Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods

Abstract The cladding of fast reactor fuel rods, made of stainless steel, presents significant challenges in cutting due to its ductility, which leads to increased tool wear and poor cut quality with traditional mechanical methods. Laser cutting has emerged as a superior alternative, offering non-co...

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Main Authors: Tianchi Li, Zengliang Mo, Qi Chen, Jia Zhou, Zhi Cao, Jianhua Guo, Zhongyuan Yang, Chunwei Tang, Hongmei Zhang, Tao Xiao, Wensi Li, Yuzhou Ming, Fang Liu, Taihong Yan, Gaoyang Mi, Weifang Zheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81161-z
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author Tianchi Li
Zengliang Mo
Qi Chen
Jia Zhou
Zhi Cao
Jianhua Guo
Zhongyuan Yang
Chunwei Tang
Hongmei Zhang
Tao Xiao
Wensi Li
Yuzhou Ming
Fang Liu
Taihong Yan
Gaoyang Mi
Weifang Zheng
author_facet Tianchi Li
Zengliang Mo
Qi Chen
Jia Zhou
Zhi Cao
Jianhua Guo
Zhongyuan Yang
Chunwei Tang
Hongmei Zhang
Tao Xiao
Wensi Li
Yuzhou Ming
Fang Liu
Taihong Yan
Gaoyang Mi
Weifang Zheng
author_sort Tianchi Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The cladding of fast reactor fuel rods, made of stainless steel, presents significant challenges in cutting due to its ductility, which leads to increased tool wear and poor cut quality with traditional mechanical methods. Laser cutting has emerged as a superior alternative, offering non-contact precision, high efficiency, and suitability for radioactive environments. This study systematically investigates the effects of laser cutting parameters—cutting speed, focal position, power, and gas pressure—on the cutting quality of simulated fast reactor fuel rods. The results show that optimal cutting is achieved with a cutting speed of 1 m/min, a focal position between − 20 and − 25 mm, a laser power between 7200 and 9600 W, and a gas pressure of 10 MPa. These parameters provide the best balance between cutting efficiency, surface roughness, and minimal slag formation. This study contributes valuable insights into optimizing laser cutting technology for nuclear fuel rod processing, with potential applications in fuel reprocessing and decommissioning.
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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spelling doaj-art-48e5fe5ef403430e922a517cfb9d7f3a2025-08-20T02:08:20ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-11-0114111210.1038/s41598-024-81161-zExperimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rodsTianchi Li0Zengliang Mo1Qi Chen2Jia Zhou3Zhi Cao4Jianhua Guo5Zhongyuan Yang6Chunwei Tang7Hongmei Zhang8Tao Xiao9Wensi Li10Yuzhou Ming11Fang Liu12Taihong Yan13Gaoyang Mi14Weifang Zheng15China Institute of Atomic EnergyGZ Photonics Technology Co., LtdChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyGZ Photonics Technology Co., LtdGZ Photonics Technology Co., LtdGZ Photonics Technology Co., LtdChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyChina Institute of Atomic EnergySchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyChina Institute of Atomic EnergyAbstract The cladding of fast reactor fuel rods, made of stainless steel, presents significant challenges in cutting due to its ductility, which leads to increased tool wear and poor cut quality with traditional mechanical methods. Laser cutting has emerged as a superior alternative, offering non-contact precision, high efficiency, and suitability for radioactive environments. This study systematically investigates the effects of laser cutting parameters—cutting speed, focal position, power, and gas pressure—on the cutting quality of simulated fast reactor fuel rods. The results show that optimal cutting is achieved with a cutting speed of 1 m/min, a focal position between − 20 and − 25 mm, a laser power between 7200 and 9600 W, and a gas pressure of 10 MPa. These parameters provide the best balance between cutting efficiency, surface roughness, and minimal slag formation. This study contributes valuable insights into optimizing laser cutting technology for nuclear fuel rod processing, with potential applications in fuel reprocessing and decommissioning.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81161-zLaser cuttingFast reactor fuel rodStainless steel claddingCutting qualityNuclear fuel processing
spellingShingle Tianchi Li
Zengliang Mo
Qi Chen
Jia Zhou
Zhi Cao
Jianhua Guo
Zhongyuan Yang
Chunwei Tang
Hongmei Zhang
Tao Xiao
Wensi Li
Yuzhou Ming
Fang Liu
Taihong Yan
Gaoyang Mi
Weifang Zheng
Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
Scientific Reports
Laser cutting
Fast reactor fuel rod
Stainless steel cladding
Cutting quality
Nuclear fuel processing
title Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
title_full Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
title_fullStr Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
title_full_unstemmed Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
title_short Experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast Reactor fuel rods
title_sort experimental study on laser cutting process of simulated fast reactor fuel rods
topic Laser cutting
Fast reactor fuel rod
Stainless steel cladding
Cutting quality
Nuclear fuel processing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81161-z
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