Failure of austenitic stainless steel tubes during steam generator operation

• Autorzy: Topolska S. , Łabanowski J. , Głowacka M.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Purpose: of this study is to analyze the causes of premature failure of steam generator coil made of austenitic stainless steel. Special attention is paid to corrosion damage processes within the welded joints. Design/methodology/approach: Examinations were conducted several segments of the coil made of seamless cold-formed pipes Ø 23x2.3 mm, of austenitic stainless steel grade X6CrNiTi18-10 according to EN 10088-1:2007. The working time of the device was 6 months. The reason for the withdrawal of the generator from the operation was leaks in the coil tube caused by corrosion damage. The metallographic investigations were performed with the use of light microscope and scanning electron microscope equipped with the EDX analysis attachment. Findings: Examinations of coil tubes indicated severe corrosion damages as pitting corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and intergranular corrosion within base material and welded joints. Causes of corrosion was defined as wrong choice of austenitic steel grade, improper welding technology, lack of quality control of water supply and lack of surface treatment of stainless steel pipes. Research limitations/implications: It was not known the quality of water supply of steam generator and this was the reason for some problems in the identification of corrosion processes. Practical implications: Based on the obtained research results and literature studies some recommendations were formulated in order to avoid failures in the application of austenitic steels in the steam generators. These recommendations relate to the selection of materials, processing technology and working environment. Originality/value: Article clearly shows that attempts to increase the life time of evaporator tubes and steam coils by replacing non-alloy or low alloy structural steel by austenitic steel, without regard to restrictions on its use, in practice often fail.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

corrosion; destruction of austenitic steel; welded joints; heat-affected zone; HAZ

• Wydawca: International OCSCO World Press
• Czasopismo: Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering
• Rocznik: 2012
• Tom: Vol. 55, nr 2
• Strony: 378--385
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 20 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

Topolska S.

• Institute of Engineering Materials and Biomaterials, Silesian University of Technology,ul. Konarskiego 18a, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

autor

Łabanowski J.

• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland

autor

Głowacka M.

• Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Gdańsk University of Technology, ul. Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland

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