BOILER TUBE FAILURE

Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTION
A country’s production of electricity is a basic indicator of its size & level of developments.
Although a few countries export electric power, mostly generation is for domestic consumption.
In 1983 the first electric supply undertaking was established in India by a company, which
constructed a small generating station in the city of Surat in Gujrat. This was perhaps one of the earliest
electric supply companies anywhere in the world. This undertaking got as far as lighting the main streets
of the city by arc lamps, but unfortunately in the next year disastrous floods of the river Tapi submerged
its generating plant. In the year 1896 an undertaking started operation at Calcutta. Thus the beginning of
electric supply industry in India was mainly due to private company effort.
According to reports (1998)
The total installed capacity : 89,166.87MW
Thermal power : 55,969.48MW = 62.76%
Hydro : 21,891.08MW = 24.55%
Nuclear : 2,225.00MW = 2.49%
Diesel, wind & gas : 9,081.31MW = 10.18%
100.00%
Installed power generation capacity, however does not give a correct indication of the quantum of
the reliable generation capacity (utilization factor). As the thermal power units are periodically required to
be close down (called planned outages) for mandatory repair, inspection & overhauling. Consequently
the availability of TPP is reduced to about 60% even under the best condition of operation &
management. (The ratio of reliable capacity / installed capacity is called utilization factor). In India the
average utilization factor is about 46% .So as such there exists a room for improving the availability. This
would probably off set the gap in present demand & supply more economically.
The forced shut down of a boiler due to failure of components severely affects the progress
through non-availability of power which is the basic need for growth in national economy. Some of the
outages are due to tube failures in pressure parts most of which can be minimized by proper care and
preventive steps of its causes.
The actual cost of repairing failed tubes is less than the cost of generation loss due to outage, so
it becomes imperative to repair & bring the unit quickly into service. Also, it is equally important to identify
the cause of failure so as to take corrective action and preventive measures so that the failure does not
recur. Tube failure is most significant causes of bringing down the plant availability in utility fossil-fired
boilers. Shutdown of a 200MW unit on account of tube failure will cause a loss of several lakhs rupees,
even when the shutdown is only for three days. Further, during outage of boiler, if the secondary damage
due to the tube failure is not detected additional failure during start up or afterwards can occur, thus
prolonging shutdown & increasing the generation loss.
1. Forced / unplanned / planned outages in power plant amount to 15%.
2. Forced / unplanned / planned outages resulting out of boiler are 60% or more of the above (1).
3. Outages due to boiler tube leakage are 75% or more of the above (2).
About The Process
Boiler is a composed of number of tubes. It covers the following heating zones.
1. Water Walls
2. Super-Heaters
3. Re- Heaters
4. Economizer

Water Walls
Almost all-modern power boilers are equipped with water walls. In large boilers water walls
completely occur in the interior surface of the furnace providing practically complete elimination of
exposed refractory surface. Water walls serve as means of heating and evaporating the feed water
supplied to the boiler from economiser. Water walls usually consist of large number of vertical tubes
arranged tangentially or approximately. They are connected at the top and bottom of headers. These
tubes receive water from the boiler drum by means of down comers connected between drum and water
wall lower header. In boiler the water walls absorb approximately 50% of heat released by combustion of
fuel in the furnace. Heat so absorbed is used in evaporation of all or a relatively large percentage of
water supplied to the boiler. The mixture of steam and water is discharged from top of water wall tubes
into the upper wall header and then passes through riser tubes to the steam drum.
Types of water walls
a) Tangent tube construction
b) Membrane wall construction
Super- Heaters
SH are meant to raise the steam temperature above the saturation temperature by absorbing heat
from flue gas. By increasing the temperature of the medium (steam) the useful energy that can be
recovered increases thus efficiency of the cycle is improved. So in modern Boilers SH are widely used to
increase a cycle efficiency economically. The maximum temperature to which steam can be heated is
dictated by the metallurgy & economy in initial cost and maintenance cost. Present trend is to limit the
steam temperature value to 540oC both in SH as well as reheater. SH also eliminates the formation of
condensate during transporting of steam in pipelines and inside the early stages of turbines , which is
harmful to the turbine blades and pipelines.
Reheater
RH is used to raise the temperature of cold steam from which, part of the energy has been
extracted in H.P.T. This is another method of increasing the  cycle . The efficiency increases with
number of stages of reheating. Reheating requires additional equipment (i.e.) heating surface, boiler
turbine connecting piping, safety equipment like safety valve, NRV, isolating valve, steam temperature
regulating equipment , instruments etc. Because of these additional investment, complexity in operation
and reduced availability of such system offsets the gain in efficiency of the system gets minimised. Hence
single RH can be economically applied only for capacity above 100 MW & two RH for capacity above
500MW. The limit is also dictated by the predicted fuel price over the period of operation.
Types of SH & RH
These heating surfaces can be classified into convection and radiant type according to heat
transfer process.
Even though the surfaces get heat by both radiation and convection, the ratio between them
varies according to the location and temperature of flue gases at that location. The Reheater and SH
placed above furnace which can view the flame is called Radiant type .The other surfaces are called as
convection type. Radiant surfaces are located at high temperature region.
They are widely pitched to reduce the velocity of gas and bridging the surface by the ash. They
are arranged inline with least longitudinal pitch. They are called platen SH. The SH and RH can be
arranged either horizontally or allowed to hung vertically. The vertical arrangements are simpler in
supporting and allows for expansion. This arrangement is pendent type. Horizontal SH needs supporting
of tubes at multi points to avoid sagging. Expansion movement should also be permitted with advantage
of draining.
The SH which is placed at lower flue gas temperature region is called as Low Temperature Super
heater (LTSH). The SH & RH can also arranged as ceiling or wall and they are termed as ceiling
superheater or wall SH etc. accordingly.
Arrangements of SH and RH
Generally the heating surface can be arranged in line or staggered. Staggered arrangement
requires fewer surfaces for the same duty but draft loss will be more. Also on load cleaning of surfaces,
will not be effective. Hence In line or staggered arrangement is selected based on fuel fouling
characteristic, operating cost of draft loss and cost of tube material used at location.
The surface can be designed to place in such way that the flow direction of flue gas and steam is
in line parallel or opposite. Counter flow arrangement has advantages of minimum surface area
requirement but the metal temperature at the leaving section is high compared to parallel flow. Counter
flow arrangement is used in most cases except in final section where the metal temperature limitations
call for parallel flow.
Economizer
The function of an economiser in a steam-generating unit is to absorb heat from the flue gases &
add this as sensible heat to the feed water before the water enters the evaporative circuit of the boiler.
Earlier the economizers were introduced mainly to recover the heat available in flue gas that
leaves the boiler. Provision of this additional heating surface increased the efficiency of steam
generation, thus saving in fuel consumption. So the name “economiser” was christened. In the modern
boiler (used for power generation) feed water heaters are used to increased the efficiency of the unit &
feed water temperature. So the relative size of economiser is less than earlier unit. This is a good
proposition as the heat available in boiler exit flue gas can be economically recovered using air heater,
which is essential, for pulverized fuel fired boiler.
Location & Arrangements
It is usual to locate economiser ahead of Air Heaters & following the primary SH or RH in the gas
stream. Hence it will generally be contained in the same casing as the primary SH or RH tubes.
Counter flow arrangement is normally selected so that heating surface requirement is kept
minimum for the same temperature drop in the flue gas. Economiser coils are designed for horizontal
placement, which facilitate draining of the coil & favours the arrangement in the second pass of boiler.
Water flow is from bottom to top so that any steam formed during heat transfer can move along with
water & prevent the lock up steam, which will cause overheating, & failure of economizer tube.
Types of construction of economiser Tube
1) Plain Tube
Plain tube economisers have several banks of tubes with either in- line or staggered type
formation.
2) Welded fin- tube
Large no. of variations in this type was available in earlier days . Cast Iron shrouds were shrunk
on mild steel tubes for use as economiser in stoker fired boiler. This type had good resistance against
gas side corrosion but were heavy in weight. Modern boiler uses only plain or fin welded design as gas
side corrosion is not faced due to high feed water temperature.
Materials Used for Boiler Tubes
Metallic iron is rarely found in nature. The principle ores of iron are heamatite (Fe2O3), magnetite
(Fe3O4), limonite (2Fe2O3 3H2O) & siderite (FeCo3). The first step in the production of iron & steel is
reduction of the ore with coke & limestone in blast furnace to produce an impure form of iron called pig
iron. Pig iron is then remelted in a cupola furnace to produce cast iron. C.I. are alloys of iron & carbon
containing approximately 2% to 4.5% carbons. Steels like cast iron , are alloys of iron and carbon
containing upto 2%. Carbon . Steel is cast in an initially malleable mass. Steel production consists of
removal of slag of excessive amount of carbon silicon & manganese, & impurities such as sulphur &
phosphorus by chemical reactions. This is followed by addition of controlled quantities of carbon , silicon ,
manganese & aluminium to produce required composition. Other alloying elements are added in case of
alloy steels.
Steels in the molten state can contain in solution relatively large quantities of gases, particularly
oxygen & hydrogen. The solubility diminishes with falling temperature & gases released during cooling
may be entrapped in the solidifying steel, giving rise to extensive porosity. All cast ingots contains a small
proportion of cavities but these have little significance & are welded up by a pressure welding process
during rolling or forging. It is necessary to remove most of the gases whilst the steel is still molten.
Effects of Alloying
The effects of alloying elements are numerous. A list of a few of the more important effects is
given below.
1) To alter the transformation temperatures and time.
2) To modify the room temperature & Elevated temperature strength of given structures by
a) Stiffening the crystals.
b) Introducing complex precipitates, which tend to harden the steel.
3) To modify the type of oxide film formed on the surface of the steel & there by affects its corrosion
resistance.
Alloying elements can be broadly classified into two groups
a) Austenite Stabilizers: Which have the effects of extending the temperature range over which
austenite is formed? Such elements are carbon, manganese, nickel, copper & cobalt.
b) Ferrite Stabilizers: Which have the effect of extending the temperature range over which alpha &
delta ferrite are formed. This consequently reduces temperature range over which austentile is
formed. Such elements are Silicon Chromium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Titanium and Niobium.
Some of these elements for example chromium, molybdenum & vanadium also form carbides,
which replace or modify the iron carbide in the structure.
Additions of the austenite stablising elements reduce temperature at which the austenite to ferrite
change occurs and will consequently facilitate the formation of martensite with slower rates of cooling ,
that are necessary with plain carbon steels. This also means that for a given cooling rate, larger cross-
sections can be fully hardened uniformly throughout their section.
A) Chromium
Chromium, although in itself a ferrite & carbide former, has a side effect of making the structural
changes very sluggish. This suppresses the austenite to ferrite change in heat treatment easily . It is
therefore extensively used in steels to be hardened & tempered. A further important property of chromium
particularly marked when present in quantities above about 5% is to improve resistance to corrosion &
oxidation.
Resistance to corrosion & oxidation of steel depends on the film of oxide formed on its surface. In
carbon & many low – alloy steels, this oxide film offers little or no resistance to atmospheric corrosion. At
elevated temperature i.e. upto 575 degree C these steels have good resistance to oxidation in air or flue
gases but above this, the rate of oxidation increase rapidly. The presence of chromium, however, in
excesses of about 5% promotes the formation of a more protective oxide film. Although 5% is insufficient
to obtain useful resistance to atmospheric & aqueous corrosion, it is enough to improve the oxidation
resistance up to about 600c. Further increasing the chromium content produces a more resistant oxide
film & at 13% satisfactory resistance to mild corrosion media such as wet steam is achieved. Applications
of this type of steel are steam turbine blades, propeller & pump shafts, impellers & water turbine runners.
Increasing the chromium content above 13% produces improved resistance to more corrosive media & at
28% chromium, satisfactory oxidation resistance at 1100 degree C can be obtained.
B) Nickel
In order to be able to utilize the good corrosion – resisting properties of these high chromium
steels and at the same time attain satisfactory engineering properties, it is necessary to re-establish the
austentite region. This can be done by adding nickel. With 18% chromium steel the addition of about 2%
of nickel does this and produces steel which can be hardened and tempered. This is the well – known
S80 steel (En 57) which is widely used for pump shafts in the marine field.
Maintaining a chromium level of 18%, the addition of increasing amounts of nickel extends the re-
established austentite region until at 8% nickel the temperature of the change from austenite to ferrite is
suppressed below room temperature and the structure at room temperature consists of grains of
austenite. These steels are termed austenite and include the well-known 18/8 stainless steel.
Since the austenite-ferrite change, on which hardening and tempering are dependent, is
suppressed below room temperature, these austentite steels are similar to the high chromium ferritic
steels in that they cannot be hardened by normal heat treatment. They are different from the ferritic high
chromium steels in that they are extremely ductile, and ideally suited for deep pressings and similar
applications. In addition, since they are austenitic, they are non- magnetic and they have a high
coefficient of thermal expansion and a low thermal conductivity.
Although these steels are not hardenable and have relatively low tensile strength at room
temperature, they do have good elevated temperature tensile properties which, when combined with their
good corrosion resistance suit them to application demanding this combination. These include
superheater tubing and steam piping where the metal temperatures are in excess of 550C, gas turbine
components, and numerous types of pressure vessels employed in the chemical and allied industries.
C) Carbon
Carbon is not generally regarded as an “alloying” element because steel would not be steel
without carbon. Nevertheless, it is appropriate in a discussion of alloying elements to note the specific
effects of carbon on the properties of steel.
In general, an increase in carbon content produces higher ultimate strength and hardness but
lowers ductility and toughness of steel alloys. The curves in figure indicate the general effect of carbon on
the mechanical properties of hot – rolled carbon steel.
Carbons also increase air – hardening tendencies and weld hardness, especially in the presence
of chromium in low – alloy steel for high – temperature applications. The carbon content is usually
restricted to a maximum of about 0.15% in order to assure optimum ductility for welding, expanding, and
bending operations. To minimize intergranular corrosion caused by carbide precipitation, the carbon
content of austenitic (18-8 type) alloys is limited in commercial specification to a maximum of 0.08%, or
even less, i.e. 0.03% in the extremely low- carbon grades used in certain corrosion- resistant
applications.
In plain carbon steels in the normalised condition, the resistance to creep at temperature below
440C appears to increase with carbon content upto 0.4% carbon . At higher temperature there is but
little variation of creep properties with carbon content.
An increase in carbon content lessens the thermal and electrical conductivities of steel and
increases its hardness on quenching.
C) Silicon
Silicon contributes greatly to the production of sound steel because of its deoxidizing and
degasifying properties. When added in amounts up to 2.5%, the ultimate strength of the steel is
increased without loss in ductility. Silicon in excess of 2.5% causes brittleness, and amounts higher than
5% make the steel nonmalleable.
Resistance to oxidation and surface stability of steel is increased by the addition of silicon. These
desirable effects partially compensate for the tendency of silicon to lower the creep properties of steel.
Silicon increases the electrical resistivity of steel and decreases hysteresis losses. Silicon steels are,
therefore, widely used in electrical apparatus.
E) Manganese
Manganese is an excellent deoxidizer and sulfur neutralizer, and improves the mechanical
properties of steel, notably the ratio of yield strength to tensile strength at normal temperatures. As an
alloying element, manganese serves as an inexpensive means of preventing “red shortness” (brittleness,
now more commonly known as “hot shortness”). It improves rolling properties, hardenability, and
resistance to wear. However, manganese increases the crack sensitivity of weldments particularly with
steels of higher carbon content.
Unlike silicon, manganese benefits the creep properties of steel. It does not appear to have any
specific influence on the resistance to oxidation or corrosion of steel.
F) Titanium and Columbium (Niobium)
These are potent carbide-forming elements. Titanium is also a good deoxidizer and denitrider.
These elements are most effective in the chromium-nickel austenitic alloys (18-8 type) where they react
more readily with carbon than does chromium. This allows the chromium to remain in solid solution and
in the concentrations necessary to maintain the “stainlessness” (corrosion resistance) of the steel.
Titanium and columbium (or columbium plus tantalum) are sometimes used to reduce air-
hardening tendencies and to increase resistance to oxidation in steel containing upto 14% Cr. These
elements seem to have a beneficial effect on the long – time high – temperature properties of chromium-
nickel stainless steels. Both columbium and titanium have been used in some of the “super alloys” to
improve high- temperature properties.

Chapter 2 - BOILER TUBE FAILURE MECHANISMS

Identification
1. Short term Overheating (Stress Rupture)
 For a specific tube material, there is a maximum allowable stress at a particular temperature. If
the tube metal temperature increases beyond this point, creep will occur and the tube will eventually fail
by stress rupture.
 Superheaters and reheaters can experience interruptions and/or reductions in steam flow that can
increase tube metal temperatures that lead to stress rupture failures.
With ferritic steel, a "fish mouth" or longitudinal rupture, with a thin edge fracture is most likely.
With other tube materials, still other appearances are possible. The causes for this type of failure are the
following (Fig. 2.3).
 Abnormal coolant flow from a blockage in the tube
 Blockage due to debris in the tube
 Blockage due to scale in the tube
 Blockage due to condensate in the tube following an incomplete boil out
 Excessive combustion gas temperatures
 High temperatures from over-firing during start-up.
2. High Temperature Creep (Stress Rupture)
A small fracture may be associated with a blister, while a large fracture could have a thick-edged,
"fish mouth", longitudinal crack. The area around the fracture may have an alligator hide appearance,
with significant oxide scale penetration. The root causes for high temperature, longer term failure such
as these are the following
 High heat flux into a section of the boiler that could have used a higher grade of steel
 Excessive hot gas flow through an area that is plugged
 Excessive heat absorption from an adjacent lug, or other welded attachment
 Partial plug gage from blockage or internal scale
3. Dissimilar Metal Welds (Stress Rupture)
The weld failures will normally have one side of the weld that responds to a magnet, while the
other does not. The weld crack will be circumferential at the weld, over on the side that responds to the
magnet; the ferritic side. The cause of failure relate the stress of the two metals expanding differently
And the following
 Stress from internal steam pressure
 Stress from the vertical weight on the weld
 Stress from the constraints of how the tube is supported or attached
 Internal thermal gradients, which add up to the total stress. The higher the value, the sooner the
weld fails.
4. Caustic Corrosion (Water-side Corrosion) (Fig. 2.4a)
There are two types of caustic corrosion: caustic embrittlement and caustic gouging. Caustic
embrittlement is an intergranular attack along grain boundaries leading to sudden failures. Caustic
gouging is a general eating away of the protective magnetite film until the tube wall is thinned to failure.
Caustic embrittlement is relatively uncommon in comparison to caustic gouging.
Caustic embrittlement is characterized by intergranular cracking with very little metal loss. It
normally occurs in stressed and restricted areas where boiler water containing caustic soda can reach
high concentration levels (100,000 to 200,000 ppm NaOH). The most common occurrence of caustic
embrittlement is on tubes that the rolled into boiler drums. If leakage occurs around the rolled-in tube,
the escaping steam leaves the tube-drum interface highly concentrated with soluble boiler water salts. If
caustic is present, then the potential for caustic embrittlement exists. Three conditions are necessary for
caustic embrittlement: high metal stress, concentrating mechanism and free caustic.
There is no question that more boilers suffer from caustic gouging. This water side corrosion
literally eats away the protective magnetite film along boiler tubing.
Caustic corrosion can cause either a pinhole leak or what looks more like a small, bulged, thin
edge rupture. The tube fails when the tube is so thin that it cannot take the internal pressure any longer.
There is often a thick deposit on the inside of the tube, but the leak could purge much of the deposit.
These failures are usually found where the heat flux is greatest and are the result of the following
 Condenser leaks
 Deposits of caustic contaminants from the feed water system
 Upsets in the boiler water chemistry.
The two conditions necessary for caustic gouging are : a concentrating mechanism must be
initiated and free caustic must be present in the boiler water. Dirty tubes are far more susceptible to
caustic gouging because the deposits trap and concentrate the boiler water. Proper adjustment of boiler
water chemistry is required to prevent caustic gouging.
5. Hydrogen Damage (Water-side Corrosion)
Hydrogen damage is a serious and costly type of water side corrosion that affects generating
tubes in sub critical boilers operating above 124.11 bars or 1800 psig. Lower pressure units can also
experience hydrogen damage, but it becomes more uncommon as the operating pressure is reduced.
 Hydrogen damage will occur whenever acidic conditions exist in the boiler
 Clean tubes are far less susceptible to hydrogen damage than heavily deposited tubes. Certain
types of adherent and nonporous deposits appear to promote localized hydrogen attack more
readily.
The failures remove a chunk of tube, almost like a window that has been placed in the tube. The
failure has a thick edge fracture that removes the heavy deposit that lead to the failure. The failure's root
cause is (Fig. 2.5)
 Boiler water chemistry that has turned acidic, rather than its normally caustic level. Hydrogen
damage will not occur under alkaline conditions.
 In-leakage of condenser water which tends to be acidic
 Contamination from a chemical cleaning procedure
 Higher heat flux which helps to form the deposit in the first place. Note that if the deposit is not
there to begin with, the excursion to low pH by itself will not cause hydrogen damage.
 The dirtier the boiler water, the sooner failures could occur.
Hydrogen damage seldom causes any significant wastage of the tube wall, making it difficult to
detect using ultrasonic devices. Sometimes hardened dense oxide plugs of magnetite dispersed with
copper form directly over hydrogen damaged areas.
6. Pitting – Localised corrosion (Water-side corrosion)(Fig.2.6)
 Water containing dissolved oxygen is highly corrosive to many metals ; therefore everything must
be done to minimize the introduction of oxygenated water into the boiler and pre-boiler systems. Oxygen
corrosion can dramatically affect various components in operating and non-operating boilers. Much of
the suspended crux that enters an operating boiler is the direct result of oxygen attack of components in
the pre-boiler system.
Localized pitting is found where oxygen is allowed to come in contact with the inside of the tubes,
which is just about anywhere. It appears as a steep edged crater with red iron oxide surrounding the pit.
The tube surface near the pit may show little or no attack. Sometimes there is a series of smaller pits.
The typical cause starts with
 High levels of oxygen in the feed water, i.e. poor deaeration at start-up
 Filling of condensate in low point, such as bends, when the steam cools
 Outages where air gets inside the assembly from adjacent repairs, or vents being left open as the
steam condenses
7. Stress Corrosion Cracking (Water-side Corrosion) (Fig. 2.7)
These thick-edged fractures can be either circumferential or longitudinal, depending on how the
stress is oriented. Typically the chemical attack is on the inside of the tube and works its way out through
the growing crack. Far less commonly, the chemical attack exists on the outside (fire side) and works its
way inward. The root cause is the coupling of more than one factor working on the same location
 Contaminants can come from boiler steam drum carry over
 Contaminants can come from contamination in the desuperheater spray
 External contaminants come from acidic components to the fuel
 Additionally there must be a stress possibly from a bend in the tube
 Weld attachments from initial assembly
 Or possibly from cyclic unit operation
8. Low temperature corrosion (Fire side) (Fig. 2.8)
External surfaces of furnace tubes that are exposed to a moist environment containing flue gases
can experience acid corrosion. Certain acidic salts (ferrous sulfate for example) can hydrolyze in moist
environment to produce low pH conditions that will attack carbon steel.
Sulfur trioxide (SO3), present in the cooler flue gas areas, can react with water vapour to produce
sulfuric acid. If the temperature is below the dew point, sulfuric acid condenses along metal surfaces and
corrodes the metal. Water washing can also produce acid attack.
A gouged exterior and a thin ductile failure characterize this form of failure. When the pressure
becomes too great, the pressure inside blows out a hole. The root cause for low temperature failures are
 The presence of sulfur in the oil, which has an opportunity to condense on the last rows of
economiser tubes
 The condensing of sulfur and ash when the exit gas temperature is low.
9. Water wall corrosion (Fire side) (Fig. 2.9)
Fire side water wall corrosion covers a broad array of corrosive forces from the intense
combustion process. A broad, general thinning occurs with the surface of the tube having fairly deep
longitudinal and lateral gouges or cracks. The thin wall ductile rupture will go length wise down the tube.
The surface of the tube will typically have a hard dark slag deposit. The causes are
 A zone of combustion where there is too little oxygen
 High level of chloride or sulfides in the fuel being burned
10. Vibration Fatigue (Fig. 2.10)
In locations where boiler tubes are welded to support lugs, a thick edge failure can form at the toe
of the weld. This fracture is circumferential, running at right angles to the weld. The root cause is
 The vibration of the tube, caused by the steady flow of exhaust gases
 Along with a lug location that induces a rigid point that will concentrate the force into a short
distance.
11. Thermal Fatigue (Fig. 2.11)
The flexing action of thermal fatigue produces multiple surface cracks, laterally across the tube
which results in a thick edge fracture. The fatigue is caused by
 Sudden cooling of the tube metal, either from within or externally
 Rapid change in the feed water temperatures to the economiser, i.e. maloperation of the pre-
boiler system
12. Corrosion Fatigue (Fig. 2.12)
Like the previous fatigue mechanism, cyclic stresses produce a series of parallel surface cracks,
however this time the corrosive environment adds to the deterioration by forcing an oxide wedge into the
cracks, further leveraging the fracture. The thick edge fracture will be coated with an oxide layer. Pits
can often be found on the inside surface of the cracks. The causes have two key ingredients, corrosion
and stress
 There is either induced stress from the way the tube connects to another pressure part or, there is
induced stress from the way the tube is tied to a structural support,
 There is residual stress left over from fabrication
 Internal pits from dissolved oxygen or acidic corrosion from the pre-boiler circuit aggravate the
cracking process in the water cooled tubes.
 External corrosion in steam cooled units aggravates the cyclic flexing where the tube enters the
header.
13. Maintenance Cleaning Damage (Quality Control) (Fig. 2.13)
When accumulations need to be removed with force, it is possible that tubes will be gouged, or dented.
This point of stress will be a weak link that eventually gives way. Some of the most common causes are
 Hammering on a tube or its supporting lug
 Chiseling at fused material
 Poking and vacuuming ash/dust/debris out of tight spaces
 Aqua-blasting
14. Chemical Excursion Damage (Quality Control) (Fig. 2.14)
Initially, the damage will appear as a general pitting of the tubes' internal surface, but in time the
chemical contamination will act on the most sensitive locations and result in such mechanisms as
hydrogen damage, stress corrosion cracking, caustic corrosion, corrosion fatigue, etc. The causes are
  Mal operation or mechanical malfunctions of the pre-boiler water treatment system.
 Insufficient neutralization of boiler wash chemicals prior to returning a unit to service.
15. Material Defects (Quality Control) (Fig. 2.15)
When the wrong material is installed, the result can be a stress rupture, and if the defect is a flaw,
the failure may appear as a fatigue failure. In either case, the cause is -
 Poor QA on the part of the manufacturer
 Material fabrication
 Storage
 Installation
16. Welding Defects (Quality Control) (Fig. 2.16)
If the defect is most notable on the inside, it can become a failure from the internal scale build-up,
and resultant corrosion, or corrosion fatigue failure. If the defect is with the integrity of the weld itself, the
failures often appear as a brittle failure, where stress is concentrated in a small area. Causes again
relate to quality control
 The procedure
 Weld material used
 Preparation of the tube ends before the first pass
17. Steam/Condensate Erosion
When a failure is allowed to continue for several hours or days, the result can amount to more
time and energy needed to make repairs. The root cause is –
 Decision making in how quickly a unit is brought off-line once a failure is found
 Insufficient documentation to justify the economics of not waiting to bring the unit off-line to attend
to the tube failure.
18. Exfoliation (Fig. 2.17)
The above list of 17 failure mechanism does not necessarily include all possible failure modes,
and some tubing problems do not necessarily reduce availability by virtue of a tube failure, as in the
example shown below. The spelling of the indigenous oxide on superheater, reheater tubes and steam
piping is referred to as exfoliation. With exfoliation, the tube wastage is from the inside out, and the
damaged component is in the turbine's internals. The root cause is not known, however, consider the
following
 Bottling-up of stream in the tube when the unit trips, resulting in forced migration of steam into the
black oxide scale layer within the tube.
 Difference in the coefficient in expansion between the internal magnetite layer and the tube metal,
resulting in spalling of scale when the unit cycles
 Quenching of the tube internals when the unit is in a start-up mode.

Chapter 3 - METALLURGICAL FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS OF BOILER TUBES IN THERMAL

POWER PLANTS
INTRODUCTION
Although failures/leakages may occur in a relatively low percentage of the total boiler tubes used
in a power plant, they may cause a critical breakdown resulting in forced shutdown of generation.
Failures are of extreme importance to plant operators, maintenance Engineers, fabricators and suppliers
alike. People learn by mistakes and hence a correct diagnostic analysis of failure help in their future
prevention.
All of the types of failures that may occur and all of the conditions that promote them are too
numerous to list. However, in a broad generalization one may say that the following factors may cause
service failures:
i) Deficiencies in design lay out, manufacture and erection of the equipment;
ii) Poor material quality and deficiencies in fabrication;
iii) Incorrect material selection;
iv) Deficiencies in operating conditions;
v) Deficiencies in maintenance.
Often a combination of the above factors may be responsible for failures.
A failure investigation and subsequent analysis should determine the primary cause of failure, and
based on the determination, corrective action should be initiated that will prevent similar failures.
Stages of an analysis
Although the sequence is subject to variation depending on the nature of a specific boiler tube failures,
the principal stages that comprise the investigation and analysis of a failure are as follows :
i) Collection of background data and history
ii) Visual or preliminary examination of the damaged/failed tube
iii) Non-destructive inspection
iv) Selection of specimens from the tubes :
a) For microscopic examination and analysis (fracture surface, secondary cracks and other surface
phenomena);
b) For mechanical testing including hardness and tensile testing
c) Chemical Assessing (bulk, local surface corrosion products, deposits or coatings, etc.);
v) Analysis of the evidence, formulation of conclusions and drafting the report.
SPECIFIC CASE STUDIES
Case I - Failures Involving Tube Ruptures
Sudden rupture of a tube in a steam generator is a serious failure, because the steam generator must be
shut down immediately to avoid -
(a) Erosion and steam-cut on adjacent tubes by escaping steam;
(b) Overheating of other tubes banks because of a loss of boiler circulation;
(c) Damage to other components in the system resulting from loss of working fluid.
Such sudden ruptures can be caused by overheating.
a) Economizer Intermediate Box Drain Tube
The economiser intermediate box drain tube in the power plant had suffered a rupture along the
longitudinal axis of the tube (Fig. 1). The length of the ruptured portion was approximately 330 mm. The
tube had opened out in the manner of a 'thick-lip' rupture. There was a tightly adhering 'black-scale' on
the outer surface of the tube. Boiler quality carbon steel, conforming to the specification B.S. 3602-1962
grade Hot Finished Seamless – 27, was used as the material of construction for the economiser tube.
Metrological measurement of the tube had established considerable amount of 'thinning and
bulging" out of the wall of the subject tube.
Microstructural examination of the specimen selected judiciously from the extreme edge of the
rupture covering the external surface revealed "inter crystalline” penetration of oxide scales (oxide-
rooting) to an appreciable depth from the external surface of the tube (Fig. 2).
It also exhibited considerable decarborization of the material, Microstructure in and around the
rupture area of the tube represented globular carbides indicating "spherodization" of the carbide
constitute of pearlite within and at the boundary of the ferrite grains (Fig. 3). Further, the microstructure
away from the ruptured zone illustrated a ferrite-pearlite structure which is normal of this type of steel
(Fig. 4).
In the present case, the economiser tube was placed horizontally. Sometimes "Steam Blanket"
preferentially might be formed inside the tube wall. This in turn, might have deteriorated the heat transfer
characteristics of the subject tube material, and caused localized 'over heating'.
The tube had failed as a result of prolonged localized overheating. Due to 'overheating' and
consequential 'oxidation' and ‘spheroidization’ the material could not withstand the working stress, and
failure occurred. This type of failure can be minimized by improving upon the tube layout design. The
economiser tube may be changed into a vertical position instead of horizontal as in the present case to
avoid possible formation of steam-blanket in the pipe wall.
b) Secondary Superheater Tube
The boiler in the power plant used pulverized coal as fuel. For the construction of superheater
tubes, boiler quality steel (specification B.S. 3059/12) was used. The tube had ruptured characteristically
with a 'fish mouth' type which was about 39 cms. long and 8 mm wide at its maximum. The rupture had
extended along the length of the tube and was accompanied by noticeable localize dwelling (Fig. 5). The
characteristic features of the rupture indicated that the rupture had taken place after localized 'ballooning'
of the tube wall. There were no seals either on the outside or inside surface of the tube. Further,
variation in wall thickness in the zone rupture was noticed.
Microscopic examination of the specimens taken from the vicinity of rupture showed coalescence
of fine particles of alloy carbides in the matrix of ferrite (Fig. 6), while normal microstructures consisting
of fine dispersion of alloy carbide particles in a matrix of ferrite at the areas away from the ruptured zone
(Fig. 7).
This evidence clearly indicates that the effected area has been continuously heated below the lower
critical temperature (A1) of the steel for a prolonged period in a very localized area of the material. Due
to 'spheroidization', the material strength in the affected region could not cope-up with the operating
stress at the elevated temperature for long duration. Thus the tube material was subjected to slow and
progressive plastic deformation under the influence of operating stress and temperature, which resulted
in the weakening of the tube, and its eventual rupture.

To minimize the occurrences of such failures, proper temperature monitoring systems by installing
built-in thermocouples on the tube walls should be incorporated.
Case II – Poor material Quality and Deficiency in Fabrication
The present case documents an interesting analysis of failure of secondary superheater tube in a
power plant due to poor material quality and processing defects.
The material used for the secondary superheater tube conforms to ASTM A 335 (Grade P5) Boiler
quality steel. The damaged tube had a crack of about 53 cms. long, and had extended along the length
of the tube. There were no seals either on the outside or inside surface of the tube. No swelling was
observed in the cracked zone.
Further, on dissection of the tube longitudinally, typical crack on the bore surface was noticed .The
bore surface of the tube was also found to be uneven and noticeable ribs (alternate elevation and
depression on the tube wall) were detected. It was also evident that longitudinal and discontinuous
crack propagated along one of the pronounced ribs. There was no evidence of corrosion or fitting on the
bore of tube.
Microstructural analysis of the samples selected from the vicinity of crack and away from it
revealed almost identical structures, i.e. fine dispersion of alloy carbides particles in a matrix of ferrite
(Fig. 10). This illustrated that the tube was not overheated as the microstructure was quite agreeable to
this class of material as developed in commercial production of the tubes.
To substantiate the case of failure, metrological measurements in regard to the well thickness at
different locations of the tube in the vicinity of crack and at its sound portion as well as the roundness
error on the inside diameter at the sound portion were done. The observations showed heterogeneity in
measured values. The roundness error on the inside diameter of the round region of the cracked tube
was in the order of 0.60 mm. This is represented graphically in Fig.11.
Development of ribs on the bore surface of the tube during tube production might have a
contributory effect towards the failure of this nature during services. In addition to above causes,
leakages/ruptures of boiler tubes in the power plants can occur due to (a) embrittlement arising out of
hydrogen damage, (b) water side corrosion by feed water, (d) fire side corrosion resulting from
combustion of fossil fuel, (d) abrasives erosion of superheater tubes results from impact by particles of fly
ash entrained in the flue gases, (e) stress corrosion cracking of the tubes where feed or condensate can
collect.
Remarks
The foregoing illustrations have discussed many causes related to failure. Many failures in steam
systems involve more than one failures process the so called multiple mode failures. Certainly many
types of failures were not discussed and no attempt could be made to illustrate all the types of failures
possible. The causes that promote failures can indeed be many and complex and attempt has been
made to illustrate and discuss some of the more common failures and the related causes.
Usually the most spectacular or dramatic failures are carefully studied while little emphasis is
placed on the common failures. Many analysis of plant or operational failures usually add upto high
separation costs due to time loss resulting from make-shift maintenance or repairs in order to continue
operation. Thus metallurgical analysis of such failures is all the more important.
Chapter 4 - SOME CAUSES OF BOILER TUBE FAILURE WHEN SEEN THROUGH A POWER
STATION CHEMIST'S EYE
INTRODUCTION
In power plant operation a Chemist is intimately mixed up with tube failures. It may be due to
faulty water conditioning or improper operation. In general , every tube failure may be due to any of the
following three reasons :
a) Material failure
b) Mal - operation
c) Improper water conditioning
In case of material failure, blame goes to the manufacturer, for mal-operation and improper water
conditioning it is human error. In the present chapter , based on experience, it has been tried to show
how improper water conditioning can cause tube failures.
NEED FOR WATER CONDITIONING
1. The main need is to protect the internals from corrosion – which cause ultimate failure. There are
several types of corrosion possible, like
i) Dissolved O2 pitting
ii) Stress corrosion
iii) Ductile corrosion
iv) H2 embrittlement etc.
There are three zones, where same water is conditioned differently. They are –
a) Feed System
b) Drum
c) Steam and Condensate
Various parameters are laid by the boiler manufacturers, time to time, depending upon the metallurgy of the surfaces
through which water/steam flows. These parameters vary depending upon the pressure of boiler and temperature of the Steam
Cycle. In the table below, effective parameters are shown.
Particulars Boiler Pressure 60 kg/cm2 and under Boiler Pressure from 60 kg/cm2
and above
PH Cond. H Silica PH Cond. H Silica
Make up 7.0 0.5 Nil Nil 7.0 0.5 Nil Nil
Feed 8.8 – 9.0 Upto 4.0 Nil Nil 8.9 – 9.0 Upto 2.5 Nil Nil
Drum 9.5 –9.9 Upto 100 Nil * 9.3 – 9.5 Upto 25 Nil *
Steam 8.8 –9.0 Upto 4.0 Nil 0.02 8.9 – 9.0 Upto 2.5 Nil 0.02
Condensate 8.5-8.7 Upto4.0 Nil Nil 8.5 – 8.7 Upto 2.5 Nil Nil
Scale: Cond.: Conductivity in Micromhos, Silica in ppm, silica, hardness in ppm CaCO3.
*: As per pressure silica curve
The change of pH 7.0 in make-up to 9.5 in drum is maintained by dosing suitable chemicals at
different places of the water cycle. The parameters are designed to suit the internals of the
system, so that a corrosion free surface is maintained. The dosings are mainly of two types
volatile and non-volatile.
Sr.Nº Type of dosing Chemical Dosed Place of Dosing Ultimate Effect
1. Volatile Ammonia Morpholine Feed System at the To increase pH
 Cyclohexyl amine suction of feed pump
2. Volatile Hydrazine hydrate Feed System at the To scavenge oxygen
inhibited or treated suction of feed pump & In & To increase pH
hydrazine condensers at the suction
of Extraction pump
3. Non-volatile Tri-sodium Phosphate Drum To increase pH to
Sodium Hydroxide maintain residual
phosphate.
4. Non-volatile Sodium Hydroxide & Drum To decrease pH, to
Sodium-di hydrogen maintain residual
Phosphate, Hexameta phosphate
Phosphate

When dosed properly, the required parameters can be obtained and conditioning becomes
proper, resulting a trouble free service.
MAIN CAUSE OF TUBE FAILURES EVEN AFTER PROPER DOSING
There can be two types of main causes of failures. These are –
a) Improper Chemicals
b) Excess or incorrect amount of dosing
Improper chemicals not only deviate main aim of water conditioning it raise complication also, the
effect of improper chemical dosings are summerised as under with particular reference to the probable
impurities.
Chemical Possible Impurities Effect or Dosing
Ammonia Hardness, Silica Very slow increase in pH
Rapid increase in conductivity.
Injection of silica in System/
Phosphate Free Sodium Hydroxide and chloride Unstable pH condition
Increase in conductivity
Foaming action in drum,
Free sodium hydroxide in Steam

All above conditions lead to tube failure,

Effect of Excess Dosing
Chemical Normal Reaction Effect Remarks on effect
Ammonia Simple addition High pH & Conductivity Caustic corrosion
NH4OH + H2O – NH4OH H2O (Dilution)
Hydrazine N2H4 + O2 = N2 + 2H2O Oxygen Scavenging None
2N2H4 = N2 + H2 + 2NH3 Hydrogen in steam Stress corrosion
2N2H4 +H2O = 2NH4OH + N2 Ammonia formation None
Phosphate Na3PO4 + H2O = NaOH + High pH & Conductivity Caustic attack carry over
NaH2PO4 foaming causing starvation

When we analyse the remarks on last column following points are raised on tube failure:
a) Caustic attack
b) Hydrogen attack
Caustic Attack
Although the pH of the media is high and safe for most of the tubes, yet excess of it may cause
soap-bubble effect at a particular point leading to carryover and or volatile caustic carryover from drum
and improper distribution of heat flux at any point due to the same.
 The caustic attack due to sodium hydroxide is very much deteriorating than due to ammonia.
Whereas, excess of ammonia may give raise to a possible formation of nitric acid as:
NH3 + 202 = HNO3 + H2O
The possibility is very less due to the presence of excess hydrazine hydrate, which takes care of
any oxygen available in the system.
The caustic attack due to the presence of excess sodium hydroxide is very much harmful due to
the phenomenon known as steam blanketing, resulting static or slow moving slug of steam generation
causing rupture in the tube due to irregular heat transfer.
Hydrogen Attack
This is very serious, sometimes we find unnecessary increase in hydrogen level in steam, this
leads to corrosion as per per-oxide theory.
The H2 released combines immediately with free O2 to from hydrogen per-oxide (H2O2). This
reacts with Fe (OH)2 and forms Fe(OH)3.
2Fe (OH)2 + H2O2 = 2Fe(OH)3

But hydrogen aid polarization which reduces electro-chemical reaction.

OTHER FACTORS LEADING TO TUBE FAILURE
The main amongst this is unnecessary increase in dissolved oxygen level. Dissolved oxygen, tends to
create hydroxyl ions with the available electrons.
O2 + 2H2O + 4ē= 4 (OH)¯
And each hydroxyl ions so form, tends to stabilize with positively charged metal ions aiding to
corrosion/deposit,
M (Metal) = M+ + e
M+ + (OH) ¯ = M(OH)
The metal hydroxide which is relatively less soluble has a tendency of forming a deposit, resulting
improper heat transfer and failure of tubes.
Dissolved carbon dioxide present in water/steam forms H2CO3 commonly known as carbonic acid, this
then forms metal carbonates and ultimately forms metal hydroxide. The effect of CO2 on iron (Fe) is as
under –
CO2 + H2O = H2CO3
2Fe + 2H2CO3 = 2Fe CO3 + 2H2
2FeCO3 + 5H2O + O = 2Fe (OH)3 + 2H2CO3
As H2CO3 is double in volume the process multiplies leading to further corrosion.
CORROSION
Control of the water and/or steam environment inside economiser, boiler, superheater and
reheater tubes is a pre-requisite for trouble free performance of a fossil-fired steam generator. When
water and steam chemistry are not maintained within limits recommended by the boiler manufacturer or a
qualified consultant, corrosion damage may occur in water walls and economiser tubes.
Water wall corrosion problems generally can be avoided in boiler if –
1. Recommended water treatment controls are followed;
2. Corrosion products formed in the feed water system are kept within specified limits;
3. Feed water oxygen concentration is properly controlled and
4. Precautions are taken during chemical cleaning operations to prevent metal attack.
Deposition problems can be avoided if –
1. Hydraulic test water, superheater fill water, and desuperheater spray water are free of solids. It is
preferable to use DM water for these operations.
2. Drum internal and drum water level controls are maintained in good working order.
3. Silica concentration in the boiler water is held within acceptable limits.
The iron oxide coating in the internal surfaces of boiler tubes are to be maintained. This oxide
(magnetite Fe3O4) is normal product that forms on steel exposed to boiler water . It protects the surface
from corrosion. The magnetite coating is damaged most often by boiler water salt that become corrosive
when concentrated. Graph 1 shows the relative corrosion rate of carbon steel as acid and alkaline
concentrations varies in the boiler water.
In the pH range from low acid to low-alkaline concentrations the oxides on boiler tubes are fully
protective. When the pH is excessively high or low, the protective oxide is consumed by the corrosive
action of the acid or alkaline salts in the water. Corrosion rates under these conditions accelerate with
increasing concentration. Thus the primary purpose of a boiler water treatment program is to maintain a
low concentration of potentially corrosive salts, so that the oxide coating remains intact.
LOW-pH DAMAGE
Corrosion failure occurs when acid or alkaline salts are concentrated. Hydrogen induced brittle
fracture occurs beneath a relatively dense deposit and is most likely to occur when boiler water pH is too
low. Though some metal loss may be caused by corrosion mechanisms, the steam generator tube
usually fractures long before it has corroded to the point at which tensile failure would occur.
Some of the hydrogen produced in the corrosion reaction diffuses into the tube metal where it
combines with carbon in the steel. Methane is formed and it exerts internal pressures within the steel,
causing grain-boundary fissuring. Brittle fracture occurs along the partially separated boundaries. In
many cases an entire section is blown out of the damaged tube. Restoration of proper boiler water
treatment may not be sufficient to prevent further hydrogen attack, unless the dense corrosion product
deposits are removed. Even repeated chemical cleanings sometimes will not remove them. Arbitrary
replacement of tubes, in the general areas where metal attack exists, becomes necessary. Generally,
hydrogen damage is difficult to detect using non-destructive means. Ultrasonic thickness checks may
pinpoint some damaged areas, but positive identification of all failure prone tube is not possible.
HIGH-pH DAMAGE
Ductile failures caused by a gouging type of corrosion usually occur when the concentration of
hydroxide salts such as sodium hydroxide in the boiler water is too high. Ultrasonic tube-wall thickness
checks can detect tubes with metal loss. Proper boiler water treatment can minimize further corrosion.
MINIMISING CORROSIVE ATTACK
Corrosion concentrations of salts generally exist at tube surfaces only when these inter-related
conditions are present.
a) An acidic or alkaline producing environment prevails.
b) The boiler operates outside of the established boiler water treatment recommendations, allowing
abnormal acidic or alkaline conditions to persist.
c) A means of concentrating the acidic or alkaline salts exists.
CAUSES OF HIGH AND LOW pH
The primary cause of acidic and caustic boiler water condition is condenser leakage. Raw cooling
water that leaks into the condenser essentially ends up in the boiler water. The water source determines
whether the in-leakage is either acid producing or caustic producing. Fresh water from lakes and rivers,
for example, usually provides dissolved solids that hydrolyze in the boiler water environment to form a
caustic, such as Sodium Hydroxide. By contrast, sea water and water from Re circulating cooling water
systems, with cooling towers contain dissolved solids that hydrolyze to form acidic compounds.
Strict tolerance levels on condenser leakage should be established for all high pressure boilers.
Set a limit of 0.5 ppm for short periods only. Shut down the steam generator immediately if the plant's
surface condenser leakage produces more than 2 ppm of dissolved solids in the feed water.
Another potential source of acidic and caustic contaminants is the make up demineralizer, where
regenerate chemicals such as sulphuric acid and caustic soda may inadvertently enter the feed water
system. Chemicals incorrectly applied during boiler water treatment also can be corrosive. For example,
Sodium hydroxide is used in conjunction with sodium-phosphate compound to treat boiler water.
Corrosion can occur if the sodium hydroxide and sodium phosphate are not added to the water in the
proper proportion.

WATER TREATMENT CONTROLS

To protect steam generator tubes against corrosion two widely used boiler water treatments are
available, however, even in the event of moderate contamination. They are volatile and coordinated
phosphate/pH control.
Briefly, volatile treatment uses a volatile neutralizing amine, such as ammonia, to maintain a pH that will
not disrupt the magnetite coating on the boiler tubes. It does not contribute additional dissolved solids to
the boiler water. Thus, it minimizes the amount of solids that can be carried into the superheater by the
steam. But it does not give any protection against contaminants, such as salts carried into the boiler by
condenser cooling water.
Phosphate treatment in drum type units maintains pH in the proper alkaline range to protect the
magnetite film and it reacts with salt contaminants to prevent the formation of free caustic or acidic
compounds. Coordinated phosphate/pH control is maintained by using a combination of di-sodium
phosphate and tri-sodium phosphate or sodium hydroxide to give a residual phosphate concentration of
upto 10 ppm, with a corresponding pH as shown in the Graph 2.
If the phosphate and pH control points are below the curve no potentially damaging free caustic is
produced. The concentrating mechanism most often responsible for corrosion damage involves internal
deposits. As heat is transferred through the tube wall to the water/steam mixture in the tube, a
temperature gradient is established. That is, the temperature of the internal surface of the tube is slightly
higher than that of the bulk fluid. When boiler water evaporates, dissolved solids such as sodium
hydroxide, concentrate in the thin film between the tube wall and the bulk fluid. Graph 3 & 4 show that
with only 15oF difference between the bulk fluid and tube wall temperatures, sodium hydroxide might
concentrate dramatically at the tube surface. When porous internal deposits are formed in areas of high
heat absorption, it is possible to produce very high stable concentrations, because the deposit acts as a
diffusion barrier.
This concentration mechanism explains why corrosion damage normally occurs on the tube
internal surface facing the fire and tends to be most severe in the highest heat absorbing area.
Pre-boiler corrosion occurs when oxygen and pH values deviate from established limits. Oxygen
control is, perhaps more critical than pH-especially during start-up, shut-down, and idle periods. Low
pressure feed water heaters and related extraction piping often are under negative pressure during low
load operation. Thus any leaking valves, pumps, flanges, etc. provide a path for air into the system. Idle
units may even become saturated with oxygen if proper precautions are not exercised. Oxygen
concentration in feed water should be maintained at less than about 5 ppb during unit operation to
minimise the formation of pre-boiler corrosion products. The following are few of the ways to minimise
oxygen infiltration during idle and start up periods and to reduce the transport of corrosion products to the
boiler.
1. The boiler and as much of the pre-boiler system as possible should be blanketed with steam or
nitrogen when the unit is out of service. If a long outage is contemplated, fill the boiler and feed
water system to the greatest extent possible with the corrosion inhibitor. Excellent results have been
obtained with solutions containing 200 ppm of hydrazine and 10 ppm of ammonia for lay up period of
more than one year. For pre-boiler systems containing copper alloys, reduce the dosage to 50 ppm
of hydrazine and 0.5 ppm of ammonia to avoid copper attack by ammonia.
2. Make sure an adequate supply of steam is available to the deaerator during unit start-up so that
oxygen can be purged from the feed water. If no adequate auxiliary steam source is available, peg
the deaerator with steam from the boiler drum until turbine extraction steam is available.
3. Introduce aerated storage water into the feed water system only through the dearerating section of
the condenser, if all deaeration is accomplished there.
4. Connect aerated storage water into the feed water system only through the dearerating section of
the condenser, or through the aerator.
5. Consider a partial flow condensate polisher for cycling units. Its use together with that of the pre-
boiler systems recycle line, permits removal of both erosion products and oxygen from the feed
water during steam-generator start-up operations.
Importance of Water Analysis
A comprehensive water analysis program should be maintained to assure that feed water and
boiler water chemistry are held within prescribed limits, and conduct water tests as per programmed
schedule, for pH, oxygen, silica, copper and total iron, and total solids.
The gas side corrosion occurs in oil fired boilers. High temperature corrosion occurs due to the
presence in oil of sodium and vanadium, the oxides of which form flux with the protective oxide of the
material, thereby causing further attack on the material by the gas. This can be prevented by using low
vanadium content oil or by employing certain additives like MgO powder in the oil. The MgO powder can
be sprayed through a separate nozzle into the furnace or magnesium wires can be burnt in the furnace.
Low temperature or dew point corrosion occurs in oil fired boilers in the air heaters or economizers if the
flue gas temperature approaches the dew point temperature. Sulphur in the oil transforms to SO3 in the
furnace and then to sulphuric acid with the water vapour in the flue gas at low temperatures and causes
corrosion. Low temperature corrosion can be avoided by controlling the inlet temperature of the feed
water to the economizer, or counter flow existing in economizer with respect to gas is made as reversed
or parallel flow of water, which gets higher temperature at low temperature gas end and helps preventing
low temperature corrosion.
Minimizing Pitting of Boiler Tubes
Excessive dissolved oxygen in the boiler water and excessive temperature during chemical
cleaning can cause severe local attack pitting. Crevices, like those formed by backing rings, or minor
variations in metallurgical structure, may act to promote localized corrosion. Normal, but higher than the
average peak stress also can contribute to preferential pitting. Pitting attack of various types can affect
the internal surfaces of all tubes. The pitting attack usually is quite shallow and does not adversely affect
the tube integrity, but occasionally it may be locally severe and even penetrate the tube wall. Crack like
interconnected pitting is a common form of attack, too. Penetrations of this type can develop into
corrosion fatigue cracks, but it is not unusual for them to propagate through the wall as a result of
corrosion alone. Most leaks associated with corrosion pitting are like to occur at or near weld or
attachments.
Prevention
Pitting caused by dissolved oxygen can be prevented by maintaining feed water oxygen level
within the 5 ppm limit while attack by chemical cleaning solvents can be eliminated by carefully following
the cleaning procedures. During shut-down periods, it is necessary to protect all internal surfaces, wet
lay up, together with a positive nitrogen pressure cap of about 3 – 5 psig, will protect metal surfaces from
corrosion. Some of the pitting attack may have been caused by the presence of oxygen and moisture
during shut down periods. Those that do occur usually can be attributed to improper wet lay up, or to the
introduction of contaminants into the heat transfer sections.
Avoiding Steam side Deposition
A more common problem affecting the internal surfaces of steam side components, such as the
superheater and reheater, deposits. They can cause overheating failures by insulating the tube from the
cooling effect of the steam. Such failures usually occur as creep blisters at the low spot in pendant
surfaces. But deposits also have caused failures on vertical tubes. Occasionally, they partially or totally
block steam flow in a particular circuit. Solids carried by the steam into the turbine also can be
damaging.
Boiler manufacturers help limit solids carry over by paying considerable attention to the design of
drum components. To avoid solids contamination from operational point of view three factors are of
particular importance.
1. The need for high quality Hydrostatic Test Water
Water used for hydrostatic tests will be evaporated from non-drainable sections during the next firing
period, and the solids or salts in the water will concentrate. Hence, water added to the superheater or
reheater should be of condensate quality and dosed with hydrazine (200 ppm) and ammonia to produce
a pH of 10.
2. The need for High Quality De-superheating spray water
Any solids in the spray water will adhere to superheater surfaces or be carried through the unit in the
steam and be deposited in the turbine. Since the source of spray water is the boiler feed water system,
feed water should be treated only with volatile chemicals for pH control. All solid chemicals used for
treatment must be introduced into the system down stream of where the spray water is removed.
In the event condenser leakage causes the total amount of dissolved solids in the hot well to exceed 500
ppb, increase the rate of blow down and discontinue the use of spray water. Use other means for
controlling steam temperature including load reduction until the condenser is repaired and the total solids
level in the hot well is below 500 ppb.
3. The third and most important operating factor is to keep solids contained in the boiler feed water from
entering the superheater. Steam drum internals reduce the mechanical carry over of moisture content
upto 0.1%. Vapours carry over is completely selective since it depends on the solubility or volatility of a
specific constituent in the steam. Except silica vaporous carry over of solids dissolved in the boiler water
is negligible below an operating pressure of 2600 psig assuming that the concentration of solids are
within recommended limits. The volatility of silica is much higher than that of other solids and it increases
exponentially with boiler pressure.
In conclusion, you can avoid many potential operating problems by continuously monitoring steam
quality. Increase in solids level – even if within prescribed limits, may provide an early indication of some
carryover abnormality.
Failures Due to Manufacturing Defects
Raw Material Defect
Either mix up of material or raw material defect also accounts to tube failures. Due to mix up of material
of different specification than designed one comes to the service and failure occurs. And raw material
defect comes in the rolling of tubes itself and a lap or eccentricity formed thus causes tube failures at
elevated temperatures.
Material defect due to defective rolling of tubes is shown in figures below:
Eccentric Rolling Defects Lap Formed Tube

Sufficient care during rolling of tubes and correct material selection can avoid failures due to such
defects.
Procedures for failure investigations and collection of failed sample
The causes for failures are evaluated by removing carefully the failed material (e.g. tube) along
with deposits if present. It is preferable to pack them with polythene wrappers and box, such that no
corrosion and mechanical damage occur during transit. If the deposits are loose, water side and fire side
deposits are collected in separate polythene bags with rigid tags. The flame cut region should be at least
200 mm away from the region of failure since heat produced during flame cutting will change the
microstructure, if the cut region is close to failed region. For comparison, it is preferable to have a good
portion (about 300 mm) of the tube (along with deposits if it is present) which is considerably away from
failed region. The samples of materials which failed due to brittle fracture should be taken out (if it
possible) and the fractured facets should be protected by using rust preventive coatings. In some cases
in site micro-examination is carried out when the specimen could not be removed. This technique is also
used for fracture investigations. In certain cases it becomes essential for the metallurgist or chemist to
visit the site and have first hand information regarding the location and overall nature of failed tubes or
any other components. He has to watch the performance under the existing condition at site. This will
help in the interpretation of complex failures.
Procedures for Metallurgical Investigations
The tools and techniques for failure investigations are chosen as to suit the individual
requirements. Generally the following procedures are followed:
a) Dimension and thickness measurement at important locations comparison with the original or
good material.
b) Standard mechanical tests; usually tensile, drift flattening, hardness etc.
c) Spectral and chemical analysis of deposits, water, fuel, ash etc.
d) Investigations with microscope for evaluating the nature of failures – special corrosion tests for
stainless steel components.
e) Advanced techniques; Electron microscopy for detailed information on fine structures and creep
damages, x-ray diffraction for the analyzing of ash, deposits, scales etc., creep testing and burst
testing for the determination of residual creep life etc. are used for complex case histories.
Data Required for Investigation
The log book is to be referred at site for one or more of the following information which will be
required for effective investigation of failed components.
a) Operating pressure and temperature of the pressure parts close to failed region location of the
failed tube, data of failure etc.
b) Composition of the fuel
c) Composition of the flue gas
d) Amount of excess combustion air
e) Analysis of feed water and steam condensate type and amount of contaminants in make up water
f) Normal power output and fluctuation in steam demand
g) Frequency and method of cleaning water side and fire side surfaces of tubes.
REPAIR GUIDELINES
Introduction
All plant personnel should bear in mind the legal formalities involved in the repair of boiler
pressure parts. The responsible parties, before making repairs or alterations of a pressure part, must
notify the legally responsible inspection agency and obtain approval before starting the work. The
responsible inspection agency may be the boiler insurance carrier or state or municipal inspection
agency. In some cases, it may be a federal agency. The responsible parties must follow this procedure
even though a pressure part fails during the manufacturer's warranty period. The boiler manufacturer
may recommend a repair procedure, but it must be approved by the responsible inspection agency.
Generally, the manufacturer's recommendation will be accepted, but the inspection agency still has the
legal responsibility for approval.
Welding Repair or Low Carbon Steel Tubes
Cut out a damaged tube at least 50 mm (2') on each side of the defective area. The minimum
replacement tube length should be not less than 152 mm (6'). Do not use backing rings to weld any heat-
absorbing tubes carrying water or a mixture of steam and water. Without a backing ring, make the first
pass of the weld using gas tungsten arc or oxyacetylene. The weld passes may be completed by either
process, or by shielding metal arc. If access is difficult, use window welds for repair work. The first pass
of a window weld must be made by gas tungsten arc of oxyacetylene (Fig. 1).
Fit-up of the weld joints is important. Although it is difficult to obtain accurate cuts on furnace
tubes, it is important to get the existing tube ends squared and correctly chamfered and to cut the
replacement tube to the correct length. Use a tube-end scarfing tool when possible. Allow for shrink in
welding. Remember that the weld metal and parent metal are melted in the welding process and the
molten metal shrinks as it solidifies.
 A butt weld in a tube will shorten the total length about 1.6 mm (1/16").
 Use a clamp or guide lug to hold one end of the replacement tube in alignment while the first weld
is made.
 Do not tack weld both ends of the replacement tube, particularly if the existing tubes are rigidly
supported.
 As a general rule, first complete the weld at the lower end of the replacement tube.
 Do not start welding the upper end of the replacement tube until both the replacement and
existing tubes have cooled to ambient temperature.
Alloy Tube Repairs
If a damaged alloy tube must be replaced, it is always preferable to weld the replacement tube to
an existing tube end of the same alloy and the same wall thickness. Before removing the damaged tube,
check the manufacturer's unit material diagram and locate shop welds used to join the damaged length to
tubes of different material or different wall thickness. If at all possible, make the cuts to remove the
damaged tube at least 152 mm (6") from the shop weld, thus leaving a "Safe end".
If necessary to cut out a shop weld joining tubes of different material and/or wall thickness, pay
special attention since all qualified but-welding procedures require the two tube ends to have the same
internal diameter (ID) as the weld root.
 In some cases, the thicker wall tube may be bored to match the ID of the thinner wall tube
 But the thicker wall tube may be bored only if the strength of the tube, after reducing the wall
thickness, is at least equal to the strength of the thinner wall tube at the same operating temperature.
o A ferritic alloy tube must not be bored to match a thinner wall austenitic alloy tube.
 The only satisfactory method is to use a connector of austenitic alloy tube having the same wall
thickness as the ferritic alloy tube.
 One end of the connector is bored to match the wall thickness of the existing austenitic alloy tube.
o Shrinkage in welding alloy tubes is similar to that for carbon steel tubes. Allowance must be made for
expansion from preheating which will close the root gap slightly.
For shielded metal arc welding with a backing ring, it is essential that the root gap opening be
sufficient to assure full penetration and fusion with the backing ring during the first pass.
 For gas tungsten arc welding, a zero root gap opening is permitted.
 There must be no pressure exerted between the two tubes.
 It is advisable to allow enough clearance to avoid actual contact at the root gap opening after the
two tubes are preheated.
3. Repair of Tube Blisters
Internal deposits cause blisters on the furnace wall or boiler tubes.
 Generally, they occur in boilers operated with a high percentage of make-up feed water.
 A blister forms because an internal deposit increases tube metal temperature until metal creep
occurs.
 As the heated area swells, the internal deposit cracks off and the tube metal temperature returns
to normal.
 The process may be repeated several times before the blister ruptures.
 Commonly, a large number of tubes are blistered and not noticed until one of the blisters cracks
open. To avoid a massive tube replacement job, particularly where replacement tubes are not
immediately available, work the blisters down to the original tube radius. Follow these general
guidelines:
Remove the damaged tube, then carefully cut away enough of the bar or fin to allow chamfering
the tube end for welding around the sides of the replacement tube joint
After the tube welds are completed, weld the bar or fin to the replacement tube.
 If the gas between bar or fin is too great for easy bridging, insert a low carbon steel welding rod
for a fin is too great for easy bridging, insert a low carbon steel welding rod for a filler.
 The spaces in the bars or fins, at the tube joints, are built up with deposited weld metal.
 Be sure no cracks exist in the these deposits before making the final weld to the tubes.

Chapter 5 - CAUSES OF TUBE FAILURE

1. Overheating.
2. Erosion.
3. Corrosion.
4. Material Defects.
5. Manufacturing Defects.
Overheating
Overheating can be localised, extensive, prolonged or of a short duration. Metallographic analysis
indicates the approximate temp. to which the tube was subjected before failure occured. Observation of
the grain growth & microstructure of the failed tube material also indicates if the overheating was of a
prolonged or short duration.
Waterwall tube failure results in a burst with a “fish mouth opening”. Occasionally cracks will also
appear up to length of 2 Mts. on either side of the burst.
This may lead the power station authorities to apprehend that the tube is of the CRW type.
Bursting occurs due to excessive reactive force cause by change of state from water to steam. In case of
SH tube failure takes the form of a narrow opening with multiple stallite cracks.
The reasons for overheating of water wall or SH tubes are,
1. Chocking with foreign material.
2. Starvation due to,
a) Improper circulation.
b) Insufficient flow
3. Flame impingement
4. Secondary burning of fuel.
5. Other causes.
 Choking with foreign materials
 Foreign materials like mill scales, weld slag, sand, electrodes bits, rust products, chips, small tools,
nuts etc. Which collect at the bends or weld joints where the internal cross section is restricted will
cause choking of tubes. These materials enter the tube during various stages of manufacture,
shipping and / or erection. Choking of tube with foreign materials will impede the flow fully or partially
& cause overheating.
 Precautions can be taken to mitigate tube choking at various stages of manufacture, shipping, storage
& erection. By using TIG root welding for all SH coils at shop & site, the problem of choking can be
minimised by eliminating the construction at the weld joints due to excessive weld penetration to check
the blocking of tube with foreign material an instrument called “contract flow meter (developed by CE
research lab UK, & manufactured by Land Pyrometers LTD, UK) can be used”. This meter can be
used during the commissioning of new boiler to ensure that there is not blockage of & in the case of
operating boiler, it can be used during overheating.
 Starvation – due to improper circulation:-
 Insufficient circulation in the water walls may lead to departure from onset of nucleate boiling & may
lead to overheating. Which in turn will result in tube failures. Where the failure are traced to improper
circulation, the same can be improved in the region of water wall by providing additional downcorners /
spider tubes to the existing downcomers.
 Starvation – due to insufficient flow:-
 Starvation can occurs in SH tubes due to an insufficient flow resulting in overheating. This is generally
observed in the binder tubes of the platen SH. These binder coils have a number of bends & are
 longer in length than the other coils in the platen. The flow through these binder coils is, therefore,
inadequate. The prolong overheating in such tubes results in creep failure.
 Such failures can be avoided by replacing the long binder tubes with shorter tubes, which in turn
increases internal flow, & prevents overheating.
 Overheating can also be avoided by allowing cooler steam through the wrapper tubes of platen to
better cooling of the tube materials.
 The materials of the bottom portion of the outermost coils of platen can also be replaced by stainless
steel to enhance their life since the bottom most portion faces direct radiation from the furnace.
 Flame Impingement
 Water wall failures occurs mostly near the burners. This is due to the flame impingement from burners,
which get distorted in service. To avoid such failures new burner nozzles such as honeycomb types,
which resist distortion, are now used.
 Additional peep holes can also be provided for better monitoring of the flame & observation of the
burner tip.
 Arrangements could be made to supply mellowing air to bring down air temperature wherever
necessary so that the combustion front can be kept away from the burner nozzles.
 Secondary burning of fuel:-
 In certain cases oil from the oil gun may flash on to the tubes & then burning takes place which results
in overheating the tubes. Even in coal fired boilers, the unburnt fuel particles may catch fire at the top
of the furnace or in the second pass causing secondary combustion, explosion, or overheating of the
tubes. This can be avoided by proper control of the atomisation of oil, coal particle size & the firing
rate.
 Excessive air
 Excess air plays an important role in the heat absorption pattern of various zones of the boiler. Too
much of excess air leads to cooler furnace & higher heat absorption rates in convective paths. Too
little of excess air leads to higher furnance temperature resulting in higher radiation, heat absorption &
slagging problems.

 In oil fired boilers too much of excess air is favourable to the formation of SO3 due to the increased
availability of O2 thereby promoting a higher rate of low temp. corrosion. To avoid such failure O2
content in flue gases should be measured periodically during operation & adjustments made to
achieve design values as closely as possible. Further, to avoid overheating the flue gas temperature in
different zones should be closely monitored & kept within the design limits.
 Internal Deposits
 Inferior quality of feed water leads to internal deposits of salts & silica in the water wall tube. This
internal deposit will cause overheating of water wall tubes leading to failure. To avoid this, the feed
water of boiler water quality should be maintained within the allowable limits as per the international
standards.
 The carryover of salts by steam can cause deposits in the tubes with consequent overheating &
failure. To avoid this, the salts, content in the drum water should be maintained as per the standard
 operation with high water levels in drum could lead to carryover of water drops & dissolved solids
leading to internal tube deposits in SH tubes. These deposits hinder heat transfer & lead to increase in
metal temperature & consequent tube failure. Hence it is necessary to restrict the drum WATER
LEVEL TO THE prescribed limits under all operating conditions.
 Other causes
 Mal-operation can sometimes leads to overheating & results in tube failure. When high-pressure
heaters are out of service, the convection SH O/L temperature can shoot up leading to overheating of
tubes. This can be avoided by suitable control of the excess air & the boiler load. During hot restart if
the flow of auxiliary steam from the drum tap off point is high it will result in a reduced flow through the
SH which in turn will lead to overheating.
 EROSION
 Erosion is a second major cause of tube failure. The tube wall thickness gets reduced due to erosion
& when the thickness is not sufficient to withstand the operating pressure and temperature of the tube,
the tube will fail.
 Erosion of SH & economiser tube may be due to following reasons
 Flue gas erosion.
 Erosion due to steam or water.
Flue gas Erosion
The rate of erosion is proportional to the cube of velocity. The ash content of the Indian coals is of
more abrasive in nature containing high silica & alumina. Due to the above, if the velocity of the flue gas
at narrow gaps between coils & walls & SH coils and ash hoppers below them is high, then erosion may
occurs in these zones. Therefore the boiler have to be designed with 15m/s velocities as for as possible.
A typical ash analysis data is given below :

Silica -- 55.5 to 56.5%

Alumina -- 27.3 to 27.9%
Unburnt carbon -- 4.4 to 6.2%
FeO -- 5.3 to 6.7%
Lime -- 1.37 to 2.16%
Sulphates -- 0.5 to 0.68%

The flue gas erosion in the horizontal SH & economiser can be prevented by providing baffles.
The flue gas erosion in the bands of the convection SH in the horizontal pass can be prevented by
increasing the height of refractory lining of the ash hoppers in front of the coils.
Erosion due to steam or water
Whenever there is a tube failure the water or steam from the faulty tube escapes in the form of a
high velocity jet & when it impinges on the adjacent tube they get eroded. If the boiler is not shutdown
immediately after detection of the failure & allowed operating for a protected period the damage due to
steam or water erosion will be considerable.
 Additionally, sometimes leakage from the soot blowers or wall blowers causes erosion of water
wall, SH or economiser tubes. In some boiler, vertical bar type soot blowers have caused tube failures in
the horizontal SH & RH & to overcome this the sort blowers should be moved from the ceiling to the
sidewalls.
 Corrosion
This can be mainly grouped into two types
1) External corrosion due to depositing of chemicals.
2) Internal corrosion taking place inside the tube due to impurities in steam and water.
1) External corrosion due to depositing of chemicals carried by ash.
On review of ash analysis detailed under flue errosion, it can be seen that ash consists of sulfate
up to 0.5 to 0.681. This type of corrosion results mainly from the deposits of ash on tube surface. The
deposits may be classified either as slagging or fouling.
Slagging
This is the deposition of molten or partially fused particles of fuel constituents (non-combustible)
on furnace tube surface. Though it is usually is associated on furnace tube surface, slagging can also
occurs in screen tube and in the super heater when molten ash carried over into these solutions and is
exposed to excessively high gas temperature.
Fouling
Fouling on other hand is the condensation of combustible constituents such as sodium sulphate
on fly ash particles and on boiler tube in area of the unit where temperature are such that the constituents
are remain in the liquid state. The combustibles, fly ash, and flue gas react chemically to form the
deposit.
Phosphate deposit
This is also similar to the sodium deposits fouling, which are initiated by the attack of acidic
phosphorous compounds on the tube metal & the fly ash particles. Indian coals do not contain
phosphorous as one of the major constituents and as such this type of corrosion is rarely expected.
Low Temperate Corrosion
This is caused by sulphuric acid, & can occur in the economisers of some units if the feed water
temp. is lower than about 150C. However the feed water temperature is most of the utility boilers & the
sulphur content of the coal burnt are such that dew point problems already rarely encountered.
Condensation problem further down stream where lower temperature exists may corrode air heater,
precipitator, hoppers, fans, ducts & stacks. As the sulpher content is more in the fuel oil & also as the flue
gas temperature will be low during starting usually the air preheaters will be experiencing the cold
corrosion problems. To overcome this problem, steam coiled Air preheater should be kept in service till
flue gas temperature rises above 300C.
Remedy
All the deposits, which cause corrosion of the above types, are easily soluble in water & will be
loose also. This deposit can be cleaned by normal operation of soot blowers. When this method is not
totally effective, water washing during outage is recommended. It is very important to schedule water
washing so that the tube surfaces can be dried out immediately after cleaning, as otherwise corrosion will
occur. A good approach is to water just before returning a boiler to service. If this is not possible, fire at a
low rate until tubes are dry.
Design Improvements
In coal fired boilers most major corrosion problems are caused by coal ash with in a specific temp.
range certain coal produce liquid ash compounds that are very corrosive to all conventional boiler
materials. This temp. range normally extend from about 1000F to 1200F essentially restricts attack to
the SH & RH .
Engineers weigh carefully the four major factors that influence the severity of coal ash corrosion
viz. Ash properties, ash deposition rate, tube external temperature, & tube chromium content, before
finalizing the design of SH & RH surfaces. If the high temp. Corrosion occurs inspite of design efforts, the
option for correcting the problems are limited; for example the following remedial measures may be
resorted to.
Replace damaged tubes with one of higher Chromium Content.
1) Switch to a fuel with more favourable ash characteristics.
2) Install stainless steel tube shields. These shields will effectively keep the liquid ash
from the tube surface & operate at temperature above that at which liquid phase can
exist. Extensive shielding however, inhibits heat transfer performance.
Internal corrosion due to impurities in water & steam
Internal corrosion is mainly due to improper feed water treatment. The most prevalent forms of
waterside attack in the drumtype utility boiler are,
i) Hydrogen damage.
ii) Bulks under deposit corrosion.
iii) Corrosion fatigue.
iv) Stress corrosion.
v) Steam blanketting.
vi) Oxidation.
vii) Pitting.
viii) Galvanic attack.
ix) Caustic embrittlement.
i) Hydrogen Damage
This induces brittle fracture & will occur beneath a relatively dense deposit when boiler water pH
is too low. The accepted thereby of this type of attacks is that the hydrogen atoms are produced between
the deposit and the tube surface. They in turn react with cementite a hard brittle iron compound at the
grain boundaries of the tube material to form molecular methane gas, which removes carbon from metal
weakening it by creating fissures in its grain structure.
The pressure of the gas that is formed literally blows the material apart. This damage is most
common where condenser leakage occurs in units cooled by sea water. Some metal loss may be
caused by corrosion mechanism, but the tube which failure would occur.
ii) Bulk Under deposit Corrosion
 This is caused by the concentration of traces amounts so soluble corrosive compounds usually
strong alkalies, such as sodium hydroxide between the tube walls & a relatively porous deposit. (60-90 %
porosity compared to theoretically dense magnetite). The term “caustic gouging” is sometimes used to
describe this form of corrosion, which is characterised by rapid attack & subsequent tube failure.
iii) Corrosion Fatigue
Material that undergoes cyclic strain may suffer fatigue failure. The strain can be mechanical in
nature such as vibration or thermal such as soot blower condense quenching, corrosion or oxidation can
accelerate failure in other words, failure may occur after fewer cycles at a lower level or strain in a
corrosive environment.
iv) Stress Corrosion Cracking
Portion of austenitic stainless steel SH elements containing residual stress such as stress
supports & ring welds are susceptible to cracking in high temp. Water containing chloride or hydroxide
compounds & oxygen. Though such condition is relatively uncommon, they do occur after because of
operator error. Stress corrosion attack on the secondary SH tube was caused by inadvertent use of a boil
out cleaning solution containing caustic. The boiler was fired only a few hours, but the damage was
significant, and tube replacement was required.
v) Steam Blanketing: -
Steam blanketting phenomenon occurs in tubes, which are slightly inclined, for example flow
started slag screen tubes since the steam flow in some what restricted resulting in obstruction for heat
transfer. In such environment if the feed water possesses caustic soda, it may give rise to general
wasting of the crown of the tube or the formation of grooves at the water line.
vi) Oxidation
Oxidation of low alloy ferritic steels operating at temp. above about 450C is a natural
phenomenon in the boiler water side environment. All materials used in high temp. SH & RH tubing are
subjected to oxidation, although at different rates. Problems arise when oxide scale on the tube’s internal
surface become so thick that differential expansion between the oxide and the parent metal results in
spalling of the oxide from the metal surface a process called “exfoliation”. The loose flakes are hard &
brittle & generally range from the size of a match HEAD to that of a quarter. Loose scale can clog tubes
at bends causing their failure by overheating.
vii) Pitting
This is mainly due to the difference in effective electrode potential between adjacent areas of the
metal surface. This can result due to the following reasons.
1. Differential heat treatment resulting in localised difference in stress concentration.
2. Surface irregularities such as scratches & cuts developing during manufacturing.
3. Different concentration in dissolved compounds. The effect of individual factor depends upon their
relative magnitude & most of them are independent.
viii) Galvanic Attack
The corrosion of the less noble member of a pair of metal which are joined together is called
“Galvanic corrosion” or “Dissimilar metal corrosion”. The effects of galvanic corrosion are often serious
especially in sea water power station as feed water conditions are conductive, since at temperature that
occurs in the high pressure boiler tubing, are very high Galvanic attack will be more severe in these
areas.
ix) Caustic embrittlement
This is due to the caustic ALKALINITY formed in the drum & the scale of this caustic soda reacts
with the metal & may result in cracking at welding joints where the welding is weak
Material Defects
Some of the tube failures in the boiler may be due to the usage of the defective raw materials.
Though different quality control measurements are adopted in various stages of the manufacturing,
defective materials may find there way in rare cases and cause failure. High quality of the materials can
be ensured by selecting tubes, which have undergone ultrasonic tests, & by resorting to strict quality
control inspection procedure. Successful waterside corrosion control requires careful selection of the
material used throughout the steam cycle including the feed water heaters & condensers.
Manufacturing defects
Tube failure may occur due to the defect in the manufacturing process, such as weld defect, &
improper heat treatment. Mix up of material sometimes lead to failure because of the wrong usage of
materials.
Creep and fatigue are very important factors while designing the thermal power plant equipment.
Metals undergoing high temperature will also be subject both creep and fatigue.
Creep
When metal stressed at sufficiently high temperature it will continue to deform with time although
at a relatively low rate. This process is known as “creep” and is of major importance in selecting metals
for service in power plant. This is because at temperature much above 350C (660F) steels are
subjected to this phenomenon. The figure illustrated that the creep process can be viewed in three
stages. The primary stage in which the initially high rate of strain remain constant over a period of time,
the second stage in which strain rate remain constant over a period of time, and the tertiary stage in
which strain rate increases continuously and which culminates in rupture.
This behavior may be explained in terms of a balance between the effect of straining which are to
be strengthen the material and increase its resistance to further deformation and effect of heating which
are to be softening the material and decrease resistance to deformation. Thus strain hardening
predominates initially until the strain rate falls to level at which the opposing influence are in balance
accompanied by continuous deformation until the tertiary stage is reached, where loss of strength leads
to fracture.
Fatigue
Metals undergoing high temperature service may also be subjected to fatigue. This process is one
in which failure may arise exposer to many cycle of alternating stress, with or without super imposition of
mean stress. This type of failure is comparatively rare in power plant. The predominant failure is creep
not fatigue.
In power plant, it is possible to encounter situation that are classified as thermal fatigue. In these
frequency of straining is given by the number of stops and starts endured the full life of plant (say 5000 to
10,000). The level of strain is enhanced by the creation of thermal gradient during operation, and/or by
geometric strain concentration. This problem is believed to involve both creep and fatigue process.
Factors affecting fatigue life
The rate of cycle loading has only small effect on fatigue strength. Fatigue strength increase with
increasing rate of cycling probably because of the increased strain rate.
i) The form of the stress cycle such as square, triangular or sinusoidal wave has no effect on the
fatigue life.
ii) The environment in which component undergoes stress reversal has marked effects on fatigue
life. The fatigue life in vacuum is about 10 times more than that in moist air. This clearly indicates
that the environment has a corrosive effect and reduce the fatigue life. Fatigue occurring under
the specific corrosive environmental is caused corrosion fatigue.
iii) Size of component has no effect on fatigue life if component is identical one another in all
respects such as defect microstructure, inclusion, etc. except size. However in certain cases it
has been observed that larger size less is a fatigue life. The decrease fatigue strength is more for
high strength material. This is due to more chance of imperfection or stress rises in large size
components.
iv) Stress gradient has strong effect on fatigue life. Higher stress gradient, lesser is fatigue life.
v) An increase in temperature above room temperature decreases the fatigue life to increase in the
crack growth rate. Decrease in temperature below room temperature increase the fatigue life.
Procedure for Failure Investigation & Collection of Failed Samples
The causes for failures are evaluated by removing carefully the failed material (eg.tube) along
with deposits if present. It is preferable to pack them with polythene wrappers & box, such that no
corrosion & mechanical damage occur during transits. If the deposits are loose, water side & fire side
deposit are collected in separate polythene bags with rigid tags. The flame cut region should be at least
200mm away from the region of failure since heat produced during flame cutting will change the
microstructure, if the cut region is closed to fail region. For comparison, it is preferable to have good
portion (about 300mm) of the tube (along with the deposit if it is present) which is considerably away from
the failed region.
The samples of material, which failed due to brittle fracture, should be taken out (if it is possible) &
using rust preventive coatings should protect fractured facets. In some cases in site micro examination is
carried out when specimen could not be cut or removed. This technique is also used for fracture analysis.
In certain cases it becomes essential for the metallurgist or chemist to visit the site & have first hand
information regarding the location and overall nature of failed tubes or any other components. These
have to watch the performance under the existing condition at site. This will help in the interpretation of
complex failures.
Procedure of Metallurgical Analysis
1. Visual Inspection.
2. Hardness Test.
3. Dimension & thickness measurement at critical section.
4. Then take the sample of tube of unfractured zone and fractured zone. Then with the help of grinder,
grind it to remove rust and scale & then polish it to get scratch free surface. The polishing method is
known as buffing.
For which Diamond paste & metsesfluid (lubricant) is used & after that apply etching agent (nitol
or picrol) for 30sec & then clean the surface by acetone. Then watch the prepared sample under
microscope.
Analysis to Find out Cause of Failure
The metallurgist can conclude the cause of failure by studying the microstructure of the material
of both, fractured & unfractured zone.
The normal microstructure of the material consists of ferrite & pearlite, with the dispersed grain
boundaries. In case of failure the microstructure of the material changes & depending upon the change of
microstructure, metallurgist can conclude the cause of failure.
1. Corrosion
Due to corrosion the normal structure of the material which consists of ferrite & pearlite will
change from ferrite to ferritic & spheroidisition of carbides occur along the grain boundaries.
2. Erosion
Due to erosion the normal structure will change from pearlite to pearritic & spheroidisition of
carbides occur along the grain boundaries.
3. Creeps
Due to creep the grain growth occurs along the boundaries which weakness the material
strength & due to which the voids are formed along the boundaries & in case of prolonged period these
voids combine & fracture takes place.
Remedial Measures
The corrosion in general is resulting due to the oxygen present in feed water & the pH value of
feed water. Oxygen may be carried over into boiler through make up water leaks, etc. Even the minute
quantity of O2 is capable of causing sever corrosion in the boiler working at high pressure. Since the O2
content carried over the steam will go on increasing as the pressure of the boiler increases.

The table below shows how the O2 content carried over to steam increases as the pressure
increases.
Boiler pressure kg/cm2 O2 in feed water: O2 in steam
12.6 5000:1
42 5000:3.2
70 5000:5.3
140 5000:10

Corrosion related problems could generally be avoided if,

1. Recommended water treatment controls are followed.
2. Corrosion products formed in the feed water system are kept within specific limit.
3. Feed water O2 concentration properly controlled.
4. Proper precautions are taken during chemical cleaning operation to prevent metal attack.
5. Drum internal & drum level controls are maintained in good condition.
6. Silica concentration in the boiler is controlled within limits
7. Corrosion products formed in the feed water system should be minimised by proper phosphate
dozing & hydrazine dosing.
8. Feed water O2 concentration should be controlled by proper deaeration employing effective
deaerator.
In modern boiler hydrazine dosing is adopted to effectively remove the oxygen.
N2H4 + O2 N2 + 2H2O
The possible measure to minimise fire side corrosion/erosion
1) Modifying the physical or chemical characteristics of deposits with the addition of chemicals. They
may be introduced either by adding with fuel or injecting into the furnace or sprayed to external
surfaces of the tubes. Addition such as silica based compound, lime, magnesia etc. have been
reported to be useful by way of either raising ash softening temperature or fixing SO2 from high
sulphur coal.
2) Use of coating to improve corrosion or erosion resistance.
3) Periodic removal of deposits by blowing of compressed air or steam.
4) Design modification such as avoidance of sharp bends in the path of flue gas to avoid local high
velocity, decreasing the flue gas velocity to an optimum level improving combustion condition etc.
5) Reducing the ash content of the coal by using washed or blended coal.
6) Use of thicker tubes or faceted tubes in the corrosion zone.
7) Replacement of tubing with more corrosion resistant tubing.
8) Resistance to erosion should require a hard brittle tube material, which would be unsuitable for
pressure part use. For this reason the pressure part are required to be designed to allow for a rate of
material removal by erosion within their design life.
Conclusion
It is observed from the various failures at various power stations. Research Institute suggests them
to follow the following practices during operation to avoid frequent failure of boiler tubes & thus prevents
the frequency of outages.
1. Proper operation of boiler whithin the permissible limits of various parameters.
2. Shrouding, shielding the areas, which are prone to erosion & proper inspection of tube elements
during overhaul, may help to reduce the outages.
3. Particular care for operation of oil guns, proper distribution of secondary air and total airflow & proper
soot blower operation may help to reduce outages.
4. Soot blowers operation, proper care to be taken from retraction or leaky poppet valve to avoid erosion
of nearby tubes may help to reduce tube failure considerably. Wall soot blowers should be properly
aligned for hot operation of the blower considering the expansion of furnace & structure.
5. Sudden variation of loads & abnormal operation beyond permissible limits should be avoided.
6. Proper purging of boiler should be carried out during start up & after every shutdowns.
7. Feed water quality should be maintained within permissible limit.
8. Start up fuel automisation should be checked for its proper operation.