The paper discusses recent advances in methods of measuring tube temperature, corrosion and erosion rates in boiler tubes. A range of techniques in different stages of development are described which allow an "effective" average temperature between outages to be assessed, each dependent on a different diffusion controlled process. Accurate high temperature metrology methods are now available which can give an accuracy of ± 2 μm and thus give significant measurements in a much shorter time than in the past. On-line corrosion monitors are being developed which give a significant response in periods of hours or days. These techniques should allow the effects of operating variables on corrosion rates to be determined. Thin layer activation is being transferred from the laboratory to operating power plant for measuring erosion. This technique allows wastage to be measured remotely and on-line with no direct contact between the activated area and the gamma ray detector outside the unit.

Subject
Materials, Corrosion rate, Oxides, Probes, Diffusion, Tubes, Thickness measurement, Oxide thickness, Corrosion detection, Metal loss, Erosion, Boilers, Steam
Keywords:
boiler tubes, corrosion, erosion, temperature, on-line monitoring
© 1996 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1996
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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