Abstract
ABSTRACT In this paper the root cause failure of a super-heater boiler tube is discovered. The tube has been worked in caustic media (pH = 8.9∼9.6) for virtually 40 months. The working temperature and pressure were recorded in the range of 204-315°C and 43 bar, respectively According to the chemical analysis, it was revealed that the tube is in accordance with ASTM A213 Gr T22. The corrosion products of the tube were characterized by EDS, XRF and XRD techniques. Visual inspection indicated that the macro-cavity was promoted on the inner surface of the tube. Also, a drastic wall thinning with gouging marks were observed. As a result of steam blanketing phenomenon, the sodium ions are locally concentrated, consequently oxide scale and base metal are severely dissolved. The presence of caustic substances, the formation of localized cavities, evolution of gouging marks indicate that the tube has been failed by caustic gouging mechanism.
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