Fuel rod end plug welding method

A method of weld sealing an external opening of an axial gas pressurization bore on a flat end face of an end plug on a cladding tube, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a trepan in the flat end face of the end plug about the external opening of the axial bore, said trepan including an annular groove encircling the external opening and an annular end face portion extending between said annular groove and said external opening, the ratio of the depth of said groove to the diameter of said annular end face portion of said trepan being within a range of from 1:3 to 1:6;
• and
• (b) applying an axially-directed welding arc to said trepan in the flat end face of the end plug so as to produce a melting of the material of said trepan into the end face and formation of a weld seal in the bore such that said trepan is replaced by a shallow concavity overlying the weld seal and extending across the region substantially encircled originally by said annular groove of said trepan;
• (c) said applying including positioning an end plug stop to make continuous annular contact against the periphery of the end plug in an outward radially spaced relation from said trepan on the end face of said end plug and positioning an axial welding electrode in axially spaced relation from said trepan.