High temperature creep and hydrogen embrittlement failure of a steam trap bypass tube

Abstract

A coal fired power plant with its normal operation temperature of 540°C in which its steam trap bypass tube in that power plant was totally fractured. The aim of this study is to explore the evidence related to the steam trap bypass tube failure and to determine the failure mechanism and the root cause of the failure and to give an appropriate recommendation. From the evidence with considering the contribution factors such as temperature, pressure and environment, a fault analysis was made and it can be concluded that the cause of failure to the steam trap bypass is due to multi causes which consists of creep failure and hydrogen damage.