Aging plants are vulnerable to prolonged exposure to high temperatures and pressures, corrosion and cycling strain. By safely extending the life of aging or damaged components, utilities can prevent failures, reduce availability losses and outage time, and cut operations, maintenance and replacement costs. This can be achieved through corrosion fatigue and fitness-for-service analyses Plant Life Extension (PLEX) procedures. Components such as header piping, steam piping, turbine casings, and vessels can develop damage mechanisms which include:
- Stress-Corrosion Cracking
- Weldment Cracking Due to Corrosion Fatigue
- Creep Rupture Damage
- Creep Ratcheting
Inspections and weld repair techniques can be used to extend the life of aging plants by at least twenty years. O'Donnell Consulting Engineers has the experience in Plant Life Extension techniques to enable power plants to reach their maximum useful lives.
Call us for help with your plant life extension issues.