The effect of water quality on reliability of boiler plants performance

Abstract

This paper presents sources and types of corrosion processes of boiler tube system of the Thermal Power Plant "Ugljevik". The main goal in the electric power production is to achieve lower prices, which can only be done by providing low maintenance costs. While it is not possible to completely stop corrosion, it could be slowed down and it's effects could be reduced. In order to reduce corrosion to a minimum on thermal power plants' vital equipment, particularly boilers, it is necessary to determine in each particular case the acting mechanism of corrosion and agents that cause it. Damages and failures on thermal power plants are largely caused by the development of various types of corrosion processes. Special attention is given to the preparation of water, considering its importance to the occurrence of corrosion. The following types of corrosion were detected on the screen tube boiler by visual examination on the side of water and steam: erosive, pitting and impact corrosion. The inner surface of screen pipes, from which the scale layer was removed, indicates that the erosive corrosion with the thinning of pipe walls occurs. Perforation of the welded screen pipes shows that stress corrosion occurred on the screen pipe with formation of cracks and that pipe exploded. Pits on the inner surface of the screen pipes, visible after the removal of scale and corrosion products, are proof that pitting corrosion occurred. The causes of corrosion were discovered and proposed measures for their elimination were given.