An introduction to fireside corrosion experience in the central electricity generating board

This paper briefly reviews CEGB fireside corrosion experience. It first summarises the numbers and operating conditions of the plants, and indicates the range of materials used in the boilers. Experience of furnace wall and superheater/reheater corrosion in coal fired plant is summarised, emphasising the need to “control” fireside corrosion rather than being able to eliminate it, and the importance of more corrosion resistant materials, particularly as coextruded tube. Tube life prediction techniques in use by the CEGB are outlined, and three current areas of research are described.