Analysis of Tube Failure in Water Tube Boiler

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International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology

An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization Volume 6, Special Issue 8, May 2017
International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology, Civil & Mechanical Science (ICABCMS-17)

17th & 18th March 2017
Organized by
Selvam College of Technology, Namakkal, Tamilnadu, India
Analysis of Tube Failure in Water Tube boiler

P.Sakthivel1, S.Kalaimani2, Dr. R. Sasikumar3
PG Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Selvam College of Technology-Namakkal. Tamilnadu, India1,
Associative Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Selvam College of Technology-Namakkal.
Tamilnadu, India2
Dean/ Research & Development, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Selvam College of Technology,
Namakkal, India. 3
ABSTRACT: Boiler tube failure continues to be the leading cause for forced outages in fossil fired boiler. The tube
failure may be a simple problem unless it causes damage to the power plant and affects safety of the human being. The
problem due to tube failure is realized only when the cost due to failure estimated. The main objective of our project is
to reduce the number of tube failures occurring in boiler accessories at thermal power station by analyzing the reason
behind the tube failure and provide suitable remedies for it. Tube failures in boiler accessories occur due to various
reasons and major reasons for failure among the various reasons are flue gas erosion, long term overheating and steam
erosion. The major failure reasons are taken from the tube failure. Major causes for failure can be controlled by using
following remedies such as optimization of flue gas velocity, using tube material with better creep strength and by
providing coating along the wall of the tube. The optimization of flue gas velocity is done by computational fluid
dynamics software (Ansys fluent), the boiler tube material is chosen based on the cost , creep strength and corrosion
resistance, the coating for boiler tube is chosen based on operating conditions and coating feasibility. The above
remedies if implemented in the power plants can reduce the tube failure to a major extent.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. General
In this chapter we are going to discuss about Tube failures in boiler accessories occur due to various
reasons and major reasons for failure among the various reasons are flue gas erosion, long term overheating and steam
erosion. The major failure reasons are taken from the tube failure. Major causes for failure can be controlled by using
following remedies such as optimization of flue gas velocity, using tube material with better creep strength and by
providing coating along the wall of the tube.
B. Boiler:
A boiler is an enclosed vessel that provides a means for combustion heat to be transferred in to water until it
becomes heated water or steam. The hot water or steam under pressure is then usable for transferring heat to a process.
Water is a useful and cheap medium for transferring heat to a process a force that is almost as explosive as gunpowder.
This causes the boiler to be extremely dangerous equipment that must be treated utmost care. The process of heating a
liquid until it reaches its gaseous state is called evaporation. Heat is transferred from one body to another by means of
1) Radiation, which is transfer of heat from hot body to cold body without a conveying medium,
2) Convection transfer heat by a conveying medium, such as air or water
3) Conduction, transfer heat by actual physical contact, molecule to molecule.
1.1 Water Tube Boiler

A water tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by the fire. Fuel is
burned inside the furnace, creating hot gas which heats water in the steam-generating tubes. In smaller boilers,
additional generating tubes are separate in the furnace, while larger utility boilers relay on the water-filled tubes that
make up the walls of the furnace to generate steam. The heated water then rises into the steam drum. Here, saturated
steam is drawn off the top of drum.
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In some services, the steam will reenter the furnace through a super heater to become superheated. Cool water at
the bottom of the steam drum returns to the feed water drum via large-bore ‘down comer tubes’, where it pre-heats the
feed water supply. To increase economy of the boiler, exhaust gases are also used to pre-heat the air blown into the
furnace and warm the feed water supply. Such water tube boilers in thermal power station are also called steam
generating units. Fig 1.1 shows the schematic representation of a simple water tube boiler.
Fig. 1.1simple water tube boiler
1.2 Boiler Tube

Boiler tubes are set of long goes several folds inside the furnace, sometimes their total length may be several
kilometers mainly in the case of power plant boilers, and these tubes transfer heat from flue gas to water or steam. Fig
1.2 shows tubes of a typical water tube boiler in a power plant
Table 1.1 shows the specification of economizer tubes in water tube boiler of Thermal power station.
Fig. 1.2 Tubes of a water tube boiler
Tube material SA210GrA1(C=0.27%)

Tube diameter 44.5 mm
Tube thickness 4.5 mm
Tube length 32 km(approx)
No of bends 14
Tube arrangement Horizontal
Tube bend diameter 65 mm
Table 1.1 specifications of economizer tube

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II. CAUSES OF TUBE FAILURE
This chapter explains about problems in boiler tubes and the factors that cause major damage to the boiler
tubes. This helped to identify the major reasons for tube failures and suggest suitable remedies for the failures caused
due to the problems.
2.1 Types of failure

Failures in the boiler tubes occur at various places corresponding to the parameter causing the defect. Below
listed are such failures which could be seen in boiler tubes
• Fish mouth opening
• Window opening
• Burst open puncture
• Pin hole puncture
• Crack formation
2.2 Areas of failure

Most of the failures in the boiler happen at repeated places. Places at which tube failures seen most are
Economizer, Extended steam cooled tubes, Water walls, LTSH, Reheater tubes, Platen super heater and Final super
heater. All these places require very good maintenance for longer life and to reduce the failure rate occurring in it.
2.3 Causes of Tube Failure

There are numerous that accounts to the failure of boiler tube in water tube boilers. There are twenty-two
primary reasons for tube failures in a boiler. Knowledge and good operating and maintenance practice reduce tube
failures. Reducing tube failure in boilers increases the availability of boiler.
A single tube failure in boiler may cause loss of millions of rupees apart from power loss. There are four major
groups into which all tube failures can be classified. Tube failures are classified as in-service failures and can be
grouped under four major causes:
• Erosion • Stress rupture
• Corrosion • Loss of quality
2.3.1 Erosion
There are various reasons behind the erosion of boiler like fly ash, coal particles etc. The factors that which
causes erosion in boiler tubes are listed below
• Fly ash • Coal particles
• Falling slag • Air erosion
2.3.1.1 Fly ash

Fly ash travels with the flue gas at the same speed around 11m/s when it continuously travels at this speed it
would erode the metal in constant manner and finally it would reaches the critical limit at which the tube could no more
with stand the pressure.
The amount of ash in coal and its velocity are major factors in the rate of fly ash erosion.fly ash erosion is
experienced in the economizer, primary SH, and inlet section of steam reheater tubes. When non-uniform flue gas flow
distribution occurs in these areas, the rate of erosion increases multifold.
Factors influencing fly ash erosion in coal fired boilers are
• The velocity of flue gas
• The temperature of flue gas
• The mineral content in coal
• The change in direction of flue gas
• The arrangement of pressure parts and
• The operation above the maximum conditions design rating or with excess airflow above design rate.

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2.3.1.2 Coal particles
Coal particle erosion is to similar to Fly ash particles erosion in which unburnt coal particles flew with the
Flue gas erodes the boiler tube material, it may also deposit on the tube surfaces and cause reduced heat transfer and
corrosion. The following are the areas in boiler where coal particle erosion is normally experienced Economizer bends
and tubes, Screen tubes, Goose neck portion at furnace top, Soot blower opening in the water walls, Wind box opening
in the furnace, Bottom hoper tubes. Fig. 2.3 represents the boiler tube erosion due to coal particles.
Fig. 2.3 Coal particle erosion
2.3.1.3 Slag formation

Slag is formed by the reaction of deposited ash particles with the boiler tube material, prolonged traveling of ash
particles around boiler tube cause deposition of ash and at high temperature these ash deposit and boiler tube particle
reacts to form molten metal slag , this falls on the lower tube and erodes those tubes. Fig. 2.4. represents the formation
of slag around boiler tubes.
Fig. 2.4. Slag formed around boiler tubes
2.3.1.4 Air erosion

Continuous flow of hot air in the flue gas also cause a considerable erosion, but when compared to other factors
which is causing the erosion it is bit lower.
2.3.2 Stress rupture

Stress rupture is another important cause to the failure of boiler tubes in water tube boilers. Some reasons for the
stress rupture of boilers are given below
• Long term over heating
• Short term over heating
• Dissimilar metal welding
2.3.2.1 Short term over heating
Short term over heating can occur if temperature of pressure part(tube, drum, pipe and header) increases rapidly
in short period exceeding limitation of design temperature. It can occur at the pressure part which has high operating
temperature such as superheated, reheater, water wall, roof wall, boiler bank, screen tubes and down comers and rarely
occurs in low operating temperature of pressure part such as air heater and economizer. When the tube has insufficient

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cooling from water flow inside and receives excessive heat input from combustion process will lead to short term
overheating. Fig. 2.5 shows the boiler tube failed due to short term overheating.
Fig. 2.5 Short term over heating
2.3.2.2 Long term over heating

Long term overheating tube failures are due to metal temperature of the boiler tubes going above the allowable
limit. These types of failure are seen in steam cooled tubes like super heaters and re-heaters and in water cooled tubes
of water walls. While selecting the tube there is a requirement to select the correct material for withstanding the metal
temperature.
Normally the water cooled areas like economizer and water walls are made of carbon steel of boiler quality.
Super heaters and re-heaters will have combination of low alloy tubes to stainless steel tubes selected to with stand the
metal temperature. Fig. 2.6 shows the failure of boiler tube due to long term overheating.
Fig. 2.6 long term overheating
2.3.2.3 Dissimilar metal welding

In the thermal power station, dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) are used to join ferritic low-alloy steels to austenitic
stainless steels. Unfortunately, these welds can fail prematurely from accelerated creep. However, a transition joint
where the composition changes from austenitic steel to ferritic steel could replace then one dissimilar weld with two
similar welds. Fig. 2.7 shows the failure of dissimilar metal welds in boiler tube of a water tube boiler
Fig. 2.7 Dissimilar metal weld failure

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2.3.3 Corrosion
In corrosion boiler tubes materials are taken away by chemicals around it. Some of reasons behind corrosion are
listed below
• Caustic corrosion
• Pitting corrosion
• High temperature corrosion
• Low temperature corrosion
2.3.3.1 Caustic corrosion

Caustic corrosion, a specific form of stress corrosion, results in the inter crystalline cracking of steel. Inert
crystalline cracking results only when all of the following are present: specific conditions of stress, a mechanism for
concentration such as leakage, and free NaOH in the boiler water. Therefore, boiler tubes fail from caustic
embrittlement at points where tubes are rolled into sheets, drums or headers. Fig.2.8 shows the boiler tubes attacked by
caustic corrosion.
Fig.2.8 Caustic corrosion
2.3.3.2 Pitting corrosion
Fig.2.9 Pitting corrosion
Pitting corrosion is a form of extremely localized corrosion that leads to the creation of small holes in the
metal. The driving power for pitting corrosion is the depassivation of a small area, which becomes cathodic; leading to
very localized galvanic corrosion. The corrosion penetrates the mass of the metal, with limited diffusion of ions. Fig.
2.9 shows the pitting corrosion in a tube of water tube boiler.
2.3.3.3 High temperature corrosion

High temperature corrosion is a mechanism of corrosion taking place in boiler tubes coming in contact with
hot gas containing certain contaminants. Fuel contains some times vanadium compounds or sulfates which can form
compounds during combustion having a low melting point. These liquid melted salts are strongly corrosive for stainless
steel and other alloys normally inert against the corrosion and high temperatures. Other High temperature corrosions

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include high temperature oxidation, sulfidation and carbonization. Fig. 2.10 shows the damaged boiler tube due to high
temperature corrosion.
Fig. 2.10 High temperature corrosion
2.3.3.4 Low temperature corrosion

Thermal power station uses coal as a fuel, this fuel contains sulpher to differing percentages. The higher the
percentage of sulpher, the higher will be the risk of cold and corrosion in the boiler.
The sulpher in thr fuel during combustion gets converted to sulpher dioxide, some portion of the sulpher dioxide gets
converted to sulpher trioxide. The presence of moisture in the flue gas due to moisture in the fuel and air, sulpher
dioxide, and trioxide, combines with moisture and forms sulphuric acid.
These acids condense from around 1150C to slightly higher than 1600C, depending upon the concentration of
SO3 and water- vapour. Condensation of these acids results in metal wastage and boiler tube failure, air preheater
corrosion, and flue gas duct corrosion.
III FAILURE AND REMEDIES
This chapter deals with the detailed analysis of boiler tubes and also tells about the various solutions to reduce
most commonly occurring tube failure.
3.1 Remedies of tube failure

From the failure data and analysis using pie chart the three major erosion causing factors are flue gas erosion, long
term overheating and steam erosion. Our concentrates on giving remedies to these three problems. The type of failure
and chosen remedies are shown in table 3.1
Table 3.1 Remedies for tube failure

S.No Type of Failure Remedies
Organization of flue
1 Flue gas erosion
gas velocity
Changing the tube
2 Long term over heating
metal
3 Steam erosion Protective coating
3.2 Detail of software for used for Ansys

• Software Name : Ansys
• Geometry : Pro-Engineer
• Meshing : Gambit
• Solution : Ansys

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3.3.1 Details needed for software
 Water temperature at inlet of economizer :520k
 Water temperature at outlet of economizer :557k
 Flue gas temperature at inlet of economizer :752k
 Flue gas temperature at outlet of economizer :660k
 Type of flow : counter flow
 Flue gas velocity : 11 m/s
3.3.2 Boundary condition for analysis

1. Water inlet
Table3.2 shows the boundary conditions water inlet of the economizer
Table 3.2 Boundary conditions for water inlet
S.No Parameters value
1 Mass flow rate 0.132 m/s
2 Velocity 8 m/s
3 Temperature 520 k
2. Water outlet
Table3.3 shows the boundary conditions for water outlet of the economizer
Table 3.3Boundary conditions for water outlet

S.No Parameters Value
1 Outflow Nil
2 Temperature 552 k
3. Flue gas inlet

Table3.4 shows the boundary conditions for flue gas inlet
Table3.4 Boundary conditions for flue gas inlet

S.No Parameter value
1 Mass flow rate 0.126 kg/s
2 Velocity 11 m/s
3 Temperature 752 k
4. Flue gas outlet
Table 3.5 shows boundary conditions for flue gas outlet

Table 3.5 Boundary conditions for flue gas outlet
S.No Parameters Value
1 Outflow Nil
2 Temperature 660 k
3.4 Erosion rate calculation for tube

E = (0.47×z4.95 ×ρm×ρp×v3×sin3β)/σy1.5
Where
Z = mass fraction of silica contained in ash
ρ'm = Density of steel kg/m3

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ρ'p =Density of ash particles kg/m3
β =impingement angle (degrees)
σy = yield stress of steel (N/m2)
V = Flue gas velocity (m/s)
On substituting the values,
E=0.47x0.016x7830x34.64x1331x0.125/(250x106)
E=0.182(mg (steel)/kg (ash))
Similarity for calculating to other velocities Table 3.6 shows the erosion rate for various velocities.
Table 3.6 calculated Erosion rate for various velocities

Flue gas velocity Erosion rate (mg/kg)
8 0.07
9 0.1
10 0.137
11 0.182
12 0.237
13 0.301
Table 3.7 shows the outlet temperature for various velocities.

Table 3.7 Outlet temperature for various velocities
S.No Velocity in (m/s) Temperature at outlet (k)
1 8 356
2 9 359
3 10 361
4 11 363
5 12 365
6 13 367
By comparing the minimum temperature at outlet from CFD results and Erosion rate the optimum flue gas
velocity is 9m/sec.
3.5 Material for boiler tubes

Generally boiler materials need to with stand high temperature and should not corrode easily. The boiler materials
should have high creep strength and corrosion resistance. The table 3.8 shows the various materials form boilers tubes
which with stand high temperature and have good corrosion properties.
Table 3.8 various materials for boiler tubes

Maximum withstanding
S,No Material
temperature(°C)
1 T91 600
2 S 304 H 645
3 HR 3C 675
4 SANICRO 25 700
5 ALLOY 617 770
3.6 Materials under usage for boiler tubes

Austenitic stainless steel is the material that is currently being used for boiler tubes in thermal power
plant.Major reasons for using stainless steel are
 Resistance to corrosion
 Prevention of product contamination

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 Resistance to oxidation
 Ease of fabrication
 Excellent formability
 Good strength and toughness at cryogenic temperatures table 3.9 shows the composition of austenitic stainless
steel.
Table 3.9 composition of austenitic stainless steel

Material Type 304 Type 304L
Carbon 0.08 max 0.08 max
Manganese 2.00 max 2.00 max
Phosphorus 2.00 max 2.00 max
Sulfur 0.030 max 0.030 max
Silicon 0.75 max 0.75 max
Chromium 18.00-20.00 18.00-20.00
Nickel 8.0-12.00 8.0-12.00
Nitrogen 0.10 max 0.10 max
Iron Balance Balance
3.6.1 Mechanical properties

Table 3.10 shows Mechanical properties of austenitic steel
Table 3.10 Mechanical properties of austenitic steel

Ultimate tensile Yield strength Elongation
Type Hardness Rockwell
strength (MPa) (MPa) %
304L 586 241 55 B80
304 621 290 55 B82
3.6.2 Physical properties

Density : 7.90 g/cm3
3.6.3 Thermal properties

The thermal conductivity, coefficient of thermal expansion of stainless steel are shown in table 3.11 and 3.12
respectively.
Table 3.11 Linear coefficient of thermal expansion of steel

Temperature Range coefficients
˚F °C in/in/˚F cm/cm/°C
68-212 20-100 9.2×10-6 16.6×10-6
18-1600 20-870 11.0×10-6 19.8×10-6
Table 3.12 Thermal conductivity of steel

Temperature range
W/m k
˚F ˚C
212 100 16.3
932 500 21.4

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3.6.4 Suggested material –SANICRO 25
Sanicro 25 is a high alloy austenitic stainless steel engineered for the next generation of coal –fired power boilers.
It is ideal for reheater and super heater tubes, allowing for material temperatures of up to 700˚c (1290˚F), significantly
greater efficiency and sharply lower CO2.
 Very high creep strength
 High oxidation resistance
 High structural stability
 Good fabric ability
Sanicro 25 is supplied as cold pilgered solution annealed and white – pickled or bright annealed seamless tubes, in
common reheater and super heater boiler tube dimensions. The material datasheet 555 is valid for outside diameter 25
mm to 114.3 mm and wall thickness 3 mm to 14 mm.
 Very high elevated temperature strength
 Precipitation strengthening
 Nb or NbCr nitrides, Cu- rich precipitates
 Solid solution strengthening: addition of C, N, Co and W
 High corrosion resistance at high temperature
 High structural stability $ good fabricability
3.6.5 Composition of sanicro 25

Table 3.13 shows the composition of sanicro 25 alloy
Table 3.13 composition of sanicro 25

Material Percentage
Cmax 0.1
Si 0.2
Mn 0.5
Pmax 0.030
Smax 0.015
C 22.2
Ni 25
N 0.23
W 3.6
Co 1.5
Cu 3.0
Nb 0.5
3.6.6 Mechanical properties

Table 3.14 shows the mechanical properties of sanicro 25 alloy
Table 3.14 mechanical properties of sanicro 25
Temperature Proof strength Tensile strength
˚C MPa MPa
600 205 500
700 195 455
3.6.7 Physical properties

Density: 8.1 g/cm3
3.6.8 Thermal properties
Tables 3.15 and 3.16 below shows the thermal characteristics of material sanicro 25

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Table 3.15 thermal expansion
Temperature per°c
30-500 16.5
30-600 16.5
30-700 17
30-800 17
30-900 17.5
Table 3.16 thermal conductivity

Temperature W/(m˚c)
500 20
600 22
700 23
800 25
900 27
3.6.9 Comparison between austenitic stainless steel & sanicro 25

Table 3.17 compares austenitic stainless steel & sanicro 25
Table 3.17 Steel vs Sanicro 25
Property Sa 210 gr A1 Sanicro 25
Density 7850 kg/m3 8100 kg/ m3
Coefficient of thermal expansion 18.8 19
Yield strength 260n/mm2 140n/mm2
Tensile strength 420 n/mm2 340n/mm2
Thermal conductivity 21.4 22.5
Creep strength(at 600°c) 120 n/mm2 230n/mm2
Fig. 3.2 Meshing diagram of tube
Fig. 3.3 Temperature Distribution of Sanicro25
3.8 Coating for boiler tubes

Boiler operating with low NOx burner’s present unusually harsh environment for power plant material. In
particular, a charge from normally oxidizing condition in a standard boiler to reducing condition in a low NOx boiler
causes usually protective oxides to give way to severe wastage by sulfidation corrosion and erosion.

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3.9 Coating materials

There are various materials used for coating the boiler tube for protection against various causes that account
for the tube failures like Erosion, corrosion etc..,the materials used in boiler tube coating are
• M-Cr-Al-y alloy
• Type 310 stainless steel
• Pure chromium
• Molybdenum
• High silicon alloy
• Ni/Cr alloys
• Molybdenum
• Fe-Al
3.9.1 M-Cr-Al-y alloy

The M of stands for either Ni or Co or a combination of both (when applied to steels it can also be Fe)
depending on the type of super alloy.co based appear to have superior resistance to corrosion.
Al content is typically around 10-12 wt%. Since oxidation life is essentially controlled by the availability of al
it would be tempting to increases the aluminum content. However these results in significant reduction of ductility also
typically contain 1 wt% yttrium which enhances adherence of the oxide layer.
3.9.2 Type 310stainless steel

Type 310 alloys is essentially the stainless steel with more corrosion and temperature resistance it could with
stand the temperature up to 1100c and it also resists the chemical corrosion by means of formation of thin chromium
oxide layer over it and it also saves the boiler tube by means of self sacrificing.
It contains iron as its main content and other major contributoes are Nickel and chromium both its contributes
about 15-22% each and other minor contributors are carbon (1.5%), Manganese(2.0%), phosphorous(0.04%)and
sulphur(0.03%). This alloy has the density of 8000kg/m3 melting point of 1500c specific heat capacity of 500J/kgc
thermal conductivity of 14.2W/m and coefficient of expansion of 15.9/c.
3.9.3 Pure chromium

Pure chromium can be deposited on the boiler tube by means of Electro deposition method as this method
could evenly deposit the chromium over its surface this coating could only be done on the shop could not be done
inside the boiler this is the main disadvantage of this coating.
This pure chromium coating protects the boiler tube corrosion by forming thin oxide layer over itself on initial
operation of boiler after coating surface chromium reacts with oxygen and forms thin protective coating of chromium
oxide over its surface to resist the chemical corrosion it also resists the erosion by self sacrificing it distributes the heat
evenly over the boiler tube and thus it reduces the fatigue.
3.9.4 Ni/Cr Alloys

Chromium is a corrosion resistant alloy that binds the continuous skeleton of erosion resistant chromium carbide
constituents. Due ability to dissipate the impact force of particles by plasticide formation result of Ni-Cr coatings are
 High hardness (to prevent erosion because of ash silica).
 Hot corrosion resistance (that will react with the environment to produce a slow growing protective oxide
scale which should not allow the corrosive pieces to diffuse into the coating)
 Low porosity (less area for erodent particle to impact and abrade ).
 Small grain size (Small grains tend to be stronger).
 Uniform coating structure (homogeneous distribution of hard constituents & ductile behaviour )
 Absence of cracks (ductile structure, thermal stability,Uniform coating structure (homogenous distribution of
hard constituents &ductile behaviour)
 Smooth surface

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3.9.5 Iron aluminide
Iron-aluminium based alloys have been considered as coating for the protection of water wall boiler tubes found
in coal-fired furnaces. These iron-aluminium based alloys are potentially good candidates for boiler tube coatings
because they have excellent corrosion resistance in a wide range of high temperature gaseous environments including
highly sulfidizing environments.
These coatings are advantageous over commercial alloys such as stainless steels and ni-based super alloys,
because they are significantly less expensive than the commercial alloy , they do not experience micro segregation as
seen in the ni-based super alloys and they do not from a brittle interface at the fusion zone as seen in some stainless
steel weld overlays.
Studies have shown that increasing the aluminium content of fe-al based alloy increases the corrosion
resistance of the alloy in high temperature environments containing oxygen and sulphur 2,4,5,8.
3.10 methods of coating

The various methods employed in coating are:
 Electrodeposited inter metallic coatings
 Weld overlay coatings
 Thermal sprays coatings
3.10.1 Electro deposited inter metallic coatings

Fig. 3.4 shows a boiler tube sample coated by electrodeposited inter metallic coatings
Fig. 3.4 Electro deposited inter metallic coatings
One way to protect boiler tubes against corrosion is to apply a thin layer of pure chromium in an oxiding
environment the chromium layer forms a protective oxide layer which prevents deteriorateion of the underlying steel
tube. This work led to the eventual development of a new type of coating intermetallic Aluminize which can be applied
by a low electro deposition process.

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3.10.2 Weld overlay coatings
Fig 3.5 shows the boiler surface coating with weld overlay coating .
Fig. 3.5 weld overlay coating
The advantage of welded coatings is that they can be applied to the surface of the boiler tubes in the boiler as well
as in a shop, without the usual penalties. However, selection proper weld alloy and control of the weld overlay process
conditions are critical to producing coatings with desired properties.
3.10.3 Thermal spray coatings

Fig 3.6 shows the thermal spray coating equipment
In the application of thermal spray coating, a metal powder is a heated to a high temperature and propelled
toward the boiler tube surface with a high velocity gas or plasma jet. Once at a surface, the particles from a coating.
Thermal spray coating have a advantage of being applied in- situ in the boiler and as a consequence, they are easily
repaired after exposure.
Fig. 3.6 thermal spray coating
IV CONCLUSION
Our project will discusses on three major remedies which reduce the tube failure in Mettur thermal power
station. From the failure data we come to conclude that the three major reasons for the tube failure is fly ash erosion,
long term overheating and steam erosion. Based on the results we obtained, we suggest optimum flue gas velocity is

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9m/sec which would considerably reduced tube failure due to flue gas erosion. The usage of sanicro 25 as tube material
for boiler tubes provides extended tube life due to its better creep strength and this reduces the failure rate due to long
term over heating in boiler tubes. The loss power production and the cost of repair for boiler tubes can be reduced.
Failure due to steam erosion is reduced if coatings such as electro deposited inter metallic coating, weld overlay coating
and thermal spray coating are applied on the boiler tube surface. The above remedies if implemented in power plants
not only reduced tube failure, but also reduce the repair cost of tubes, increase the availability of boiler, less
interruption in power generation. The general suggestion to reduced tube failure is to use low as coal which will
reduced erosion rate and also reduced the major tube failure problems. The future presents several challenges, with
expected tightening electricity market likely to increase the cost of boiler tube failure coming at a time when number of
failures is expected to rise.
REFERENCES
1. GOPALAKRISHNA (2003) “Phosphate induced stress corrosion cracking in a water wall tube from a coal fired boiler” Engineering failure
analysis, volume no 10.
2. M.R. KHAJAVI (2006) “Failure analysis of bank front boiler tubes” Engineering failure analysis, volume no 14.
3. KHALIL RANJBAR (2006) “Failure analysis of boiler cold and hot reheater tubes” Engineering failure analysis, volume no 14.
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Analysis of Tube Failure in Water Tube Boiler

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ISSN (Online) : 2319 - 8753

ISSN (Print) : 2347 - 6710

International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology

International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology, Civil & Mechanical Science (ICABCMS-17)