UNDERWATER WELDING

PRESENTED BY:

SHUBHAM KISHORE MISHRA 09/ME/44 DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING HALDIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
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INTRODUCTION TO UNDERWATER WELDING

HISTORY: First underwater welding was carried for sealing leaking ship rivets below the water line. In 1946, special waterproof electrodes developed by Vander Willingen. Number of offshore structures including oil drilling rigs, pipelines, platforms are being installed significantly.

Classification of Underwater Welding

DRY WELDING

WET WELDING

Wet Welding
Job is performed directly in water.

Using water-proof stick electrode (copper coated

carbon/graphite electrode). MMA (manual metal arc welding) is used.

Contd..
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Working:
The power of the arc generates a bubble of a mixture of gasses which lets metal melting and joining occur. Knife switch cuts off the welding current and is design this way for safety reasons. Power Supply used : DC 300 or 400 Amp. Polarity : Straight polarity (DCEN)

underwater welding equipment set up

 When DC is used with Reverse polarity, huge heat is

liberated near electrode and cause rapid deterioration of any metallic components in the electrode holder. For wet welding AC is not used on account of electrical safety and difficulty in maintaining an arc underwater.

Advantages Of Wet Welding

Cheapest and fastest method. Ease of access of weld spot. No habitat, no construction, no waste of time. Tensile strength is high.
Disadvantages of Wet Welding Rapid quenching decreases impact strength, Ductility.. Hydrogen embrittlement (H2 dissolves in HAZ) Poor Visibility in Water.

Dry Welding/ Hyperbaric welding

Hyperbaric welding is done with the use of a welding chamber or

habitat. Chamber is sealed and filled with breathable mixture of helium and oxygen. Welding is done in the dry but at the hydrostatic pressure of the sea water surrounding the Habitat. TIG welding is used.

Advantages of Dry Welding Welder/Diver Safety Good Quality Welds Surface Monitoring (Joint preparation, pipe alignment)

Disadvantages of Dry Welding Higher cost of process, training etc. Large qty of costly and complex equipments. Weld spot limitations.

Risks Associated
Electric shock..
Explosion- Built up pockets of gas(H2,O2) Nitrogen introduced into blood steam at increased

pressure. Risk that defects may remain undetected because of difficult inspection.

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Application of Underwater Welding New construction & installation of offshore structures like oil platforms, pipeline s etc.

Repair and maintenance of ships like repairing holes in ships hulls.

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Conventional Underwater Welding Techniques

Manual Metal Arc Welding Tungsten Inert Gas Welding

Advanced Underwater Welding Technique

Friction welding (FRW) Laser Welding

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Developments & Scope of Research

THOR 1 (TIG Hyperbaric Orbital Robot) (Diver performs pipefitting, installs the track and orbital head on the pipe and the rest process is automated). A New welding electrode for wet welding nickname Black Beauty. (excellent visual appearance and profile, micro-cracking of weld has been eliminated, operating characteristics are superior) Generation of research data book on weldability of materials during underwater welding.

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THANK YOU

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