Against the backdrop of the booming development of the nuclear power industry, the welding technology of nuclear power equipment has always been a key link in ensuring the safe and stable operation of nuclear facilities. The latest information from the State Intellectual Property Office shows that China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd. and China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. have successfully applied for the patent of "A Gas Metal Arc Welding Automatic Welding Process and System for Nuclear Power Mechanical Penetrations" (Publication No. CN120326094A). This achievement is like a heavy bomb, causing a stir in the nuclear power industry and bringing revolutionary changes to the welding technology of nuclear power mechanical penetrations.​
As a key component connecting the systems inside and outside the containment of nuclear power plants, the welding quality of nuclear power mechanical penetrations is directly related to the tightness, safety and overall service life of nuclear facilities. Traditional welding processes often rely on manual operations, which are not only inefficient but also difficult to ensure the stability of welding quality. When facing complex welding conditions and high-precision welding requirements, the limitations of manual welding become increasingly prominent, such as slow welding speed, uneven weld quality, and vulnerability to human factors, which seriously restrict the construction progress and quality of nuclear power projects.​
The automatically applied welding process and system, like an intelligent "welding master", accurately solves these problems that have long plagued the industry. Its working principle is based on advanced automatic control technology, which can accurately input various parameters of mechanical penetrations, such as material, size, weld shape, etc., into the automatic welding system. The system then intelligently selects the most suitable type of welding groove based on these parameters and quickly determines the initial range of welding process parameters. During the welding process, through advanced sensor technology, the weld and actual welding groove information are identified in real-time, and then the welding parameters are automatically matched and dynamically adjusted to ensure that each weld can achieve the optimal welding effect.​
The entire welding process realizes full automatic operation. Operators only need to complete parameter input and equipment debugging in the early stage, and the subsequent welding work can be completed independently by the system. This innovative process not only greatly simplifies the operation process, reduces the dependence on the skill level of operators, but also fundamentally avoids the problems of low welding efficiency and unstable quality caused by improper manual operation. Compared with traditional welding processes, the welding efficiency of the automatic welding system can be increased several times, and the stability and consistency of weld quality have also been significantly improved, which can meet the almost harsh requirements of the nuclear power industry for welding quality.​
From the perspective of industry impact, the advent of this patent is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for nuclear power engineering construction. In the construction of nuclear power projects, the welding work of mechanical penetrations usually occupies a lot of time and labor costs. The application of the automatic welding process and system will greatly shorten the welding period, improve the efficiency of project construction, and provide a strong guarantee for the on-time delivery of nuclear power projects. At the same time, stable and reliable welding quality will further improve the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants, reduce later maintenance costs, and is of great significance for promoting the high-quality and sustainable development of China‘s nuclear power industry.​
Looking forward to the future, with the gradual promotion and application of this patent technology, it is expected to set off a revolution in welding technology in the global nuclear power market. Relying on this innovative achievement, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd. and China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Co., Ltd. have not only demonstrated China‘s strong strength in the field of nuclear power technology, but also added a powerful "trump card" for China‘s nuclear power enterprises to participate in international competition. It is believed that in the near future, this advanced automatic welding process and system will become the mainstream technology for welding nuclear power mechanical penetrations, contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the development of the global nuclear power industry.​