The Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM – which reports to the Ministry of Science and ICT,) has developed a 120kV/60kW electron-beam welding system, which can weld materials with thickness of more than 100mm. KIMM says that, together with innovative technologies for manufacturing SMRs, the new technology is expected to shorten welding time and secure economic feasibility.
The joint research team led by principle researcher Dr Jeong Suh of the Department of Industrial Laser Technology at the KIMM’s Busan Machinery Research Centre and including Halla EB Technology, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and Pukyong National University, has developed the technology for the domestic production of a 120kV (60kW) high-power electron-beam welding system, as well as “a highly reliable process technology for manufacturing this system”.
The team succeeded in the production, control, and operation of a large electron-beam welding system equipped with an electron gun and high-voltage device developed by KERI, and also developed the technology for externally monitoring the welding process performed within a large vacuum chamber as well as the weld seam tracking technology for automatically tracking the electron-beam welding line. The research has been published in five domestic and international journals, and applications for three patents have been filed.
Hitherto, electron-beam welding devices have been imported from Germany, the UK, France, Japan, and other countries. KIMM and specialised corporations have been working towards domestic production of large-scale electron-beam welding systems but faced challenges due to the large budget required for the development of core equipment such as electronic guns as well as the inherent technological risks associated with the process.
The joint research team has succeeded in independently designing and manufacturing an electron gun that creates an electron beam as well as a high-voltage device with high power output. Additionally, by developing the precise process technology for welding metal parts thicker than 100mm at once, the joint research team has secured price competitiveness of approximately 50% compared with the equipment manufactured in other countries. “In the near future, by improving the output of electron guns and high-voltage devices, it will also be possible to domestically manufacture the welding system for SMR pressure vessel that requires electron-beam welding of materials with thickness of more than 200mm.” KIMM said.
According to Dr Jeong Suh, by applying the local vacuum chamber technology currently being developed by KIMM to the newly developed technology for the domestic production of high-power large-scale electron-beam welding system, it will be possible to weld not only SMR pressure vessels but also large structures used in the defence industry such as submarines and launch vehicles. “It will also be possible to create high added value by shortening the time required for welding and securing economic efficiency.”
KIMM President Seog-Hyeon Ryu noted: “In connection with the ‘Construction of the SMR Production Support Centre’ that has recently been agreed upon by the KIMM, Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we hope that the newly developed electron beam welding system will play a key role in the innovation of the technology for manufacturing SMRs.”
Image: Large-scale electron beam welding system installed at Halla EB Technology (courtesy of KIMM)
