfaces.

The reactor pressure vessels heads contain penetrations to allow the control rod driving mechanism. High-quality nickel alloy welding consumables are available for welding the penetration nozzles on the reactor vessel's head.

Welding the Steam Generators

A steam generator is one of the most critical components in the nuclear primary circuit. It measures up to 21 m in height and weighs 800 tons. Each steam generator contains U tubes made from nickel alloys that guarantee thermal exchange and safe operation in the pressurized water reactors. The main pressure retaining base materials used are sophisticated low-alloyed high-strength and high-toughness steels.

For this application, voestalpine Böhler Welding offers dedicated filler materials for each of the main welding processes (SAW, SMAW, GTAW) that are able to guarantee the mechanical properties after very long simulated post weld heat treatments, with high toughness and a low level of impurities. The tube sheet and the channel head are exposed to corrosive environment, so a weld overlay is required on these parts.

voestalpine Böhler Welding offers a complete portfolio of filler materials in alloy 690, designed to resist primary water stress corrosion cracking. In particular, strip cladding solutions (with SAW and ESW processes), wires and covered electrodes are available for this critical application.

Welding the Pressurizers

The pressurizer is one of the key components in the pressurized water reactor and it has the key function of prevent water in reactor coolant system from boiling. The filler materials and the welding processes applied in the construction of the pressurizers are basically the same as in the steam generators.

voestalpine Bohler Welding supports its customers with fine-tuned welding consumables ideal for both joining (including bi-metallic joint between low-alloy and stainless steels) and cladding applications.

Product Overview

Welding Consumables for Nuclear Power

Product Name Industry Application Base Material / Consumable Alloy type AWS EN/ISO Process
Phoenix SH Schwarz 3 K Ni 2 Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5:E9018-G 2560-A, E 50 4 1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EV65R Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5: E8018-G 2560-A, E 55 6 1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
Union S 3 NiMo 0.8 - UV 420 TTR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.23 : F9P4-EG-F2-N-H4 24598-A, S 50 4 FB S 3 Ni1Mo-H4 SAW
BÖHLER FOX CN 24/13-AR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 309L A5.4: E309L-16 3581-A, E 23 12 L R 3 2 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 2-AR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 308L A5.4: E308L-16 3581-A, E 19 9 L R 3 2 SMAW
Phoenix SH Schwarz 3 K Ni 2 Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5:E9018-G 2560-A, E 50 4 1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EV65R Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5: E8018-G 2560-A, E 55 6 1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
Union S 3 NiMo 0.8 - UV 420 TTR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 0,8Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.23 : F9P4-EG-F2-N-H4 24598-A, S 50 4 FB S 3 Ni1Mo-H4 SAW
BÖHLER FOX CN 24/13-AR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 309L A5.4: E309L-16 3581-A, E 23 12 L R 3 2 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 2-AR Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 308L A5.4: E308L-16 3581-A, E 19 9 L R 3 2 SMAW
Thermanit 309L Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 309L A5.9: ER309L 14343-A, W 23 12 L GTAW
Thermanit JE-308L Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 308L A5.9: ER308L 14343-A, W 19 9 L GTAW
Thermanit 690 Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 690 A5.11: ENiCrFe-7 14172, E Ni 6152 (NiCr30Fe9Nb) SMAW
Thermanit 690 Reactor Pressure Vessel Alloy type 690 A5.14: ERNiCrFe-7 18274, S Ni 6052 (NiCr30Fe9) GTAW
Soudotape 309L-Q5 - Record INT 101 Q5 Reactor Pressure Vessel Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L A5.9: EQ309L 14343-A, B 23 12 L SAW 1st layer
Soudotape 308L-Q5 - Record INT 101 Q5 Reactor Pressure Vessel Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L A5.9: EQ308L 14343-A, B 19 9 L SAW 2nd layer
Soudotape 308L-Q5 - Record INT 120 Q5 Reactor Pressure Vessel Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L Rm>520Mpa A5.9: EQ308L 14343-A, B 19 9 L SAW 2nd layer
Thermanit JE-308L Nuclear Piping Alloy type 308L A5.9: ER308L 14343-A, W 19 9 L GTAW
Thermanit GE-316L Nuclear Piping Alloy type 316L A5.9: ER316L 14343-A, W 19 12 3 L GTAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 2 R Nuclear Piping Alloy type 308L A5.4: E308L-15 3581-A, E 19 9 L B 2 2 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 4 M R Nuclear Piping Alloy type 316L A5.4: E316L-15 3581-A, E 19 12 3 L B 2 2 SMAW
Phoenix SH Schwarz 3 K Ni M Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1½Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5: E9018M 2560-A, E 50 4 1,5NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EV65R+ Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5: E9018-G 2560-A, E 55 6 1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
Phoenix SH Schwarz 3 K Ni Mn Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.5: E9018-G 2560-A, E 55 4 Mn1NiMo B 42 H5 SMAW
Union I NiMoCr-M2 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1½Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.28: ER100-S1 16834-B, W 69A 6 I1 N3M2 GTAW
Union S 3 NiMo 1 - UV 420 TTR-W Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.23 : F9A8-EF3-F3-N / F9P8-EF3-F3-N 26304-A, S 55 4 FB S3Ni1Mo SAW
Union S 3 NiMoCr-M2 - UV 418 TT-M2 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 1½Ni-1/2Mo Steel A5.23 : F9P4-EM2-M2-H4 26304-B, S 69A 4 FB SUN3M2 H4 SAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 2-AR Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 309L A5.4: E308L-16 3581-A, E 19 9 L R 3 2 SMAW
BÖHLER FOX EAS 2-AR Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 308L A5.4: E308L-16 3581-A, E 19 9 L R 3 2 SMAW
Böhler FOX EAS 4 M R Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 316L A5.4: E316L-15 3581-A, E 19 12 3 L B 2 2 SMAW
Thermanit 309L Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 309L A5.9: ER309L 14343-A, W 23 12 L GTAW
Thermanit JE-308L Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 308L A5.9: ER308L 14343-A, W 19 9 L GTAW
Thermanit GE-316L Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 316L A5.9: ER316L 14343-A, W 19 12 3 L GTAW
Thermanit 309L - Marathon 431 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 309L A5.9 : ER309L 14343-A, S 23 12 L SAW
Thermanit JE-308L - Marathon 431 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 308L A5.9 : ER308L 14343-A, S 19 9 L SAW
Thermanit GE-316L - Marathon 431 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 316L A5.9 : ER316L 14343-A, S 19 12 3 L SAW
Thermanit 690 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 690 A5.11: ENiCrFe-7 14172, E Ni 6152 (NiCr30Fe9Nb) SMAW
Thermanit 690 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Alloy type 690 A5.14: ERNiCrFe-7 18274, S Ni 6052 (NiCr30Fe9) GTAW/GMAW
Soudotape 309L-Q5 - Record INT 101 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L A5.9 : EQ309L 14343-A, B 23 12 L SAW
Soudotape 308L-Q5 - Record INT 101 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L A5.9 : EQ308L 14343-A, B 19 9 L SAW
Soudotape 308L-Q5 - Record INT 120 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 308L Rm>520Mpa A5.9: EQ308L 14343-A, B 19 9 L SAW
Soudotape 690 Q5 - Record NFT 690 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 690 A5.14 : EQNiCrFe-14 18274, B Ni Z (NiCr30Fe9Mn3Nb) SAW
Soudotape 690 Q5 - Record EST 690 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 690 A5.14 / SFA-5.14, EQNiCrFe-14 18274, B Ni Z (NiCr30Fe9Mn3Nb) ESW
Soudotape NiCrFe-7 Q5 + Record NFT NiCrFe-7 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 690 A5.14 : EQNiCrFe-7 18274, B Ni 6052 (NiCr30Fe9) SAW
Soudotape NiCrFe-7 Q5 + Record EST NiCrFe-7 Q5 Steam Generator / Pressurizer Strip Cladding Weld Overlay Type 690 A5.14 / SFA-5.14, EQNiCrFe-7 18274, B Ni 6052 (NiCr30Fe9) ESW
A 314 Generator, Motors, Transformer Copper and Copper alloys Ag 155 Brazing
A 311 Generator, Motors, Transformer Steel, Copper and Copper alloys Ag 244 Brazing
A 347 Generator, Motors, Transformer Steel, Copper and Copper alloys B Ag-7 Ag 156 Brazing
A 320 Generator, Motors, Transformer Steel, Copper and Copper alloys B Ag-36 Ag 145 Brazing
A 330 Generator, Motors, Transformer Steel, Copper and Copper alloys B Ag-20 Ag 230 Brazing
A 3005 Generator, Motors, Transformer Copper and Copper alloys B Cu-P7 CuP 281 Brazing
A 3015 Generator, Motors, Transformer Copper and Copper alloys B Cu-P5 CuP 284 Brazing
A 3018 Generator, Motors, Transformer Copper and Copper alloys B Cu-P8 CuP 285 Brazing
F 300 H Ultra NT (Brazing Flux) Generator, Motors, Transformer Copper and Copper alloys FH 10 Brazing
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