Monitoring program for material's degradation during exploitation and assessment of structure safety for lifetime extension

Abstract

Details of the evaluation and tracking of the material condition of the steam boiler's pipe system, which works on high temperature, were made on the basis of calculations of the theoretically working age of the steam line's element. This calculation presents the calculation of material degradation caused by crawling and small periodic fatigue. This work shows a program especially used for tracking the material's behavior of a pipe system in exploitation. This program was based on the calculation of maximal effort in the wall of each steam line's part. This calculation depends on the measure of temperature, pressure, and the smallest thickness of this element's wall. In that way, it is possible to make the total level of material degradation. It can be concluded that this way of tracking and calculation presents the basis for a timely decision about repair, sanitation, exchange, or plant revitalization of critical components, which can make its longer-lived extension.