Title: Manufacturing tolerances of the bellows for nuclear applications: case study

Authors: S.C.S.P. Kumar Krovvidi; A.K. Bhaduri

Addresses: Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India ' Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Manufacturing tolerances play a major role in the reliable and consistent performance of the bellows. This paper discusses the effect of the change in the nominal dimensions on the performance of bellows and guidelines for selection of manufacturing tolerances for the bellows used in various nuclear applications. A set of new guidelines for selection of manufacturing tolerances for various types of bellows (viz. formed and welded disc bellows) under various service loadings was proposed. The rules given in ASME section-III/code case N290 were recommended for all class-1 formed bellows. The guidelines given in EJMA were recommended for the selection of manufacturing tolerances of formed bellows with class-II loading conditions. This paper also presents the development of new rules for the selection of manufacturing tolerances of welded disc bellows based on various manufacturing trials and the proposed rules are demonstrated through a case study.

Keywords: formed bellows; manufacturing tolerances; EJMA; ASME section-III code case-N290; welded disc bellows.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2020.113142

International Journal of Product Development, 2020 Vol.24 No.4, pp.283 - 296

Accepted: 06 Jun 2020
Published online: 22 Feb 2021 *

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