The National Institute of Engineering

(An Autonomous Institute under Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi)

Department of Industrial and Production Engineering

Academic Year 2021-2022

SEMINAR-(IP7C03)
ON
UNDERWATER WELDING

Presented By
Deepthi M L
4NI18IP018
 Contents

 Hyperbaric welding
 History
 Introduction to Underwater welding and Why Underwater welding?
 Types-Dry welding and Wet welding
 Advantages and disadvantages of Dry welding and Wet welding
 Requirements of Underwater welding
 Effect of Wet environment
 Dangers and Difficulties
 Safety Measures and Precautions
 Future Scope and Developments
 HYPERBARIC WELDING

 Hyperbaric welding is the process of welding at elevated

pressures, normally underwater.
 Hyperbaric welding can either take place wet in the water itself
or dry inside a specially constructed positive pressure enclosure
and hence a dry environment.
 HISTORY

 First under water welding by British Admiralty –

Dockyard
 In 1946, special waterproof electrodes were
developed in Holland by ‘Van der Willingen’
INTRODUCTION TO UNDERWATER WELDING
WHY UNDERWATER WELDING?

We can’t lift ship and then repair it. Hence comes the use of
underwater welding
TYPES OF UNDERWATER WELDING

Wet welding Dry welding

 DRY WELDING

Dry welding is used in preference to wet underwater welding when

high quality welds are required because of the increased control over
conditions which can be exerted, such as through application of prior
and post weld heat treatments.
 The structure to be welded and is filled with a gas(He and
Oxygen) at the prevailing pressure.
 DRY WELDING CAN BE OF TWO TYPES

1. Large habitat for underwater welding

2. Mini habitat for underwater welding
LARGE HABITAT FOR UNDERWATER
WELDING
 ADVANTAGES OF DRY WELDING

Welder /diver safety

Good weld quality
Surface monitoring
 DISADVANTAGES OF DRY WELDING

 Higher cost of process, training, etc

 Large quantity of costly and complex equipments
 More deep, more energy requirement.
 Cant weld if weld spot is at unreachable place
 WET WELDING

 Wet underwater welding directly exposes the diver and

electrode to the water and surrounding elements.
 Divers usually use around 300–400 amps of direct
current to power their electrode, and they weld using
varied forms of arc welding.
 This practice commonly uses a variation of shielded
metal arc welding, employing a waterproof electrode.
 Other processes that are used include flux-cored arc welding and
friction welding.
 In each of these cases, the welding power supply is connected to
the welding equipment through cables and hoses.
 The process is generally limited to low carbon equivalent steels,
especially at greater depths, because of hydrogen-caused
cracking.
WET WELDING
 REQUIREMENTS OF UNDERWATER WELDING

 Power supply requrements-400 amp or larger. DC generators,

motor generators and rectifiers are acceptable power supplies
 Power converters.
 Welding Generator, Pre-Setup
 Polarity.
 Diesel Driven Welding Generator Amperage and Voltage settings.
 Gas Manifolds.
 EFFECT OF WET ENVIRONMENT

 Effect of alloying elements on weld metal microstructure and

properties
 Managanese
 Boron and titanium
 Rare earth metals
 ADVANTAGES OF WET WELDING

 Cheapest
 Fastest
 Tensile strength is high
 Ease of access the weld spot
 No waste of time in constructing habitat
 DISADVANTAGES OF WET WELDING

 Rapid quenching decreases impact strength, Ductility.

 Hydrogen embrittlement.
 Poor visibility in water.
 Higher energy density of hydrogen, higher efficiency.
 DANGERS AND DIFFICULTIES

 There is a risk to the welder/diver of electric shock.

 There is a risk that defects may remain undetected
 The other main area of risk is to the life or health of the
welder/diver from nitrogen introduced into the blood steam
during exposure to air at increased pressure
 SAFETY MEASURES AND
PRECAUTIONS

 Start cutting at the highest point and work downward

 By withdrawing the electrode every few seconds to allow water to
enter the cut
 Precautions include achieving adequate electrical insulation of the
welding equipment
 FUTURE SCOPE AND DEVELOPMENTS

 Development of alternative welding methods like friction

welding, explosive welding, and stud welding.
 Present trend is towards automation. THOR – 1 (TIG
Hyperbaric Orbital Robot) is developed where diver
performs pipefitting, installs the track and orbital head on
the pipe and the rest process is automated.
Thank You