Method for manufacturing a module with a hollow area by hot isostatic compression

• US 8,408,447 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Inventors: Couturier, Raphael, Bernard, Charlotte, Reytier, Magali, Rigal, Emmanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoner, Kiley
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAMINO, CARLOS J
• Application Number:
  US13/496,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20120168078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 228/124.6, 228193-195, 228/233.1, 228/233.2
• US Class Current: 228/193
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 20/021 Isostatic pressure welding
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/14 Heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 3/12 Elements constructed in the shape of a hollow panel, e.g. with channels F28D1/02, F28D1/03 take precedence

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a module with a hollow area by hot isostatic compression, including: making an assembly including superposed elements defining the hollow area, the assembly forming a sealed casing containing the hollow area, including at least one meltable obturation member separating the hollow area from the outside of the assembly; followed by hot isostatic compression of the assembly, to obtain diffusion-welding of its elements, by letting temperature and pressure conditions change over time to cause a rupture of the meltable obturation member allowing pressurization gas to penetrate into the hollow area.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a module with a hollow area by hot isostatic compression, comprising:

making an assembly comprising superposed elements defining the hollow area, the assembly being made to form a leakproof casing containing the hollow area, including at least one meltable obturation member separating the hollow area from an outside of the assembly;

followed by hot isostatic compression of the assembly, as to obtain diffusion-welding of the elements of the assembly, and carried out by changing temperature and pressure conditions so that the changing temperature and pressure conditions cause during the hot isostatic compression a rupture of the meltable obturation member allowing pressurization gas to penetrate into the hollow area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature and pressure conditions are retained to achieve a first compression phase at temperature T1, a pressure P1, for a duration D1, and then to achieve a second compression phase at temperature T2, a pressure P2 greater than pressure P1, for a duration D2, the rupture of the meltable obturation member being caused between the first and second compression phases.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pressure P1 is between 50 and 200 bars, and the pressure P2 is between 1,000 and 2,000 bars.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the temperatures T1 and T2 are each between 900 and 1,200°

C.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the temperatures T1 and T2 are each between 900 and 1,200°

C.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obturation member forms a thermal fuse or a mechanical fuse.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obturation member is an integral part of one of the elements of the assembly, or else is added onto one of these elements.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the hollow area assumes a form of one or a plurality of fluid circulation channels.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the module is provided for fitting out a heat exchanger system.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the module assumes a form of a plate.