Root-cause failure analyses of waterwall tubes from fossil-fuel-fired units of four electric utilities

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6545845

Williams, D N; Berry, W E; Jackson, C M; Payer, J H; Simmer, J P; Wood, R A

This paper reports on attempts to perform detailed failure mode analysis of selected boiler pressure-part failures of medium-size fossil-fuel-fired electricity-generating units. The objective of a root-cause failure analysis is to identify the origin of the conditions that allowed failure by the observed failure mechanism to occur. Sample collection (of failed, partially failed, and of unfailed referee samples) for use in detailed laboratory studies to determine the failure mechanism (e.g., corrosion-fatigue cracking or rupture due to hydrogen damage) was an integral part of the investigative effort. Topics considered include the identity of the problem, the location of the problem, the timing of the problem, the magnitude of the problem, and analysis for cause. A physical description of the defect and definition of its failure mechanism were critical elements in the Kepner-Tregoe problem-solving method because knowledge of the type of failure mechanism was used to direct data-collection efforts in related areas.

• Research Organization: Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA
• OSTI ID: 6545845
• Report Number(s): CONF-830446-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Proc. Am. Power Conf.; (United States) Journal Volume: 45
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200104 -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Components
42 ENGINEERING
421000* -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
BOILERS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CORROSION
CRACK PROPAGATION
DATA ACQUISITION
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
EMBRITTLEMENT
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FAILURES
FATIGUE
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT
INCINERATORS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RUPTURES
SAMPLING
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WATERWALL INCINERATORS