A Novel Technological Assessment for Welding Heavy Wall Stainless Steel

In an effort to maximize quality and production in both field and shop fabrication while minimizing cost, Fluor and PCL, in a joint venture, assessed new welding technology comparing power sources, arc transfer modes, and shielding gas mixtures using various semi-automatic welding processes. The results were combined with “No-Backing Gas” (NBG) root technique to provide ASME code acceptable welds with excellent corrosion and crack resistance for type 321 Stainless Steel [1]. Welds were deposited in approximately one third the time commonly demanded by conventional welding. The strategies for the selection of a welding power source, arc transfer modes, shielding gas mixtures, and the successful bridging from quality and integrity validation to shop and field implementation are discussed.