Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Leakage on Water Cooling Distribution Pipe in a Hydroelectric Power Plant

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

Abstract

This paper reported the investigation of leakage occurred on the water cooling distribution pipe in a 175 MW hydroelectric power plant. The pipe has been used around 2 years. The pipe has a function to flow through the cooling water from penstock to the heat exchanger. The leakage of the pipe caused the system was shut down and impacted on economic losses. Nondestructive, chemical, mechanical and metallography tests were carried out in this investigation. Based on chemical composition, hardness and microstructure analysis confirmed that the pipe was made of low-carbon steel and met with the standard of ASTM A595 grade A, which is suitable for water pipeline. Nondestructive inspection found that the surface of inner wall of the pipe experienced erosion–corrosion and from metallography analysis, it is strongly evidenced that the leakage occurred on the base metal due to the severe erosion–corrosion at the localized area. The severe erosion–corrosion occurred was induced by the elbow of the pipe and the excessive root penetration causing flow turbulence and continuing to progressive wall thinning of the pipe.

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

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P.K. Nag, Power Plant Engineering, 4th edn. (McGraw Hill Education, India, 2017)

    Google Scholar 

  2. P. Sarin, V.L. Snoeyink, J. Bebee, W.M. Kriven, J.A. Clement, Physico-chemical characteristic of corrosion scales in old iron pipes. Water Res. 35, 2961–2969 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. B. Wilmot, R. Thompson, W. Barnett, Corrosion of hot dip galvanized piping used for re-circulating mine water. Hot Dip Galvaniz. Today 3(2), 33–37 (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  4. C.-H. Bae, N.-S. Park, S.-Y. Park, H.-D. Lee, S.-H. Hong, Assessment of galvanized steel pipes for water service in buildings by direct diagnosis method. J. Water Supply Res. Technol. 56(5), 335–342 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. B. Pawlowski, J. Krawczyk, P. Bala, The premature deterioration of zinc-coated steel pipes in water distribution system. Int. J. Mater. Mech. Eng. 2, 43–47 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  6. J.P. Berge, J. Ducreux, P. Saint-Paul, Effects of chemistry on corrosion-erosion of steels in water and wet steam. Water Chem. 2, 19–23 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  7. ASTM E165/E165M-12, Standard Practice for Liquid Penetrant Examination for General Industry (ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. ASTM A595/A595M – 14, Standard Specification for Steel Tubes, Low-Carbon or High-Strength Low-Alloy, Tapered for Structural Use (ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 2014)

    Google Scholar 

  9. E.S. Firoozabad, B.G. Jeon, H.S. Choi, N.S. Kim, Failure criterion for steel pipe elbows under cyclic loading. Eng. Fail. Anal. 66, 515–525 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. N.A. Barton, Erosion in elbows in hydrocarbon production systems: review document, research report 115. Health & Safety Executive (2003)

  11. A. Rao, Chemistry of Water (New Age International, New Delhi, 2008)

    Google Scholar 

  12. H. Ramos, A.B. Almeida, M. Portela, H.P. Almeida, Guideline for Design of Small Hydropower Plants (Western Regional Energy Agency and Network and Department of Economic Development-Energy Division, Belfast, 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Engineering Standards Manual ISD 341-2, ASME B31.3 “Process Piping: Acceptance Criteria” (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, 2006)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Nurbanasari.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nurbanasari, M., Purwanto, T.S., Piliang, R.S. et al. Leakage on Water Cooling Distribution Pipe in a Hydroelectric Power Plant. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 19, 412–417 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-019-00610-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-019-00610-4

Keywords

Navigation