Creep damage in small punch creep specimens of Type 304 stainless steel

Small punch creep tests on Type 304 stainless steel have been performed at 650 °C. Based on these tests, a finite element model, with modified Kachanov–Rabotnov creep damage constitutive equations, was established. The variation of central deflection and creep strain with time and the evolution of creep damage under constant loads were analysed by using the finite element model. The central creep deflection curves in the specimens were obtained at different loads in both tests and simulations and have three different stages, similar to conventional creep tests. There is good agreement between experimental results and simulation data. The creep damage at the central part is high, and localization of damage is obvious. Initial failure occurs at the bottom surface, about 0.8 mm away from the centre which agrees well with the finite element mode observation.     

锅炉主蒸汽管道蠕变非线性有限元分析

对长期处于高温高压状态下运行的管道而言，高温蠕变是其寿命损耗的主要内在因素。本文以一余热锅炉主蒸汽管道为研究对象，建立了该管道蠕变有限元模型，研究和分析了该主汽管在高温蠕变作用下的应力分布规律，探讨了管道内输送流体的压力和温度与其蠕变量的关系。结果表明，当温度超过490℃时或压力达到10MPa时蠕变较为明显。     

A CDM-based study of fatigue–creep interaction behavior

Under stress control mode, the damage evolution during fatigue, creep and their interaction behavior actually is a ductility exhaustion process in response to cyclic and static creep. Based on the ductility dissipation theory and effective stress concept of continuum damage mechanism (CDM), a new fatigue–creep interaction damage model has been developed in this paper, where the change of the inelastic strain energy density is used to define the damage variable. To assess this damage model, high temperature fatigue–creep interaction experiments have been carried out for 1.25Cr0.5Mo steel under stress control mode employing a trapezium waveform. The damage evolution laws of 1.25Cr0.5Mo steel under various combinatorial conditions with different maximum stresses and stress amplitudes are derived. Results indicate that the damage parameter and damage model presented in this paper are applicable to describe the damage evolution for fatigue–creep interaction.     

Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production from glycerol autothermal reforming

In this work, thermodynamics was applied to investigate the glycerol autothermal reforming to generate hydrogen for fuel cell application. Equilibrium calculations employing the Gibbs free energy minimization were performed in a wide range of temperature (700–1000 K), steam to glycerol ratio (1–12) and oxygen to glycerol ratio (0.0–3.0). Results show that the most favorable conditions for hydrogen production are achieved with the temperatures, steam to glycerol ratios and oxygen to glycerol ratios of 900–1000 K, 9–12 and 0.0–0.4, respectively. Further, it is demonstrated that thermoneutral conditions (steam to glycerol ratio 9–12) can be obtained at oxygen to glycerol ratios of around 0.36 (at 900 K) and 0.38–0.39 (at 1000 K). Under these thermoneutral conditions, the maximum number of moles of hydrogen produced are 5.62 (900 K) and 5.43 (1000 K) with a steam to glycerol ratio of 12. Also, it should be noted that methane and carbon formation can be effectively eliminated.     

蒸汽管网模拟优化技术应用

洛阳分公司蒸汽管网包括10MPa、3．5MPa、1.0MPa和0．3MPa共4个等级．其中3．5MPa和1．0MPa蒸汽管网是主要管网。两套管网均存在供汽结构不合理,管段散热损失大,管网保温材料老化及破损严重,管段外表面温发较高（在50℃以上,局部管段超过80℃）等问题。为此．根据3．5MPa和1．0MPa蒸汽管网平衡数据．作出流量平衡表．利用蒸汽管网模拟分析软件（SNAMER）建立蒸汽管网模型并进行离线模拟分析。根据模拟分析结果,提出增设一条蒸汽跨线,以提高1号汽轮机发电机入口压力和汽轮机输出功率;将热电站至化纤装置3．5MPa蒸汽母管管径改为DN500,以减少压降;将部分管线保温材料改为硅酸铝镁纤维,保护层材质改为镀锌铝皮．以减少散热损火。模拟结果显示,实施上述措施后,1号汽轮机发电机入口压力约提高0．3MPa,在耗汽量不变的情况下,输出功率可提高3％：3．5MPa年1．0MPa蒸汽管网总散热损失将分别下降24％和31％;若对部分管线进行改造,每年将节约费用500万元。     

Effect of geometry change on the creep failure life of a thick-walled CrMoV pipe with a circumferential weldment

The influence of the geometry change on the failure life during creep of an internally pressurised thick-walled main steam pipe with a circumferential weldment was investigated, using finite element creep damage analyses. The pipe is subjected to a realistic internal pressure and a range of end (system) load levels, which are within the limits allowed by design codes. Actual material properties were used which were obtained from creep testing for a CrMoV pipe weldment at 640 °C. Damage calculations were conducted to investigate the deformation and strain behaviour and to obtain the failure life of the welded pipe. The plain pipe behaviour obtained previously is briefly reviewed. The results obtained from the welded pipe are compared with those obtained from the corresponding plain pipe. For the particular weldment properties used, the results obtained show that the life reduction, due to geometry change, for the welded pipe, is in the range 4.6–6.1%, which is much less significant than that for the corresponding plain pipe. The practical significance of these results is discussed.     

Creep crack growth in welds: a damage mechanics approach to predicting initiation and growth of circumferential cracks

The results of damage mechanics finite element analyses have been used to estimate the initiation and growth of type IV cracks in a series of internally pressurised circumferential pipe welds, in main steam pipelines made of 1/2CrMoV steel. The material properties used, for the various zones of new, service-aged and repaired welds, were produced from creep test data at 640°C. Damage distributions and accumulation with time within the HAZ are presented, from which the crack initiation times and positions for these welds, under a closed-end condition, and with additional axial (system) loading, were identified. By investigating the propagation of damage through the wall thickness, the remaining lives of the various weld types were estimated. The method provides a means for predicting the initiation and growth of type IV cracks in these CrMoV weldments, and for estimating the length of time a weld can safely be left in service, after damage, or type IV cracking, is identified during inspection.     

A high pressure ignition delay time study of 2-methylfuran and tetrahydrofuran in shock tubes

Ignition delay time studies for tetrahydrofuran (THF) and 2-methylfuran (2MF) as well as optical investigations of combustion for 2MF have been carried out using two shock tubes. The experiments with undiluted THF/air mixtures were performed at 20 and 40 bar in a high pressure shock tube (HPST) at an equivalence ratio of Ф = 1 covering an overall temperature range of 780–1100 K and 691–1006 K, respectively. Undiluted 2MF/air mixtures (Ф = 1) were also investigated in the HPST at 40 bar in the temperature range of 820–1215 K. The experimental data of 2MF obtained at 40 bar were supported with kinetic simulations of existing models from literature. Additionally, sensitivity analyses of 2MF at several temperatures were performed for finding out the most sensitive reactions. Schlieren imaging was employed in a rectangular shock tube (RST) utilizing a high speed video camera through which the ignition process was captured for a stoichiometric 2MF/O₂/Ar mixture at pressures of about 10 bar and in the temperature range of 871–1098 K.     

Simulation of creep and damage in the bonded compliant seal of planar solid oxide fuel cell

Planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operates at high temperature and requires a good creep strength to ensure the structure integrity. This paper presents a creep and damage analysis of a bonded compliant seal (BCS) structure of a planar SOFC considering the effect of as-bonded residual stress and thermal stress, as well as the effect of filler metal and foil thickness. A modified continuum creep-damage model is used in the finite element simulation. It demonstrates that the BCS structure meets the requirement of the long-term operation at the high temperature of 600 °C with an appropriate braze bonding process. The results show that the failure location is not in the region of maximum creep deformation due to the effect of high level multi-axial stress which drastically decreases the multi-axial ductility. Reasonably reducing the thickness of filler metal and foil can decrease the damage of the BCS structure. Based on the consideration of creep and damage, it is proposed that the thickness of filler metal and foil should not exceed 0.1 and 0.05 mm, respectively.     

基于振动特性的高温管线蠕变损伤的识别

以高温主蒸汽管线为例,应用有限元方法分析了大型高温管系在实际工况下的应力情况、蠕变损伤特点以及基于振动特性的损伤识别.以典型弯管为例,分析了在不同损伤情况下高温管道的振动模态变化特性.结果表明:在微小损伤的条件下,高温直管/弯管的频率变化较小,考虑到实际测量噪声的影响,单纯从结构的固有频率变化来识别微小的损伤是比较困难的;通过分析冲击响应的变化可以判断是否已经出现损伤,尤其是在损伤大于30%时,弯管对冲击响应的变化非常明显.     

Prediction of creep failure life of internally pressurised thick walled CrMoV pipes

Creep continuum damage finite element analyses were performed for a typical internally pressurised main steam thick-sectioned plain pipe geometry subjected to a range of axial loading conditions. The creep failure lives, for a range of loading levels, were obtained. The stress distributions showed the presence of a skeletal point or representative rupture stress. Life estimates were made using alternative stress forms and these were compared with the failure lives predicted using continuum damage analyses. For the particular ferritic material properties used in the analyses, the failure life of the pipe can be obtained accurately using the steady-state reference rupture stress or the skeletal point rupture stress.     

Uncertainties in the evaluation of high temperature damage in power stations and petrochemical plant

Some of the areas of uncertainty in the evaluation of high temperature damage are examined. These uncertainties must be reduced as much as possible in order to predict the remaining safe life of plants accurately. Specific topics discussed include the localized nature of damage; the nature of high temperature damage in steam generators involving mechanisms other than creep; the nature of the ‘cavitation’ frequently observed as creep damage, and the methods of evaluating it; and methods of predicting the extent of damage in reformer tube furnaces.     

Pyrolysis–gasification of post-consumer municipal solid plastic waste for hydrogen production

Post-consumer plastic waste derived from municipal solid waste was investigated using a two-stage, catalytic steam pyrolysis–gasification process for the production of hydrogen. The three important process parameters of catalyst:plastic ratio, gasification temperature and water injection rate were investigated. Temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods were used to analyse the reacted catalysts. The results showed that there was little influence of catalyst:plastic ratio between the range 0.5 and 2.0 (g/g) on the mass balance and gas composition for the pyrolysis–gasification of waste plastics; this might be due to the effective catalytic activity of the Ni–Mg–Al catalyst. However, increasing the gasification temperature and the water injection rate resulted in an increase of total gas yield and hydrogen production. The coke formation on the catalyst was reduced with increasing use of catalyst; however, a maximum coke formation (9.6 wt.%) was obtained at the gasification temperature of 700 °C when the influence of gasification temperature was investigated. The maximum coke formation was obtained at the water injection rate of 4.74 g h⁻¹, and a more reactive form of coke seemed to be formed on the catalyst with an increase of the water injection rate, according to the TPO experiments.     

Change in contribution of block boundary to macroscopic strength of 10Cr–1Mo–1W–VNbN steel due to creep

Outstanding strength performance of high Cr ferritic steels is attributable to the combined strengthening mechanisms of matrix and various grain boundaries. However, it is by no means easy to separate the contributions of such strengthening factors and quantitatively understand them because of extremely fine and complicated microstructures. In this study, the instrumented indentation test was carried out to clarify the change in contribution of “block” during creep. The materials used in this study were turbine rotor steel (Fe–10Cr–1Mo–1W–VNbN). The indentation test was applied to the as-tempered and creep damaged specimens under the maximum loads ranging from 1 to 1000 mN. The test results revealed that the decrease in contribution of block was the predominant factor controlling the material deterioration, namely, softening at the early stage of the creep life. This decrease in block's contribution was caused by the decrease in resistance of the block boundary to deformation.     

Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen production via autothermal steam reforming of selected components of aqueous bio-oil fraction

From a technical and economic point of view, autothermal steam reforming offers many advantages, as it minimizes heat load demand in the reformer. Bio-oil, the liquid product of biomass pyrolysis, can be effectively converted to a hydrogen-rich stream. Autothermal steam reforming of selected compounds of bio-oil was investigated using thermodynamic analysis. Equilibrium calculations employing Gibbs free energy minimization were performed for acetic acid, acetone and ethylene glycol in a broad range of temperature (400–1300 K), steam to fuel ratio (1–9) and pressure (1–20 atm) values. The optimal O₂/fuel ratio to achieve thermoneutral conditions was calculated under all operating conditions. Hydrogen-rich gas is produced at temperatures higher than 700 K with the maximum yield attained at 900 K. The ratio of steam to fuel and the pressure determine to a great extent the equilibrium hydrogen concentration. The heat demand of the reformer, as expressed by the required amount of oxygen, varies with temperature, steam to fuel ratio and pressure, as well as the type of oxygenate compound used. When the required oxygen enters the system at the reforming temperature, autothermal steam reforming results in hydrogen yield around 20% lower than the yield by steam reforming because part of the organic feed is consumed in the combustion reaction. Autothermicity was also calculated for the whole cycle, including preheating of the organic feed to the reactor temperature and the reforming reaction itself. The oxygen demand in such a case is much higher, while the amount of hydrogen produced is drastically reduced.     

Hydrogen-rich gas from catalytic steam gasification of municipal solid waste (MSW): Influence of catalyst and temperature on yield and product composition

In the present study the catalytic steam gasification of MSW to produce hydrogen-rich gas or syngas (H₂ + CO) with calcined dolomite as a catalyst in a bench-scale downstream fixed bed reactor was investigated. The influence of the catalyst and reactor temperature on yield and product composition was studied at the temperature range of 750–950 °C, with a steam to MSW ratio of 0.77, for weight hourly space velocity of 1.29 h⁻¹. Over the ranges of experimental conditions examined, calcined dolomite revealed better catalytic performance, at the presence of steam, tar was completely decomposed as temperature increases from 850 to 950 °C. Higher temperature resulted in more H₂ and CO production, higher carbon conversion efficiency and dry gas yield. The highest H₂ content of 53.29 mol%, and the highest H₂ yield of 38.60 mol H₂/kg MSW were observed at the highest temperature level of 950 °C, while, the maximum H₂ yield potential reached 70.14 mol H₂/kg dry MSW at 900 °C. Syngas produced by catalytic steam gasification of MSW varied in the range of 36.35–70.21 mol%. The char had a highest ash content of 84.01% at 950 °C, and negligible hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur contents.     

Creep damage evaluation of 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb steel welded joints showing Type IV fracture

By conducting long-term creep rupture tests for 9Cr–1Mo–V–Nb (P91) steel welded joints, creep rupture properties and microstructures were examined. Creep rupture tests were conducted at three temperatures of 823, 873 and 923 K, under applied stresses of 160–230, 80–130, and 40–80 MPa, respectively. The rupture locations were found to shift from the weld metal at the higher stress condition to the fine-grained HAZ adjacent to the base metal at lower stress conditions at 873 and 923 K. The relationship between microstructural changes and crack nucleation site and propagation path was clarified. A remarkable decrease of dislocation density and growth of precipitates of M₂₃C₆ and Laves phase during creep was observed in the vicinity of the fine-grained HAZ adjacent to the base metal for the Type IV fractured welded joint specimen. The stress–strain distribution in the welded joint was investigated by the finite element method (FEM) using creep data of the simulated HAZ specimen. It was found that the observed crack initiation site and crack growth path coincided better with the distribution of the stress triaxiality factor than that of the equivalent creep strain.     

Thermal creep properties of alloy D9 stainless steel and 316 stainless steel fuel clad tubes

Uniaxial thermal creep rupture properties of 20% cold worked alloy D9 stainless steel (alloy D9 SS) fuel clad tubes for fast breeder reactors have been evaluated at 973 K in the stress range 125–250 MPa. The rupture lives were in the range 90–8100 h. The results are compared with the properties of 20% cold worked type 316 stainless steel (316 SS) clad tubes. Alloy D9 SS were found to have higher creep rupture strengths, lower creep rates and lower rupture ductility than 316 SS. The deformation and damage processes were related through Monkman Grant relationship and modified Monkman Grant relationship. The creep damage tolerance parameter indicates that creep fracture takes place by intergranular cavitation. Precipitation of titanium carbides in the matrix and chromium carbides on the grain boundaries, dislocation substructure and twins were observed in transmission electron microscopic investigations of alloy D9 SS. The improvement in strength is attributed to the precipitation of fine titanium carbides in the matrix which prevents the recovery and recrystallisation of the cold worked microstructure.     

Reliability-based assessment of polyethylene pipe creep lifetime

Lifetime management of underground pipelines is mandatory for safe hydrocarbon transmission and distribution systems. The use of high-density polyethylene tubes subjected to internal pressure, external loading and environmental variations requires a reliability study in order to define the service limits and the optimal operating conditions. In service, the time-dependent phenomena, especially creep, take place during the pipe lifetime, leading to significant strength reduction. In this work, the reliability-based assessment of pipe lifetime models is carried out, in order to propose a probabilistic methodology for lifetime model selection and to determine the pipe safety levels as well as the most important parameters for pipeline reliability. This study is enhanced by parametric analysis on pipe configuration, gas pressure and operating temperature.     

Damage assessment method of P91 steel welded tube under internal pressure creep based on void growth simulation

Development of creep damage assessment methods for longitudinal welded piping of P91 steel is important and an urgent subject to maintain reliable operation of boilers in ultra super critical thermal power plants. Internal pressure creep tests were conducted on P91 steel longitudinal welded tubes to characterize the evolution of creep damage in a heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the longitudinal welded pipe. Failure occurred at a heat-affected zone without significant macroscopic deformation. It was found that initiation of creep voids had concentrated at mid-thickness region rather than surface. Three-dimensional finite element (FE) creep analysis of the creep tested specimens was conducted to identify stress and creep strain distribution within the specimen during creep. Finite element creep analysis results indicated that triaxial tensile stress yielded at the mid-thickness region of the HAZ. It was suggested that the triaxial stress state caused acceleration of the creep damage evolution in the heat-affected zone resulting in internal failure of the tube specimens. Void growth behavior in the heat-affected zone was well predicted with the previously proposed void growth simulation method by introducing void initiation function to the method. A “limited strain” was defined as rupture criterion and dependency of the maximum stress and multiaxiality on the “limited strain” was derived by the void growth simulation. Creep damage distribution in the HAZ under the internal creep test was calculated by proposed damage assessment method.