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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

AOI 3 Life Modelling of Critical Steam Cycle Components in Coal-Fueled Power Plants

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1998875· OSTI ID:1998875
 [1]
  1. Kratos SRE, Inc.; Kratos SRE, Inc.
Microstructural damage accumulation models have been used to produce calibrated life estimation models for a DR22/P22 steel wye-block welds, and a Jethete stainless steel turbine blade (bucket). The calibrated life estimation models will aid the power plant operator in determining optimal maintenance and operation schedules based upon historical operational data as well as current, or future operation schemes. The impact of this project will enable existing coal-fueled power plants to operate safely for longer periods of time and at higher efficiencies, thereby reducing the economic and environmental impact of the existing coal power plant fleet. Testing, characterization, and modelling indicates that the operating life of P22 pipelines and their welds are dominated by fatigue damage mechanisms. Specifically, fatigue is of no concern in these materials when operating under realistic conditions manifesting in the main steam piping of coal-fueled power plants. However, if a low-temperature overload ever occurs during operation, fatigue will manifest as a damage mechanism of interest. Primary impact provided by the completion of this work is in the manifestation of a detailed ABAQUS solid model providing accurate boundary conditions to enable the prediction of operational stresses and strains. The completed plant solid model, in conjunction with the calibrated fatigue and creep life models provide definitive confirmation that creep is the dominant damage mechanism during operational conditions. Jethete life modelling has been completed by the manifestation of a material-specific, and temperature-specific, Kitagowa diagram. The Kitagowa diagram provides maintenance and operation decision making with scientifically-based go/no-go support based upon the crack-like features that have been identified by use of inspection.
Research Organization:
Kratos SRE Inc
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)
Contributing Organization:
Southern Company
DOE Contract Number:
FE0031811
OSTI ID:
1998875
Report Number(s):
DOE-KRATOS-FE0031811; SR15774
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English