Patent Application
20200240627
The present disclosure relates to a boiler tube reinforcement device and a boiler tube reinforcement method.
For example, a boiler for power generation that is installed in a thermal power plant to rotate a turbine includes: an economizer that preheats boiler feed water; a water-cooled wall that forms a housing of the boiler and converts the boiler feed water into saturated steam; a superheater that further heats the saturated steam to be converted into superheated steam; a reheater that reheats steam from the turbine to be supplied to the turbine again; pipes that guide steam from the superheater and reheater to a steam turbine; and the like. The above pipes that guide steam from the superheater and reheater to the steam turbine are constituted by boiler tubes made of heat-resistant steel (for example, low-alloy steel). When the boiler for power generation is activated, high temperature and high pressure steam flows through the boiler tubes, and when the boiler for power generation is halted, the high temperature and high pressure steam flowing through the boiler tubes stop flowing. That is, in association with the activation and halt of the boiler for power generation, thermal stress is created in the boiler tubes. When the boiler for power generation continues to be used over a long period of time, creep-fatigue damage is created in the boiler tubes due to the thermal stress, which may cause deformation such as an increase in diameter of the boiler tubes, occurrence of deformation in a weld portion, and the like. Thus, to prevent an accident caused by deterioration of such a boiler tube, the deterioration condition of the boiler tube is periodically inspected, and trend management with respect to bulging out, reduced thickness, and the like as described above is implemented (for example, Patent Literature 1).
When the boiler tube is diagnosed as having creep-fatigue damage progressing and a remaining life shorter than a predetermined time period, as a result of an inspection of the deterioration condition of the boiler tube, the corresponding part of the boiler tube needs to be replaced with a new boiler tube. However, such replacement of the boiler tube requires operations of cutting and welding the boiler tube, and thus a shutdown period of the boiler for power generation may be prolonged.
One or more embodiments of the invention provide a boiler tube reinforcement device and a boiler tube reinforcement method capable of increasing a life of a boiler tube with creep-fatigue damage.
A boiler tube reinforcement device in accordance with one or more embodiments is configured to reinforce a boiler tube, the boiler tube including a first boiler tube, a second boiler tube, and a weld portion, the weld portion joining edges of the first boiler tube and the second boiler tube together, and the boiler tube reinforcement device includes: a sheet-shaped first steel plate configured to be wrapped in a region including the weld portion of the boiler tube, to reinforce the boiler tube, the first steel plate including a plurality of bending portions, the bending portions being formed along a longitudinal direction of the boiler tube and formed at regular intervals along a circumferential direction of the boiler tube, so that the first steel plate is easily wrapped in the region of the boiler tube.
Other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from descriptions of the accompanying drawings and of the present specification.
According to one or more embodiments, it becomes possible to reinforce a boiler tube so as to minimize thermal stress (bending force, etc.) of a weldportion in the boiler tube, thereby being able to increase a life of the boiler tube as well as enhance safety of a power plant.
At least the following matters will become apparent from descriptions of the present specification and of the accompanying drawings.
Note that, in the following description, an X-axis is an axis along a longitudinal direction of the boiler tube, and a YZ-plane formed with a Y-axis and a Z-axis is a surface parallel to a cross-section of the boiler tube. It should be noted that a description will be made while the same parts or elements in
For example, in a thermal power plant, a fuel such as coal is supplied to a boiler to generate heat within the boiler. The generated heat is provided to fluid circulating through pipes in a water-cooled wall, a superheater, a reheater, etc., in the boiler, to obtain high temperature and high pressure gas by evaporating, superheating, and reheating. Such high temperature and high pressure gas is used to drive a steam turbine, etc.
In the above-described process of power generation, the high temperature and high pressure fluid or gas (hereinafter, referred to as “thermal fluid”) circulates through boiler tubes. Since thermal stress is generated in such boiler tubes by thermal fluid, creep-fatigue damage may be caused therein.
Thermal stress indicates stress that acts on the boiler tube according to such a force that the boiler tube will expand or contract, for example, with heat obtained from the thermal fluid circulating through the boiler tube. In specific, for example, in the case where both ends of the boiler tube are fixed, free expansion of the boiler tube is restricted when the boiler tube is heated. This causes an expansion force due to thermal stress to act on the boiler tube. Further, in the case where both ends of the boiler tube are fixed and the boiler has a bend, a bending force or twisting force caused by thermal stress acts particularly on or around such a bend portion due to free expansion of the boiler tube when heated.
Creep-fatigue damage indicates damage caused by creep deformation of the boiler tube. Creep deformation indicates a phenomenon where, for example, in a high-temperature environment, when the boiler tube is under a predetermined stress, the boiler tube deforms with time. That is, creep-fatigue damage may be caused in the boiler tube by the above-described thermal stress under high-temperature environment of a power plant.
Accordingly, the reinforcement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided to an outer peripheral surface including a circumferential weld portion of the boiler tube so as to minimize such expansion force, bending force, and twisting force caused by thermal stress, for example, to prevent the creep-fatigue damage in the circumferential weld portion of the boiler tube, thereby reinforcing the boiler tube.
Hereinafter, a reinforcement device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to
The reinforcement device 10 is a device to reinforce the boiler tube 100 by being wound/wrapped on an outer peripheral surface of the boiler tube 100, so that creep-fatigue damage of the boiler tube 100 caused by thermal stress is minimized. Here, being wound/wrapped indicates being wound/wrapped in a region corresponding to one turn on a peripheral surface (360 degrees about the central axis), in the peripheral surface furthest from the central axis in a cross section (YZ-plane) of the boiler tube 100. The same applies to the following description. As illustrated in
The reinforcement device 10 is wrapped around the boiler tube 100 so as to straddle this circumferential weld portion 110, to reinforce the boiler tube 100 so that the thermal stress is minimized. Note that the reinforcement device 10 according to the first embodiment needs to be designed in advance corresponding to the outer diameter of the boiler tube 100. As illustrated in
The steel strip 11 will be described with reference to
The steel strip 11 is a member to be wound on an outer peripheral surface of the boiler tube 100, for example, so as to reinforce the circumferential weld portion 110 against thermal stress. The steel strip 11 is, for example, a member to minimize particularly the expansion force and twisting force among the forces caused by the thermal stress generated in the boiler tube 100 in a state where the steel strip 11 has been wound on the outer peripheral surface of the boiler tube 100. The steel strip 11 has, for example, a belt shape with a width of about 3 cm and a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and is made of heat-resistant steel (for example, stainless steel SUS316, SUS304).
As illustrated in
As described above, the steel strip 11 is in surface contact with the boiler tube 100 and is wound in parallel. This can minimize the expansion force caused by thermal stress in the boiler tube 100. Further, the steel strip 11 is welded to the boiler tube 100 and the steel strip 11 is also welded between the upper and lower sides where the parts of the steel strip 11 are laminated. This can minimize the twisting force caused by thermal stress in the boiler tube 100. As illustrated in
In the above description, the steel strip 11 has been described as being wound in parallel so as not to form unevenness, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the steel strip 11 may be wound in parallel such that parts of the steel strip 11 adjacent to each other along the X-axis overlap each other or the steel strip 11 may be wound with a slight gap between the parts of the steel strip 11. Further, in the above description, the steel strip 11 has been described as being wound in a multiple manner so as to be laminated, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the steel strip 11 may be wrapped with one layer, as long as being wrapped with the steel strip 11 and the reinforcement steel plate 12, which will be described later, in alternate and multiple manner. Further, in the above description, the steel strip 11 is described as having a width of about 3 cm and a thickness of about 0.3 mm, but it is not limited thereto. The width and the thickness of the steel strip 11 are not to be limited, but these numerical values are preferable values based on the result of design in one or more embodiments. Further, in the above description, the steel strip 11 is described as being made of a stainless steel material, but it is not limited thereto. For example, any material may be used as long as the material is higher in strength against thermal stress and is more stable against corrosion than the material of the boiler tube 100.
The reinforcement steel plate 12 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to
The reinforcement steel plate 12 is, for example, a member to reinforce the circumferential weld portion 110 against thermal stress by being wrapped over the steel strip 11 that has been wound on the outer peripheral surface of the boiler tube 100. The reinforcement steel plate 12 is, for example, a member to minimize particularly the bending force among the forces caused by thermal stress generated in the boiler tube 100, in a state where the reinforcement steel plate 12 is wrapped over the steel strip 11 around the boiler tube 100. That is, the reinforcement steel plate 12 is a member to be wrapped over the steel trip 11 to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the bending force, which is not easily suppressed by the steel strip 11. Further, as illustrated in
The reinforcement steel plate 12 is, for example, sheet-shaped, and made of heat-resistant steel (for example, stainless steel SUS316 and SUS304). The size of the reinforcement steel plate 12 is not limited thereto, as long as having a size capable of covering a region including the steel strip 11 or the circumferential weld portion 110. As illustrated in
The thick steel portions 12A are, for example, portions to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the bending force caused by thermal stress, so as to supplement the reinforcement effect of the steel strip 11 against thermal stress. As illustrated in
The thin steel portions 12B are, for example, portions to facilitate wrapping when the reinforcement steel plate 12 is wrapped around the boiler tube 100. The thin steel portions 12B are, as illustrated in
The holes 12C are, for example, portions to facilitate wrapping when the reinforcement steel plate 12 is wrapped around the boiler tube 100. The holes 12C are portions provided in the thin steel portions 12B, so that the thin steel portions 12B are bent more flexibly. The holes 12C each have, for example, a substantially quadrangular shape with rounded corners. As illustrated in
Further, the size of the holes 12C is not limited thereto, as long as the holes 12C are provided within the range of the thin steel portions 12B.
In the above description, the reinforcement steel plate 12 is described as being wrapped over the steel strip 11, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the reinforcement steel plate 12 may be directly wrapped around the boiler tube 100, to weld and fix the thick steel portions 12A of the reinforcement steel plate 12. Further, in the above description, the reinforcement steel plate 12 is described as being made of a stainless steel material, but it is not limited thereto. For example, any material may be used, as long as it has higher strength against thermal stress and is more stable against corrosion than the material of the boiler tube 100. Further, in the above description, the thick steel portions 12A of the reinforcement steel plate 12 are described as having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, but it is not limited thereto. The thickness of the thick steel portions 12A is not limited thereto, as long as it ensures the strength to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the thermal stress. Further, in the above description, spot welding is performed at the thick steel portions 12A, but it is not limited thereto. For example, welding may be performed at the thin steel portions 12B. In the above description, the shape of the holes 12C is described as having a substantially quadrangular shape, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the shape may be oval, and the shape having rounded corners is preferable in one or more embodiments.
Hereinafter, a procedure of using the reinforcement device 10 according to the first embodiment will be described.
A worker checks the circumferential weld portion 110 of the boiler tube 100, to check the deterioration condition of a surrounding region including the circumferential weld portion 110. At this time, the worker checks the presence/absence of irregularities, flaws, cracks, etc. in the boiler tube 100. When the boiler tube 100 is ready to be mounted with the reinforcement device 10, the worker starts mounting work of the reinforcement device 10.
The worker welds and fixes a short side portion (not shown) of the steel strip 11 to the boiler tube 100. The position at which the short side portion is welded is determined considering the length of the steel strip 11 and the position of the circumferential weld portion 110. After the short side of the steel strip 11 and the boiler tube are welded and fixed to each other, the steel strip 11 is wound along the circumferential surface of the boiler tube 100. Winding of the steel strip 11 is performed, as illustrated in
When the steel strip 11 has been mounted, the worker winds the reinforcement steel plate 12 over the steel strip 11. At this time, the worker welds and fixes the thick steel portions 12A to the steel strip 11 such that the direction along the thick steel portions 12A of the reinforcement steel plate 12 and the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the boiler tube 100 are aligned to each other. The worker wraps the reinforcement steel plate 12, over the steel strip 11, around the boiler tube 100 and welds the reinforcement steel plate 12 at regular intervals to fix it to the steel strip 11. When the reinforcement steel plate 12 has been mounted, the worker further winds the steel strip 11 on the reinforcement steel plate 12. The above operations are repeated to reinforce the boiler tube 100.
Due to the above-described mounting work, the boiler tube 100 can minimize the occurrence of creep fatigue damage, etc., caused by the expansion force, bending force, and twisting force resulting from thermal stress.
The reinforcement device 10 according to a second embodiment is different, in only the structure of a reinforcement steel plate (sheet) 22, from the reinforcement device 10 according to the first embodiment. Thus, in the following description, only a reinforcement steel plate 22 will be described, while the descriptions of the steel strip 11 and a usage procedure is omitted as being the same as those in the reinforcement device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, for convenience of explanation, when describing the reinforcement steel plate 22 according to the second embodiment with reference to
As illustrated in
The reinforcement steel plate 22 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to
The reinforcement steel plate 22 is, for example, a member to reinforce the circumferential weld portion 110 against thermal stress by being wrapped over the steel strip 11 that has been wound around the boiler tube 100. The reinforcement steel plate 22 is, for example, a member to minimize particularly the bending force among the forces caused by thermal stress generated in the boiler tube 100, in a state where the reinforcement steel plate 22 is wrapped, over the steel strip 11, around the boiler tube 100. That is, the reinforcement steel plate 22 is a member to be wrapped over the steel trip 11, to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the bending force, which is not easily suppressed with the steel strip 11. Further, as illustrated in
The reinforcement steel plate 22 is, for example, sheet-shaped, and is made of heat-resistant steel (for example, stainless steel SUS316 and SUS304). The size of the reinforcement steel plate 22 is not limited thereto, as long as the size is capable of covering a region including the steel strip 11 or the circumferential weld portion 110. As illustrated in
The thick steel portions 22A are, for example, portions to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the bending force caused by thermal stress, so as to supplement the steel strip 11 against thermal stress. As illustrated in
The thin steel portions 22B are, for example, portions to facilitate wrapping when the reinforcement steel plate 22 is wrapped around the boiler tube 100. The thin steel portions 22B are, as illustrated in
The depressions 22C are, for example, portions to facilitate wrapping when the reinforcement steel plate 22 is wrapped around the boiler tube 100. The depressions 22C are portions provided in the thin steel portions 22B, and are to bend the thin steel portions 22B more flexibly. The depressions 22C each have, for example, a substantially quadrangular shape with rounded corners. As illustrated in
In the above description, the reinforcement steel plate 22 is described as being wrapped over the steel strip 11, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the reinforcement steel plate 22 may be directly wrapped around the boiler tube 100, to perform welding and fixing at the thick steel portions 22A of the reinforcement steel plate 22. Further, in the above description, the reinforcement steel plate 22 is described as being made of a stainless steel material, but it is not limited thereto. For example, any material may be used, as long as it has higher strength against thermal stress and is more stable against corrosion than the material of the boiler tube 100. Further, in the above description, the thick steel portions 22A of the reinforcement steel plate 22 are described as having a thickness of about 0.3 mm, but it is not limited thereto. The thickness of the thick steel portions 22A is not limited thereto, as long as it ensures the strength to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the thermal stress. Further, in the above description, the spot welding is performed onto the thick steel portions 22A, but it is not limited thereto. For example, welding may be performed at the thin steel portions 22B. In the above description, the shape of the depressions 22C is described as having a substantially quadrangular shape, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the shape may be oval, and it is preferable in one or more embodiments that the shape has rounded corners.
As has been described above, a reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is a reinforcement device 10 configured to reinforce a boiler tube 100, the boiler tube 100 including a boiler tube 100 on one side, a boiler tube 100 on the other side, and a circumferential weld portion 110, the circumferential weld portion joining edges of the boiler tube 100 on one side and the boiler tube 100 on the other side together, the reinforcement device 10 comprising: a sheet-shaped reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) configured to be wrapped in a region including the circumferential weld portion 110 of the boiler tube 100, to reinforce the boiler tube 100, the reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) including a plurality of thin steel portions (12B, 22B), the thin steel portions (12B, 22B) being formed along a longitudinal direction of the boiler tube 100 and formed at regular intervals along a circumferential direction of the boiler tube 100, so that the reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) is easily wrapped in the region including the circumferential weld portion 110 of the boiler tube 100. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the expansion force and the bending force among thermal stresses. This can suppress creep-fatigue damage of the boiler tube 100, thereby being able to enhance safety of a facility.
Further, in the reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) is formed to have a thickness, at positions of the plurality of thin steel portions (12B, 22B), smaller than a thickness at thick steel portions (12A, 22A) other than the thin steel portions (12B, 22B). According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to wind the reinforcement device 10 around the boiler tube 100, while maintaining the reinforcement strength of the boiler tube 100 against thermal stress, thereby being able to enhance work efficiency.
Further, in the reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of thin steel portions 12B each include a plurality of holes 12C, the holes 12C being formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the boiler tube 100. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate winding of the reinforcement device 10 around the boiler tube 100 while maintaining the reinforcement strength of the boiler tube 100 against thermal stress, thereby being able to enhance work efficiency.
Further, in the reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of thin steel portions 22B each include a plurality of depressions 22C, the depressions 22C being formed at regular intervals along the longitudinal direction of the boiler tube 100. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to facilitate winding of the reinforcement device 10 around the boiler tube 100 while maintaining the reinforcement strength of the boiler tube 100 against thermal stress, thereby being able to enhance work efficiency.
Further, the reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, further comprises: a band-shaped steel strip 11 configured to be wound in the region including the circumferential weld portion 110 of the boiler tube 100, to reinforce the boiler tube 100, wherein the reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) is wrapped over the steel strip 11 as well as welded to the steel strip 11. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to reinforce the boiler tube 100 against the twisting force in addition to the expansion force and bending force, among thermal stresses. This can suppress creep-fatigue damage of the boiler tube 100, thereby being able to enhance safety of a facility.
Further, in the reinforcement device 10 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the reinforcement steel plate (12, 22) and the steel strip 11 are alternately wound or wrapped on the boiler tube 100. According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to suppress creep-fatigue damage of the boiler tube 100 more and enhance safety of a facility more, as compared with a case of single winding.
The embodiments are intended for easy understanding of the present disclosure and are not in any way to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be modified and improved without departing from the scope of the disclosure, and equivalents thereof are also encompassed by the disclosure. Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-042159 | Mar 2016 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2016/063547 | 5/2/2016 | WO | 00 |
