A significant breakthrough has been achieved by Dr. Han Seong-Tae’s team at KERI’s Industry Applications Research Division, as they successfully developed the core technology of electron guns, the critical component of electron beam welders. These electron guns, previously imported at a rate of more than 99%, have now been locally produced in Korea.
Welding is a fundamental process within various industries, involving the melting and joining of different materials such as metal. While traditional welding methods rely on heat generated by an arc or a laser, electron beam welders utilize the kinetic energy of electrons to bond materials together. When an electron beam is emitted, electrons accelerated to a high voltage collide with the welded material, converting kinetic energy into heat energy and creating a strong bond between the materials.
Electron beam welding offers advantages such as defect-free joining of thick materials that cannot be achieved through conventional welding methods. Especially in fields like aerospace, defense, and nuclear power, a high-level electron beam welder is essential for specialized applications. For instance, the Nuri launch vehicle’s combustor utilized an electron beam welder to seamlessly attach specialty steel materials and components for successful launch in 2021.
However, Korea has heavily relied on imports for over 99% of electron beam welding equipment from countries like Germany and Japan, posing risks of advanced technology leakage during maintenance and repairs of imported machines. Dr. Han Seong-Tae’s team’s breakthrough addresses this issue by achieving local production of electron guns and driving power systems, essential components of electron beam welders.
With their cutting-edge technology boasting world-class power and accelerated voltage levels, KERI’s electron beam welders can penetrate material with precision and efficiency. Through extensive optimization of electric and magnetic field structures, the research team developed high-performance equipment, reducing the country’s dependence on foreign sources.
This milestone marks a pivotal moment for Korea’s industrial landscape, as the nation can now utilize electron beam welding technology independently. As many strategic technologies rely on electron beam welding, this achievement is expected to have a profound impact on related industries, including equipment replacement and technology advancement.
Looking ahead, KERI aims to continue its research and development efforts, focusing on ultra-high voltage and high current electron guns suitable for next-generation small modular reactors. Additionally, they plan to enhance control technology for electron beam welding, enabling a wider range of applications such as 3D printing of complex metal structures that require high strength.
In conclusion, the successful localization of electron beam welding systems represents a significant milestone for Korea’s manufacturing sector, paving the way for enhanced technological capabilities and independence in key industries.
