Influence of Accumulated Damage on the Experimental Resource of the Boiler Unit Drum of the Thermal Power Plant

Goal of the work is to develop a methodology for researching the possibility of further exploitation of drums of boiler units of thermal power plants after exhausting their park resource. Significance. During long-term operation of the drums of boiler units of TPP power units, which work under the action of high pressure, elevated temperature, repeatedly changing cyclic loads, the influence of a corrosive-active working environment, a water-steam mixture, the stressed metal of the drums degrades, various kinds of defects are formed in the vicinity of the stress concentrators and damage that can lead to failure and even large-scale catastrophic destruction. The proposed method makes it possible to establish the residual operational resource of the drums and outline the ways of their more economical operation. Method. The method of computer modeling of the processes of deformation of the drum of a high-pressure boiler under different modes of its operation is built on the basis of spatial-three-dimensional thermoelasticity ratios using the finite element method. Results. The developed technique makes it possible to establish the total value of the parameter of the accumulated damage of the metal of the drum and its residual operational resource. Scientific novelty. A methodology for researching the condition of drums of boiler units of thermal power plants according to the level of accumulated metal damage has been developed, taking into account the determined maximum stresses under different modes of their industrial operation. Practical significance. The proposed modeling technique will make it possible to establish the remaining operational resource of the drums of boiler units of thermal power plants and outline the ways of their more economical operation.