Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Metallurgical Failure Analysis of a Fractured Steam Control Valve Stem

  • Case History---Peer-Reviewed
  • Published:
Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One fractured steam control valve stem was provided for metallurgical failure analysis. The specified material of manufacture for the steam control valve stem was Incoloy 901 alloy. The valve stem was nitrided, but the nitriding process was masked at the location of the fracture. The valve was reported from a throttling type service in a steam turbine subject to steam-induced turbulence while in a free state. The steam was reportedly held at a temperature of 1050°F under a pressure of 2400 psig. When the valve was in a closed position, the stem was subject to compression or buckling forces under a seating load of 13,000 lbs. The valve was in a guide bushing with a diameter of 2 in. It was requested that the fractured steam control valve stem could be evaluated to determine potential causes for failure. The scope of the project consisted of visual inspection, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, tensile testing, hardness testing, chemical analysis, and metallographic analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27
Fig. 28
Fig. 29
Fig. 30
Fig. 31
Fig. 32

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metallurgical Engineering Department, Element New Berlin, 3200 S. 166th Street, New Berlin, WI, USA

    Craig J. Schroeder

Authors
  1. Craig J. Schroeder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Craig J. Schroeder.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schroeder, C.J. Metallurgical Failure Analysis of a Fractured Steam Control Valve Stem. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 15, 370–378 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-9957-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-9957-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation