Failure Investigation of Boiler Tubes: A Comprehensive Approach

Book excerpt: Failures or forced shutdowns in power plants are often due to boilers, and particularly failure of boiler tubes. This comprehensive resource deals with the subject of failure investigation of boiler tubes from basic fundamentals to practical applications. Coverage includes properties and selection of materials for boiler tubes from a metallurgical view point, damage mechanisms responsible for failure of boiler tubes, and characterization techniques employed for investigating failures of boiler tubes in thermal power plants and utility boilers of industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) boilers. A large number of case studies based on the actual failures from the field are described, along with photographs and microstructures to allow for easy comprehension of the theory behind the failures. This book is geared to practicing engineers and for studies in the major area of power plant engineering. For non-metallurgists, a chapter has been devoted to the basics of material science, metallurgy of steels, heat treatment, and structure-property correlation. A chapter on materials for boiler tubes covers composition and application of different grades of steels and high temperature alloys currently in use as boiler tubes and future materials to be used in supercritical, ultra-supercritical and advanced ultra-supercritical thermal power plants. A comprehensive discussion on different mechanisms of boiler tube failure is the heart of the book. Additional chapters detailing the role of advanced material characterization techniques in failure investigation and the role of water chemistry in tube failures are key contributions to the book. The authors have long-standing experience in the field of metallurgy and materials technology, failure investigation, remaining life assessment (RLA) and fitness for service (FFS) for industrial plant and equipment, including power plants. They have conducted a large number of failure investigations of boiler tubes and have recommended effective remedial measures in problem solving for power and utility boilers.