High temperature In-situ Monitoring of Power Station Steels using Electromagnetic Sensors - POWEREMS
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Abstract
There are currently no techniques available to monitor the microstructural condition of power station steel components in-service (i.e. at elevated temperatures). This problem will become more acute as coal-fuelled power stations are being developed to operate at higher pressures and temperatures to provide greater efficiency; supercritical power stations could produce output efficiencies of 45 to 50 %, compared to subcritical power stations with efficiencies of 30 to 35 %. Operation at 620 deg C is now possible, with further temperature increases to 700 deg C planned by the year 2014. Supercritical power stations also emit up to 25 % less carbon dioxide into the environment (a one percent increase in efficiency gives a two percent drop in emissions such as carbon dioxide, and nitrogen and sulphur oxides). Currently the condition of power station components is monitored during shut down periods, when insulating lagging layers are removed and replicas from the component surface are made. These replicas are examined to determine the microstructural state (degree of degradation, e.g. through carbide population changes) and whether creep cavitation has initiated. Components are removed from service and replaced when end of predicted service life is reached or significant cavitation is detected. However, as the component condition can only be checked during a scheduled shut down period, sections are often replaced prematurely. If failure of a component occurs the economic impact is severe (an unplanned shutdown is estimated to cost approximately 1.5M per day per power station) and there is potentially significant risk to life and the environment. The proposed project is to investigate the potential of a multi-frequency electromagnetic (EM) sensor system for monitoring microstructural changes in power generation steels (e.g. boiler plate and pipe) due to high temperature exposure and creep for both in-service monitoring and evaluation during maintenance periods. The work will involve development of a sensor system for long term use at elevated temperatures, and analysis and modelling of sensor signals relative to microstructural changes in the steels.
Planned Impact
In the broadest sense, the societal and environmental benefits will stem from an ability to provide reliable inspection technologies, in-service for high temperature steels. If failure of a power generation plant component occurs, such as the high temperature process plant pipe failure at Flixborough in 1974, the economic impact is severe (an unplanned shutdown is estimated to cost approximately 1.5M per day per power station) and there is potentially significant risk to life and the environment; and of course the broader effects of potential disruptions to supply. Therefore there is a need for reliable and safe operation of high temperature components such as boiler headers and pipe work in the currently operating power generation plant and for the next generation of super critical power stations. The benefits in terms of increased efficiency and reductions in CO2 emissions for super critical power stations are substantial (increasing output efficiencies by approximately 15%, and up to 25 % less carbon dioxide emitted), however the increased risk of component failure requires enhanced inspection technologies. The industrial partners in the projet are four key stakeholders in the supply chain for the new systems. Each of the partners will benefit significantly from the research; for example e-on and Alstom will gain new capability to inspect performance and assess safety critical high temperature components. Corus have seen significant impact from the previous work we have undertaken in this area, in terms of proto-type sensors having been installed in their mills for high temperature microstructural assessment and they will gain further benefit in terms of the scientific understanding generated and the sensor development in this work. TWI will advance their understanding of high temperature NDT of microstructure, which will improve the services they offer to member companies, including within the power generation community. There is significant market potential associated with the sale of monitoring and inspection equipment. The estimated system cost, 30k (based on systems of comparable complexity / importance) for the proposed equipment being developed in this project makes the sensor attractive for multiple installations in power stations, which, coupled with the large number of power stations world-wide indicates significant potential for exploitation, plans for which are already in place based on experience from previous projects. In addition we would reasonably expect spin-off applications to arise in other areas, as we have seen from our previous work.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Anthony Peyton (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Balamurugan S
(2013)
Prediction of interlamellar pearlite spacing of tyre bead wires after patenting using electromagnetic techniques
in Insight - Non-Destructive Testing and Condition Monitoring
Liu J
(2015)
Electromagnetic evaluation of the microstructure of Grade 91 tubes/pipes
in International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping
Davis C
(2013)
Overview of non-destructive evaluation of steel microstructures using multifrequency electromagnetic sensors
in Ironmaking & Steelmaking
Wilson J
(2014)
Measurement of the magnetic properties of P9 and T22 steel taken from service in power station
in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Karimian N
(2014)
Differential permeability behaviour of P9 and T22 power station Steels
in Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
Liu J
(2013)
Magnetic Evaluation of Microstructure Changes in 9Cr-1Mo and 2.25Cr-1Mo Steels Using Electromagnetic Sensors
in Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A
Yin W
(2012)
Measurement of electromagnetic properties of power station steels
in NDT & E International
Zhu W
(2012)
Evaluation of rail decarburisation depth using a H-shaped electromagnetic sensor
in NDT & E International
Zhou L
(2014)
Quantification of the phase fraction in steel using an electromagnetic sensor
in NDT & E International
Liu J
(2012)
Measurement of microstructure changes in 9Cr-1Mo and 2.25Cr-1Mo steels using an electromagnetic sensor
in Scripta Materialia
Description | This project has investigated the changes in the magnetic properties of high temperature steel used in the power industry such as P90 and P91 and we have shown that the microsrtuctural changes in the material as a result of operating at elevated temperatures for long periods of time can be measured and monitored with a variety of magnetic parameters, such as an increase in incremental permeability, a reduction in coercivity and changes in Barkhausen emission. |
Exploitation Route | The specific changes in magnetic properties could be used to develop a portable monitoring device to inspect the microstructural degradation during service inspestions to complement hardness tests. The project resulted in demonstration sensors that we were able to test on industrial pipes during high temperature ageing experiments. |
Sectors | Electronics Energy |
Description | This project had impact in two areas. The first is in the hot processing of steel, where it led to a series of follow on projects (EPSRC, EU and industry) and commercial developments to deploy the new sensor technology on-line in partnership with Tata Steel and Primetals Technologies. This system has been in operation for several years, see the description for ASAP project. Second is the research into new magnetic sensors for non-destructive testing of high temperature creep resistant steels with ETD Consulting and clients in the power sector. This second area is still on-going and so far producing promising results. |
First Year Of Impact | 2003 |
Sector | Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | Product uniformity control |
Amount | € 416,248 (EUR) |
Funding ID | RFSR-CT-2013-00031 |
Organisation | Research Fund for Coal and Steel |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 06/2013 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | UK & India Partnership in Advanced Manufacturing Research Challenges |
Amount | £623,165 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/K027700/1 and EP/K027956/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 02/2017 |
Description | Alstom - contribution to PowerEMS and ASAP |
Organisation | Alstom |
Department | Alstom UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Project partners in the PowerEMS and ASAP projects |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of samples and expertise.Facilitating access to technical resources |
Impact | Progress on understanding the response of P90 type steels, which are widely used in the power industry, to electromagnetic sensors. Realization of demonstration systems. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | E On - contribution to PowerEMS and ASAP |
Organisation | E ON |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Project partners in the PowerEMS and ASAP projects |
Collaborator Contribution | Supply of samples and expertise. Site visits and facilitating access to technical resources |
Impact | Progress on understanding the response of P90 type steels, which are widely used in the power industry, to electromagnetic sensors. Realization of demonstration systems. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | PowerEMS - Tata Steel |
Organisation | Tata Steel Europe |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Project partners in the PowerEMS project |
Collaborator Contribution | Project partners in the PowerEMS project - supply of materials and expertise |
Impact | Longstanding multidisciplinary collaboration to apply the sensors developed during EPSRC project to steel production processes |