Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Failure of a Secondary Superheater Tube in a 140-MW Thermal Power Plant

  • Case History---Peer-Reviewed
  • Published:
Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This investigation was conducted to determine the cause of failure of a welded joint of a secondary superheater tube from a 140-MW thermal power plant. Chemical analyses along with detailed optical microscopic examination of a secondary superheater tube were carried out to predict the probable cause of failure. Microstructure of the secondary superheater tube welded between austenitic stainless steel to low alloy steel revealed presence of a thin layer of metal carbide along the weld interface which eventually led to intergranular cracking at austenite grain boundaries. It was concluded that the formation of brittle carbide layer was due to migration of carbon at elevated temperature led to failure of the tube.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. S.R. Paterson, T.W. Rettig. Remaining Life Estimation of Boiler Pressure Parts 2.25 Cr-1Mo Superheater and Reheater tubes. Project RP2253-5, Final Report, (Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, 1987)

  2. R. Viswanathan, J.R. Foulds, D.I. Roberts. Proceedings on Boiler Tube Failures in Fossil Power Plants, vol. 10 (EPRI, Palo Alto, 1987), pp. 3.35–53

  3. R. Viswanathan, J.R. Foulds, Service experience, structural integrity, severe accidents and erosion in nuclear and fossil plants. ASME Press Vess. Pip. 303, 187–205 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  4. R. Viswanathan, Damage Mechanisms and Life Assessment of High Temperature Components (ASM International, Metals Park, 1989)

    Google Scholar 

  5. M.C. Coleman, J.D. Parker, D.T. Welters, Behaviour of ferritic weldments in thick section Cr–Mo–V pipe at elevated temperatures. Int. J. Press. Vess. Pip. 18, 277–310 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. G.A. Lamping, R.M. Arrowwood, Jr. Manual for Investigation and Correction of Boiler Tube Failures. Report CS-3945. EPRI, Palo Alto, (1985)

  7. A.K. Bhaduri, V. Seetaraman, S. Venkadesan. Effect of post-weld heat treatment on the mechanical properties of the dissimilar weldments, in Int. Conf. Weld. Proc., vol. I (1987), pp. 545–554

  8. D. French, Metallurgical Failure in Fossil Fired Boilers (Wiley, New York, 1982)

    Google Scholar 

  9. S. Ghosh, V. Kain, A. Roy, H. Sivaprasad, S. Tarafdar, K.K. Ray, Deterioration in fracture toughness of 304LN austenitic stainless steel due to sensitization. Metall. Mater. Trans. A 40A, 2938–2949 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NDT and Metallurgy Group, CSIR- Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur, 713209, West Bengal, India

    Atanu Saha & A. K. Shukla

Authors
  1. Atanu Saha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. K. Shukla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Atanu Saha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saha, A., Shukla, A.K. Failure of a Secondary Superheater Tube in a 140-MW Thermal Power Plant. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 14, 10–12 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-013-9773-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-013-9773-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation