NELSON Mandela University’s innovation hub, eNtsa recently proved its WeldCore technology is a match for the stringent quality requirements for safety-critical fabrications and repairs at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) at the University of Sheffield in the UK.
WeldCore technology was developed to cut core samples for material analysis from high-pressure components such as steam pipes and uses a solid-state welding technique known as friction tapered hydro pillar processing (FTHPP) to permanently plug the hole and allow the component to remain in operation.
eNtsa, from the University’s Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology, is involved in the joint research project with Electric Power Research Institute in the USA, (EPRI) and NAMRC in the UK.
“It proved to be hugely successful and celebrated by all, and follow on projects in this regard have already been initiated,” says Donnie Erasmus, eNtsa’s deputy director Engineering Projects.
“It is widely accepted in the nuclear field that most manufacturing techniques should have a form of redundancy or backup for repair work, as was the case with the electron beam welding,” Erasmus says.
eNtsa has a long research and collaboration history with the Electric Power Research Institute in the USA, which suggested that the Nuclear AMRC contact eNtsa in this regard.
“They reached out to eNtsa in 2021 to do a feasibility project, which was successful and led to further development work in follow on projects. This culminated in a recent demonstration weld at their campus in Sheffield.”
The WeldCore process proved with flying colours to be able to repair defective electron beam welding on a small modular reactor at depth. The research at eNtsa involved both staff and interns during the refinement and development phase.
This technique will be used on small modular reactors in the manufacturing of reactors for the nuclear field.
“We are hoping to use this to promote and generate a network in the European, and International arena, and demonstrate eNtsa capability to the international industry,” Erasmus said.
Read more about the project here.
