On-line life monitoring of headers and tubes

Superheater headers and stub boxes

Plant:

  • 4 x 350 and 4 x 650 MW coal-fired units in the far east

Objective:

  • To develop, install and commission an on-line life monitoring system using thermocouples and steam pressure and temperature sensors only

Scope:

  • Superheater and reheater headers, manifolds and tubes on two boiler designs
  • Fatigue, creep and creep-fatigue damage for headers and manifolds
  • Creep, fireside and steamside corrosion mechanisms for boiler tubes

Approach:

  • Review design, operating conditions, materials and prioritise boiler components for on-line monitoring
  • Provide instrumentation plan for sensors
  • Install sensors and monitor operation for several months, covering various start-ups, shut-downs, mill changes etc
  • Develop finite element models of all components
  • Model actual operation from monitoring and ‘map’ temperatures from thermocouples to the finite element analysis
  • Develop ‘stress functions’ which correlate temperatures from monitoring to the stresses at the critical locations on each component. This method utilises both temperature and temperature change to capture transient behaviour
  • Develop software to capture and validate sensor data, and then for each component, calculate life consumed by creep, fatigue and creep-fatigue
  • Allow validation and revision of life calculations on the basis of inspection data

Benefits:

  • Boiler components prioritised in terms of severity and nature of damage
  • Focussed inspection and maintenance plan developed
  • Real-time stress display for all monitored components
  • On-demand remaining life calculation
  • Life extension options, through changes in operation, identified
  • Effect of market–driven changes in operation on component life quantified

Published:

Brear, J.M., Jones, G.T., Jarvis, P. and Sanders, J, “On-line monitoring of power plant components”, ERA Conf ‘Engineering Asset Management for Utilities, Industry and Commerce’, London, 7-8 October 1997. Paper 3.7

Annis, V.A., Jeffery, C. and Brear, J.M., “On-line creep-fatigue monitoring of steam headers”, IMechE Seminar `Load Cycling, Plant Transients and Off-design Operation.’, London, April 1991

Plant Integrity