Life Management of High-Temperature Piping and Tubing in Fossil Power Plants

Abstract

Aging of power plants and competitive pressures to operate and maintain (O&M) these plants at reduced costs have heightened industry interest in life assessment and management technologies. Piping and tubing systems carrying high-pressure steam at temperatures exceeding 1000°F (530°C) have notably been the center of focus of many of these activities. Enormous progress has been made in understanding mechanisms of damage and their rate of evolution. Progressive application of improved calculational, nondestructive and destructive techniques have enabled optimum utilization of components at reduced costs. In addition, the efficacy of weld repair techniques to extend the lives of aged components has been investigated in detail. This paper will review the damage mechanisms encountered in fossil power plant boiler pressure parts and then describe in more detail life management tools that have been developed. [S0094-9930(00)01503-1]