During LaCygne Station's May 2008 maintenance refuel outage, severe degradation was observed on the takeoff line to the reheat desuperheater.  The line is welded directly to the boiler feed pump and operates at feedwater conditions (approximately 2000 psi and 400 degrees F).  Pictures of the failure are available below. 

Note the "orange peel" surface morphology typical of single-phase FAC at the elbow end of the removed section.  Also note the gouging in the straight section.

The removed section has been in service since startup. The portion downstream of the removed section was replaced seven years ago due to excessive wear.

Images Click the thumbnails below to see the detailed images.

General area. Note cut pipe at bottom of frame.	General area.	General area.
General area.	Foreground shows upstream end (welded to pump).	Removed piece. Left end is upstream.
Removed section, looking into elbow (downstream) end.	Removed section, looking into elbow end.	Removed section, looking into elbow end.
Pipe ID, looking downstream (towards elbow).	Pipe ID, looking downstream (towards elbow). Note gouging.	Boiler feedwater pump. Pipe was welded to casing (center of image), elbow was welded to gridded pipe.

 

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La Cygne Power Plant, Linn, Kansas

 

 

keywords:  Flow accelerated corrosion, KCPL, LaCynge, FAC, erosion-corrosion.

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Last Update: May 10, 2008 08:25 AM