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

High value for condition assessment

Journal Article · · EPRI Journal
OSTI ID:420902
Assessing the condition and remaining life of high-temperature power plant components can help a utility optimize inspection and maintenance schedules, make replacement decisions, and avoid premature equipment failure. Recent advances in this field make it possible to operate some power plants well beyond their nominal design life, with tremendous potential savings. The first step in conducting life assessment is to determine the present condition of a component. EPRI has championed a three-level approach to this task: calculations to screen for potential damage, nondestructive evaluation to detect degradation and cracks. and refined analysis based on destructive testing. In thin-section components, rupture results from uniform, bulk damage. In heavy-section components, on the other hand, failure results from cracking in localized regions of stress concentration. For components that are brittle and either highly stressed or subject to high cycle fatigue, crack initiation essentially signals the end of life. However, for components that are stationary or made from highly ductile steels, crack propagation can be tolerated up to some critical level, and periodic inspections can help keep the component in service. Research on advanced methods for assessing material condition nondestructively and more accurately is continuing.
OSTI ID:
420902
Journal Information:
EPRI Journal, Journal Name: EPRI Journal Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 21; ISSN 0362-3416; ISSN EPRJDS
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English