STEAM TURBINE CORROSION

AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

by
Otakar Jonas
Consultant
and
Lee Machemer
Senior Engineer
Jonas, Inc.
Wilmington, Delaware

longer blades) resulted in increased stresses and vibration

Otakar Jonas is a Consultant with Jonas, Inc., in Wilmington, problems and in the use of higher strength materials (Scegljajev,
Delaware. He works in the field of industrial and utility steam cycle 1983; McCloskey, 2002; Sanders, 2001). Unacceptable failure
corrosion, water and steam chemistry, reliability, and failure analysis. rates of mostly blades and discs resulted in initiation of numerous
After periods of R&D at Lehigh University and engineering projects to investigate the root causes of the problems (McCloskey,
practice at Westinghouse Steam Turbine Division, Dr. Jonas started 2002; Sanders, 2001; Cotton, 1993; Jonas, 1977, 1985a, 1985c,
his company in 1983. The company is involved in troubleshooting, 1987; EPRI, 1981, 1983, 1995, 1997d, 1998a, 2000a, 2000b, 2001,
R&D (EPRI, GE, Alstom), failure analysis, and in the production 2002b, 2002c; Jonas and Dooley, 1996, 1997; ASME, 1982, 1989;
of special instruments and sampling systems. Speidel and Atrens, 1984; Atrens, et al., 1984). Some of these
Dr. Jonas has a Ph.D. degree (Power Engineering) from the problems persist today. Cost of corrosion studies (EPRI, 2001a,
Czech Technical University. He is a registered Professional Syrett, et al., 2002; Syrett and Gorman, 2003) and statistics (EPRI,
Engineer in the States of Delaware and California. 1985b, 1997d; NERC, 2002) determined that amelioration of
turbine corrosion is urgently needed. Same problems exist in
smaller industrial turbines and the same solutions apply
Lee Machemer is a Senior Engineer at Jonas, Inc., in Wilmington, (Scegljajev, 1983; McCloskey, 2002; Sanders, 2001; Cotton, 1993;
Delaware. He has 13 years of experience with industrial and utility Jonas, 1985a, 1987; EPRI, 1987a, 1998a; Jonas and Dooley, 1997).
steam cycle corrosion, steam cycle and water chemistry, and The corrosion mechanisms active in turbines (stress corrosion
failure analysis. cracking, corrosion fatigue, pitting, flow-accelerated corrosion)
Mr. Machemer received a B.S. degree (Chemical Engineering) are shown in Figure 1.
from the University of Delaware and is a registered Professional
Engineer in the State of Delaware.

ABSTRACT
This tutorial paper discusses the basics of corrosion, steam
and deposit chemistry, and turbine and steam cycle design and
operation—as they relate to steam turbine problems and
problem solutions.
Major steam turbine problems, such as stress corrosion
cracking of rotors and discs, corrosion fatigue of blades, pitting, Figure 1. Corrosion Mechanisms Active in Steam Turbines.
and flow accelerated corrosion are analyzed, and their root
causes and solutions discussed. Also covered are: life prediction, Purpose, Design, and Operation of Steam Turbines
inspection, and turbine monitoring. Case histories are described The steam turbine is the simplest and most efficient engine for
for utility and industrial turbines, with descriptions of root causes converting large amounts of heat energy into mechanical work. As
and engineering solutions. the steam expands, it acquires high velocity and exerts force on the
turbine blades. Turbines range in size from a few kilowatts for one
INTRODUCTION
stage units to 1300 MW for multiple-stage multiple-component
This tutorial paper discusses steam turbine corrosion and depo- units comprising high-pressure, intermediate-pressure, and up to
sition problems, their root causes, and solutions. It also reviews three low-pressure turbines. For mechanical drives, single- and
design and operation, materials, and steam and deposit chemistry. double-stage turbines are generally used. Most larger modern
References are provided at the end of the paper. turbines are multiple-stage axial flow units. Figure 2 shows a
With an increase of generating capacity and pressure of individ- typical tandem-compound turbine with a combined high pressure
ual utility units in the 1960s and 70s, the importance of large steam (HP), intermediate pressure (IP) turbine, and a two-flow low-pressure
turbine reliability and efficiency increased. The associated turbine (LP) turbine. Table 1 (EPRI, 1998a) provides alternate terminology
size increase and design changes (i.e., larger rotors and discs and for several turbine components.
211
212 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

treatment practices coming fast in the last 25 years, experience was

short and limited, and problems developed, which need to be
corrected and considered in new designs and redesigns. While the
turbine seems to be a simple machine, its design, including design
against corrosion, is complex.
There are five areas of design that affect turbine corrosion:
• Mechanical design (stresses, vibration, stress concentrations,
stress intensity factor, frictional damping, benefits of overspeed
and heater box testing)
Figure 2. Typical Tandem Compound, Single Reheat, Condensing
Turbine. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1998a) • Physical shape (stress concentration, crevices, obstacles to flow,
surface finish, crevices)
Table 1. Alternate Terminology for Turbine Components. • Material selection (maximum yield strength, corrosion properties,
material damping, galvanic effects, etc.)
• Flow and thermodynamics (flow excitation of blades, incidence
angle, boundary layer, condensation and moisture, velocity,
location of the salt zone, stagnation temperature, interaction of
shock wave with condensation)
• Heat transfer (surface temperature, evaporation of moisture,
expansion versus stress, heated crevices)

Recognition of these effects led to a formulation of rudimentary

design rules. While the mechanical design is well advanced and the
material behavior is understood, the flow excitation of blades and
the effects of flow and heat transfer on chemical impurities at
surfaces are not fully included in design practices.
Selection of some combinations of these design parameters can
lead to undesirable stresses and impurity concentrations that
stimulate corrosion. In addition, some combinations of dissimilar
materials in contact can produce galvanic corrosion.
Design and material improvements and considerations that
reduce turbine corrosion include:
• Welded rotors, large integral rotors, and discs without
keyways—eliminates high stresses in disc keyways.
• Replacement of higher strength NiCrMoV discs with lower
(yield strength < 130 ksi (896 MPa) strength discs.

Steam enters from the main steam lines through stop and control • Repair welding of discs and rotors; also with 12%Cr stainless
steel weld metal.
valves into the HP section. The first (control) stage is spaced slightly
apart from subsequent stages to allow for stabilization of the flow. • Mixed tuned blade rows to reduce random excitation.
After passing through the HP turbine, cold reheat piping carries the
steam to the reheater (if present) and returns in the hot reheat piping
• Freestanding and integrally shrouded LP blades without tenon
crevices and with lower stresses.
to the integrated HP and IP cylinder to pass through the IP turbine
section. The flow exits the IP turbine through the IP exhaust hood • Titanium LP blades—corrosion resistant in turbine environments
and then passes through crossover piping to the LP turbine and exits except for NaOH.
to the condenser through the LP exhaust. The typical modern steam • Lower stress and stress concentrations—increasing resistance to
turbine has a number of extraction points throughout all sections SCC and CF.
where the steam is used to supply heat to the feedwater heaters.
During its expansion through the LP turbine, the steam crosses • Flow path design using computerized flow dynamics and viscous
the saturation line. The region where condensation begins, termed flow—lower flow induced vibration, which reduces susceptibility
the phase transition zone (PTZ) or Wilson line (Cotton, 1993; to CF.
EPRI, 1997c, 1998a, 2001b), is the location where corrosion • Curved (banana) stationary blades that reduce nozzle passing
damage has been observed. In single reheat turbines at full load, excitation.
this zone is usually at the L-1 stage, which is also in the transonic
flow region where, at the sonic velocity (Mach = 1), sonic shock • New materials for blade pins and bolting—resistant against SCC.
waves can be a source of blade excitation and cyclic stresses • Flow guides and double-ply expansion bellows—reduces
causing fatigue or corrosion fatigue (EPRI, 1997c; Jonas, 1994, impurity concentration, better SCC resistance.
1997; Stastny, et al., 1997; Petr, et al., 1997).
• Moisture extraction to improve efficiency and reduce flow-
Design accelerated corrosion (FAC) and water droplet erosion and use of
alloy steels to reduce FAC.
Because of their long design life, steam turbines go through
limited prototype testing where the long-term effects of material LP Rotor and Discs
degradation, such as corrosion, creep, and low-cycle fatigue,
cannot be fully simulated. In the past, when development was slow, There are three types of construction in use for LP rotors:
relatively long-term experience was transferred into new products. • Built-up (shrunk-on design) with forged shaft onto which discs
With new turbine types, larger sizes, new power cycles, and water are shrunk and keyed,
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 213
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

• Machined from one solid piece (most common), or Blades are connected at the root to the rotor discs by several
configurations (Figure 5). There are several types of serrated
• The discs welded together to form the rotor (Figure 3). attachments: the fir tree configuration, which is inserted into
The rotor and disc construction is governed by the practices of individual axial slots in the disc; and the T-shape, which is inserted
individual manufacturers, capabilities of steel mills, cost, and, into a continuous circumferential slot in the disc. The “finger” type
during the last few decades, by their resistance to SCC. The solid attachment is fitted into circumferential slots in the disc and
and welded rotors do not have a problem with disc bore SCC. The secured by axially inserted pins. All of the blade root designs have
three types, shown in Figure 3, have little effect on the SCC and CF geometries that result in higher local stresses at radii and stress
susceptibilities of the blade attachments. concentrations that promote SCC and CF. The goal of the design
should be to minimize these local tensile stresses.

Figure 3. Three Types of Rotor Construction. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1998a)

Figure 5. Types of Blade Root Attachments. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1998a)
LP Blades
The airfoil of blades may be of constant cross-section for short
Blade and blade path design and material selection influence blades, and twisted for longer ones. The longest blades for the last
blade CF, SCC, pitting, and other forms of damage in many ways few rows of the LP are twisted to match the aerodynamics at
(Sanders, 2001; EPRI, 1981, 1997c, 1998a, 2001b; BLADE-ST ™, different radii and improve aerodynamic efficiency. The longer
2000). The main effects of the blade design on corrosion, corrosion blades are usually connected at the point of highest vibration
fatigue strength, stress corrosion cracking susceptibility, and pitting amplitude to each other by a tie or lashing wire, which reduces
resistance include: vibration of the airfoil. To reduce random excitation, mixed tuning
• Vibratory stresses and their frequencies. of long rotating blades has been used in which adjacent blades have
different resonant frequencies (EPRI, 1998a).
• Maximum service steady stresses and stress concentrations. Stationary blades in LP stages are typically arranged in
• Flow induced vibration and deposition. diaphragms of cast or welded construction. In wet stages,
diaphragms may be made with hollow blade vanes or other design
• Mechanical, frictional, and aerodynamic damping. features as a means of drawing off moisture that would otherwise
Rotating LP turbine blades may be “free standing” (not lead to liquid droplet erosion (EPRI, 2001b). Recently, some
connected to each other), connected in groups, or all blades in the stationary blade designs have also been leaned or bowed,
row may be “continuously” connected by a shroud. Connections improving flow and efficiency and lowering the excitation forces
made at the blade tip are termed shrouds or shrouding. Shrouds on the downstream rotating blades.
may be inserted over tenons protruding above the blade tips and Casings
these tenons then riveted down to secure the shrouds, or they may
consist of integrally forged or machined stubs, which, during Turbine casings must contain the steam pressure and maintain
operation, provide frictional damping of vibration because they support and alignment for the internal stationary components.
touch (Figure 4). This design also eliminates the tenon-shroud They are designed to withstand temperatures and pressures up to
crevices where corrosive impurities could concentrate. In some the maximum steam conditions. Their design has evolved over the
cases, long 180 degree shrouds are used or smaller shroud years and casings are now multiple pressure vessels (for example,
segments are welded together. an inner and outer casing in the HP and IP cylinder, or a triple
casing) allowing smaller pressure drops and thinner wall thickness.
These thinner cross-sections allow for a lower temperature gradient
across the casing section and thus lower thermal stresses. The LP
casing may also be a multiple part design with the inner casing
containing the supports for the diaphragms and the outer casing
directing the exhaust to the condensers.

Design Recommendations for Corrosion Control

New designs, redesigns, and failed components should be
checked to determine if they meet allowable corrosion-related
design specifications and other corrosion related requirements
Figure 4. Typical Turbine Shrouds. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1998a) (Jonas, 1985c).
214 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

In new designs and redesigns of turbine components, use should hydrochloric, sulfuric, carbonic, and organic acids can form (Jonas,
be made of the new design tools, including 3D finite element 1982). It is recommended that their composition and use be carefully
stress and vibration analysis and 3D viscous flow analysis, and controlled to minimize the risk of residual contamination and
consideration of condensation and impurity behavior. Blade subsequent corrosion. For the compounds that can remain on turbine
resonance frequencies should be verified by telemetry. To ensure a surfaces during operation, chlorine and sulfur levels should be
corrosion-free design, a corrosion engineer and a chemist should restricted to low ppm levels in that compound. Of specific concern
be consulted during the design activity. are: MoS2 (Molylube™) (Turner, 1974; Newman, 1974), Loctite™,
The following should be considered in design of steam turbines: thread compounds (Cu, Ni, graphite), and chlorinated solvents.
• Stresses (Jonas, 1985c)—The mechanical design concepts for Materials and Corrosion Data
avoidance of SCC and CF should include an evaluation of the material
corrosion properties and defects that influence susceptibility to SCC There is little variation in the materials used for blades, discs, rotors,
and CF, i.e., threshold stress (σSCC), threshold stress intensity and turbine cylinders, and only a few major changes have been
(KISCC and ⌬KthCF), crack growth rate ((da/dt)SCC and (da/dN)CF), introduced in the last decade. Titanium alloy blades are being slowly
corrosion fatigue limit, pitting rate, and pit depth limit. True introduced for the last LP stages, and better melting practices to
residual stresses (micro and macro) should also be considered. provide control of inclusions and trace elements are being evaluated
Because SCC and CF initiate at surfaces, the maximum surface for discs and rotors. Table 2 (Jonas, 1985a) lists common materials and
stresses must be controlled, usually by control of the elastic stress the typical corrosion mechanisms for the various turbine components.
concentration factor, kt. The stresses should be the lowest in the
“salt zone” region where corrosion is most likely. Table 2. LP Turbine Components, Materials, and Related
Corrosion Mechanisms.
• Vibratory stresses are rarely accurately known, except when
telemetry on operating turbines is performed. The design approach
should be to minimize flow excitation, tune the blades, provide
maximum damping, and perform laboratory and shop stationary
frequency testing. Heater box overspeed and overspeed testing
during operation are generally beneficial in reducing operating
stresses by local plastic deformation.
• Heat transfer and flow (EPRI, 1997c)—Surface temperature
resulting from heat transfer and flow stagnation should be considered
along with its effect on thermodynamic conditions of the impurities
and water film at surfaces (i.e., evaporation of moisture). Flow
effects on blade vibration and deposit formation are complex, and LP rotors are typically constructed of forgings conforming
there are over 15 flow blade excitation mechanisms to be considered. to ASTM A293 (Class 2 to 5) or ASTM A470 (Class 2 to 7),
particularly 3.5NiCrMoV. Shrunk-on discs, when used, are made
• Flow of moisture—To avoid flow-accelerated corrosion (EPRI, from forgings of similar NiCrMoV materials conforming to ASTM
1996; Kleitz, 1994; Jonas, 1985b; Svoboda and Faber, 1984) and A294 (Grade B or C), or ASTM 471 (Classes 1 to 3). The strength
water droplet erosion (Ryzenkov, 2000; Pryakhin, et al., 1984; and hardness of turbine components must be limited because the
Rezinskikh, et al., 1993; Sakamoto, et al., 1992; Povarov, et al., stronger and harder materials become very susceptible to SCC and
1985; Heyman, 1970, 1979, 1992), the flow velocity of wet steam CF (EPRI, 1998a); particularly turbine rotors, discs, and blades
should not exceed the allowable velocity specific to the materials cannot be made from high strength materials.
and moisture chemistry. Regions of high turbulence should be The crack propagation rate increases exponentially with yield
avoided or higher chromium steels should be used. Blade path strength at high yield strength values and SCC starts being influenced
moisture can be extracted. by hydrogen embrittlement. Because of this sensitivity to high yield
strength, practically all turbine discs, fossil and nuclear, with yield
• Crevices—Crevices can act as impurity traps and concentrators, strength higher than ~140 ksi (965 MPa) have been replaced with
facilitate formation of oxygen concentration cells, and may
generate high stresses by the oxide growth mechanism. The worst lower strength materials. Figure 6 is a correlation of crack propagation
crevices are those with corrosive impurities and metal temperature rates versus yield strength for several operating temperatures (Clark,
within the “salt zone.” Some disc bore and keyway and blade et al., 1981). This type of data has been used to predict the remaining
tenon-shroud crevices fall into this category. life and safe inspection interval. There is also an upper temperature
limit for LP rotor and disc steels, ~650⬚F (345⬚C) aimed at avoiding
• Galvanic effects—When dissimilar materials are coupled together, temper embrittlement (EPRI, 1998a).
corrosion of both materials can be affected by the associated shift in
corrosion potentials into the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) or
pitting regions. The more active of the two materials may suffer
galvanic corrosion. In addition, in some environments, the
potential shift could be into the region where one of the coupled
materials is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking or pitting.
• Inspectability—In designing turbine components, the question
of inspectability should be addressed. In particular, crevice
and high stress regions should be reachable using available
inspection techniques.
• Chemical compounds used during machining, cleaning,
nondestructive testing (NDT), and other activities—Many different
chemical compounds are used during manufacture, storage, erection,
and inspection of turbine components. Some of them contain Figure 6. Average Crack Growth Rates Versus Yield Strength
chlorine and sulfur as impurities or as a part of the organic matrix. for Several Operating Temperatures for NiCrMoV Disc Steel.
During thermal decomposition of the residues of these compounds, (Courtesy of Clark, et al., 1981)
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 215
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Since the 1930s, most LP turbine blades have been manufactured
from a 12%Cr stainless steel—typically types AISI 403, 403-Cb, 410,
410-Cb, and 422, depending on the strength required. Types 403 and
410 have better SCC and CF resistance than Type 422, an important
characteristic for use in the wet stages of the LP turbine. There are
numerous specifically customized versions of these generic materials
(Carpenter H-46, Jethete M152 (modified 403), etc.).
The precipitation hardened stainless steels designated 17-4 PH,
15-5PH, and PH13-8Mo have been used for some fossil and
nuclear LP turbine blades. The composition of 17-4PH is 17
percent Cr, 4 percent Ni, and 4 percent Cu. These steels may be
difficult to weld and require post-weld heat treatment. The copper
rich zones in the copper bearing stainless steels are often subject to
selective dissolution, forming pits filled with corrosion products.
These pits can be crack initiation sites.
Titanium alloys, primarily Ti-6Al-4V, have been used for turbine
blades since the early 1960s (EPRI, 1984d, 1984e, 1985c). There
are numerous benefits to using titanium alloy blades, including the
ability to use longer lasting stage blades, favorable mechanical
properties in applications involving high stresses at low temperatures,
excellent corrosion resistance, and resistance to impact and water
droplet erosion damage. Drawbacks to titanium include higher Figure 8. Corrosion Fatigue (Goodman) Diagram for NiCrMoV
cost, difficult machining, and low material damping. Disc Steel; Tested to 108 Cycles. (Courtesy of Haas, 1977)
LP turbine casings are typically constructed of welded and cast
components. Materials acceptable for lower temperatures, such as
carbon steel plate, are used.
Considering the typical steam turbine design life of 25 to 40
years and the relatively high stresses, these materials have been
performing remarkably well. Turbine steels are susceptible to SCC
and CF in environments such as caustic, chlorides, acids,
hydrogen, carbonate-bicarbonate, carbonate-CO2, and, at higher
stresses and strength levels, in pure water and steam.

Corrosion Data
Corrosion data should provide allowable steady and vibratory
stresses and stress intensities for defined design life or inspection
intervals. It is suggested that SCC data include threshold stress
(σSCC), threshold stress intensity (KISCC), crack growth rate
(da/dt), and crack incubation and initiation times. Corrosion
fatigue data should include fatigue limits for smooth and notched
surfaces and proper stress ratios, crack growth data, and corrosion Figure 9. Air Fatigue Strength Reduction of NiCrMoV Disc Steel
fatigue threshold stress intensities. Caused by Pitting (Courtesy of McIntyre, 1979)—Effects of Pit
Examples of the type of data needed are shown in Figures 7 to 9 Density Were Not Investigated.
for the NiCrMoV disc material and in Figure 10 for 12%Cr blade
steel. Properly heat treated 12%Cr blade steel (yield strength 85
ksi, 600 MPa) is not susceptible to stress corrosion cracking and
stress corrosion data are not needed. The data shown in Figures 7
to 10 can be used in turbine disc and blade design in which the
allowable stresses and stress intensities should be below the
threshold values for SCC and CF. The use of these data is outlined
in (Jonas, 1985c).

Figure 7. Stress Corrosion Behavior of NiCrMoV Disc Steel Versus

Yield Strength for “Good” Water and Steam (Compiled from
Published Data); KISCC—Threshold Stress Intensity, σSCC—
Threshold Stress, and da/dtq—Stage 2 Crack Growth Rate. Figure 10. Corrosion Fatigue (Goodman) Diagram for Three
(Courtesy of Jonas, 1985a) Stainless Steel Blading Alloys. (Courtesy of Atrens, et al., 1984)
216 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

The needed data are difficult to obtain because of the long time
needed for testing and because of the great range of possible service
environments and temperatures. There does not seem to be any
universally accepted accelerated test or environment. The KISCC test
in hydrogen sulfide gives a reasonable approximation of KISCC
for low alloy steels, and ultrasonic fatigue tests give usable data to
a high number of cycles that may be usable for turbine design.
As a rule of thumb, the elasticity limit at temperature (usually
between 0.4 and 0.6 of the 0.2 percent yield strength) can be
used as a good estimate of the SCC threshold stress for low and
medium strength materials in mildly corrosive environments. This
is consistent with the oxide film rupture or strain induced cracking Figure 12. Physical-Chemical Processes in LP Turbines.
theory of stress corrosion cracking.
Shot peening (EPRI, 2001b)—has been used as a means of
reducing high surface tensile stresses. At a sufficiently high shot
peening intensity, a surface layer of residual compressive stresses
is produced. One turbine vendor uses shot peening and other
surface treatments extensively and they have almost no SCC of
discs and corrosion fatigue (CF) of turbine blades. There is a
concern that in corrosive environments, pits can grow through the
compressive stress layer into the subsurface region with much
higher tensile stresses.
Other surface treatments for protection against corrosion, such
as coatings and electroplating, have been evaluated (EPRI, 1987a,
1993a, 2001b; Jonas, 1989) and sometimes used. There are now
several suppliers of steam turbine coatings (EPRI, 1987a, 1993a;
Jonas, 1989).

Environment—Stress—Material
Turbine stress corrosion cracking and high- and low-cycle corrosion
fatigue mechanisms are typically governed by a combination of
environmental effects (steam chemistry, temperature, etc.), steady
and vibratory stresses, and material strength, composition, and
defects (Figure 11). It should be noted that even pure water and wet Figure 13. Cross Section of an LP Turbine with the Locations of the
steam can cause cracking of turbine materials, particularly in the Processes Listed in Figure 15-11.
low alloy rotor and disc steels, and that medium and high strength Steam Chemistry
materials are very susceptible to environmentally induced cracking
in any environment, including pure water and steam. Steam chemistry or purity, together with the thermodynamics
and flow design, determines corrosiveness of the deposits and
liquid films on turbine component surfaces (Jonas, 1982, 1985a,
1985d; Jonas and Dooley, 1996, 1997; EPRI, 1984b, 1994a, 1997b,
1997c, 1999; Jonas, et al., 1993; Jonas and Syrett, 1987;
Schleithoff, 1984). In fossil units, the LP turbine requires the lowest
concentration of impurities in the cycle, that is, low parts per billion
concentrations (1 ppb is 1 µg/liter). Steam purity is controlled by
the purity of makeup, condensate, and feedwater and in drum
boilers by boiler water chemistry, boiler pressure, and carryover. As
a minimum, steam purity should be monitored by isokinetic
sampling and by analysis of sodium and cation conductivity (EPRI,
1986, 1994c, 1998b, 1998c, 2002a; Jonas, 2000).
The corrosiveness of the steam turbine environment is caused by
one or more of the following:

Figure 11. Three Components of Turbine Stress Corrosion and

• Concentration of impurities from low ppb levels in steam to
percent levels in steam condensates (and other deposits) resulting
Corrosion Fatigue Cracking in Turbines. in the formation of concentrated aqueous solutions
Turbine environment plays a major role in corrosion during • Insufficient pH control and buffering of impurities by water
operation and layup. The uniqueness of this environment is caused treatment additives such as ammonia
by the phase changes of the working fluid and the impurities carried
by the steam (steam, moisture, liquid films, and deposits). Within
• High velocity and high turbulence flow of low-pH moisture
droplets (FAC)
the steam flow path and on the turbine component surfaces, the
parameters controlling corrosion, such as pH, concentration of salts The situation is generalized in Figure 14, which is a Mollier diagram
and hydroxides, and temperature, can change within a broad range. showing the LP turbine steam expansion line and thermodynamic
Even though steam impurity concentrations are controlled in the regions of impurity concentrations (NaOH, salts, etc.) and
low parts per billion (ppb) range, these impurities can concentrate resulting corrosion. Low volatility impurities in the “salt zone” are
by precipitation, deposition, and by evaporation of moisture to present as concentrated aqueous solutions. The NaCl concentration
percent concentrations, becoming very corrosive (Figures 12 and can be as high as 28 percent. Note that the conditions at the hot
13) (EPRI, 1994a, 1997b, 1997c, 1999; Jonas, et al., 1993). turbine surfaces (in relation to the steam saturation temperature)
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 217
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
can shift from the wet steam region into the salt zone and above. impurities, preservatives, cleaning fluids), chemical cleaning
This can be the reason why disc stress corrosion cracking often (storage of acid in hotwells), nondestructive testing (chlorinated
occurs in the wet steam regions. The surfaces may be hot because cleaning and NDT fluids), and layup (deposits plus humid air).
of heat transfer through the metal or because of the stagnation Many of these corrosive substances may contain high concentrations
temperature effect (zero flow velocity at the surface and change of of sulfur and chloride that could form acids upon decomposition.
kinetic energy of steam into heat). Decomposition of typical organics, such as carbon tetrachloride
occurs at about 300⬚F (150⬚C). The composition of all of the above
compounds should be controlled (maximum of 50 to 100 ppm S
and Cl each has been recommended), and most of them should be
removed before operation.
Molybdenum disulfide, MoS2, has been implicated as a
corrodent in power system applications (Turner, 1974; Newman,
1974). It can cause stress corrosion cracking of superalloys and
steels by producing an acidic environment. Its oxidation products
form low pH solutions of molybdic acid and even ammonium
molybdate, which can form during operation, causing rapid attack
of turbine steels. MoS2 has been used as a thread lubricant and in
the process of disc-rotor assembling when the discs are preheated
and shrunk on the rotors. Analysis of disc bore and keyway
surfaces often reveals the presence of molybdenum and sulfur. In
steam, MoS2 reduces the notch strength of disc steel, to about 30
Figure 14. Mollier Diagram with LP Steam Expansion Line and percent of its strength in air. It has also been implicated in bolt and
Thermodynamic Regions for Impurity Concentration and rotor shaft failures.
Corrosion Mechanisms. Layup corrosion of unprotected turbines increases rapidly when the
relative humidity of air reaches about 60 percent. When salt deposits
The impurity concentration mechanisms include: are present, pitting during unprotected layup is rapid. Pit growth in
turbine blade and rotor alloys in chloride-metal oxide mixtures in wet
• Precipitation from superheated steam and deposition. air is about as fast as in a boiling deaerated 28 percent NaCl solution.
• Evaporation and drying of moisture on hot surfaces. Turbine layup protection by clean dry air is recommended.
• Concentration on oxides by sorption. Progress in controlling turbine corrosion through better control
of the steam chemistry includes (Jonas, 1982, 1985d, 1994; EPRI,
• Nonhomogeneous nucleation of concentrated droplets and crystals 1984b, 1986, 1994a, 1994c, 1997b, 1997c, 1998b, 1998c, 1999,
on surfaces. 2002a; Jonas, et al., 1993, 2000; Jonas and Syrett, 1987;
Schleithoff, 1984, “Progress in...,” 1981):
Dissolved impurities deposit from superheated steam when their
concentration exceeds their solubilities, which sharply decreases as • Decreasing concentration of corrosive impurities in makeup and
the steam expands. Depending on their vapor pressure, they can be feedwater, lower air inleakage and condenser leakage, etc.
present as a dry salt or an aqueous solution. In the wet steam
region, they are either diluted by moisture or could concentrate by
• Oxygenated water treatment for once-through fossil units for
excellent feedwater chemistry and clean boilers.
evaporation on hot surfaces.
The region of passivity for iron and low alloy and carbon steels • Layup protection.
is narrow, falling within the pH range of 6 to 10. Since pH control • Turbine washing after chemical upsets to remove deposited
in a power plant is mostly for the protection of the preboiler cycle impurities.
and the boiler, it often does not match the needs of the turbine
surfaces. The pH in the turbine depends on temperature, mechanical • Reduction or elimination of copper and its oxides and their
and vaporous carryover of impurities, and water treatment synergistic corrosion effects by reducing oxygen concentration,
chemicals from the boiler and their volatility (distribution between operating with a reducing (negative oxidation-reduction potential
the vapor and the surface film). [ORP]) environment and a low ammonia concentration, or by
When hydrochloric acid forms in cycles with ammonia all-volatile replacing copper alloys with steel or titanium.
treatment (by decomposition of chlorinated organics, Cl⫺ leakage PROBLEMS, THEIR
from polishers, or seawater or other cooling water leakage in the
condenser), ammonium chloride forms in the water, and the acid ROOT CAUSES, AND SOLUTIONS
may be neutralized. However, because of its volatility, ammonium Steam turbine corrosion damage, particularly of blades and
chloride is transported with steam into the turbine where it discs, has long been recognized as a leading cause of reduced
hydrolyzes, forming NH3 gas and HCl. availability (Scegljajev, 1983; McCloskey, 2002; Sanders, 2001;
Deposits on turbine surfaces in units with sodium phosphate Cotton, 1993; Jonas, 1985a, 1987; EPRI, 1981, 1998a, 2001b; Jonas
boiler water treatment (most drum boilers) are less corrosive (Jonas and Dooley, 1996, 1997; NERC, 2002). It has been estimated that
and Syrett, 1987; EPRI, 1984b; Jonas, 1985d). Sodium phosphate is turbine corrosion problems cost the U.S. utility industry as much as
a better neutralizing agent through the cycle; fewer acids are one billion dollars per year (EPRI, 1985b, 2001a; Syrett, et al.,
transported into the turbine and phosphate frequently codeposits 2002; Syrett and Gorman, 2003; Jonas, 1986) and that the cost for
with harmful impurities, providing in-situ neutralization and industrial turbines, which suffer similar problems, is even higher.
passivation. This is most likely the reason for lower frequency of In this section, the main corrosion problems found in LP turbines
turbine corrosion in systems with phosphate water treatments. and their root causes are summarized, and solutions to reduce or
Measurements of pitting potential of disc and blading alloys confirm eliminate each problem are discussed. The field monitoring equipment
the beneficial effects of sodium phosphate in the presence of NaCl. shown in Figure 15 can be used to diagnose and prevent many common
Besides the corrosion during operation, turbines can corrode LP turbine corrosion and deposition problems (EPRI, 1997c, 2001b;
during manufacture (corrosive products from machining fluids, Jonas, 1994; Jonas, et al., 2007). In addition, there are also monitors
exposure to tool tip temperatures), storage (airborne corrosive available to detect vibration, blade and rotor cracking, steam leaks, air
impurities, preservatives containing Cl and S), erection (airborne inleakage, rotor position, and wear of bearings (Jonas, et al., 2007).
218 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

the next planned inspection or overhaul? If not, what is the safe

inspection interval? If repeated failures are likely and repair would
take a long time and lead to a large loss of production, spare rotors
may be a good economical solution.
Data collected by the North American Electric Reliability
Council (NERC) for 1476 fossil units between 1996 and 2000
shows that LP turbines were responsible for 818 forced and
scheduled outages and deratings, causing the utilities a 39,574
GWh production loss. The outages are often characterized as
“low frequency high impact events.” (NERC, 2002) shows the
components that were responsible for the failures as well as the
MWh losses associated with the failures. Many of these outages
are caused by corrosion (except for bearings).

Figure 15. LP Turbine Troubleshooting Instrumentation Can Table 4. Forced and Schedule Outages and Deratings Caused by
Identify Specific Corrosive Conditions. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1997c) LP Turbine Components for the Years 1996 to 2000 (1476 Units,
168 Utilities).
An overview of the low-pressure turbine corrosion problems
together with erosion and other problems is given in Table 3. The
problems are listed according to their priority and impact with disc
rim blade attachment stress corrosion cracking being the highest
impact problem today because of the long time required for weld
repair or procurement of a new disc or new rotor (up to six months).
Cracking of discs, corrosion fatigue of the rotor shaft, and fatigue or
corrosion fatigue of long blades can become a safety issue because
they can lead to perforation of the casing and other destructive
events (EPRI, 1981, 1982a, 1998a; Jonas, 1977; Turner, 1974). It is
estimated that inadequate mechanical design (high steady and
vibratory stresses, stress concentration, and vibration) is responsible Life Prediction and Inspection Interval
for about 50 percent of the problems, inadequate steam chemistry
for about 20 percent, and nonoptimum flow and thermodynamic Experience shows that pits and ground-out stress corrosion
design for about 20 percent. Poor manufacturing and maintenance cracks can remain in-service for several years, depending on stress
practices account for the remaining 10 percent of the problems. and environment. However, components containing high-cycle
corrosion fatigue cracks should not be left in-service. Procedures
Table 3. LP Turbine Corrosion, Erosion, and Deposition Problems. for prediction of residual life and determination of a safe inspection
interval have been developed for all major failure mechanisms
including SCC, CF, fatigue, FAC, and creep. The procedures for
SCC of turbine discs (Clark, et al., 1981; EPRI, 1989; Rosario, et
al., 2002), low cycle corrosion fatigue, and FAC (EPRI, 1996) have
been successfully applied because all variables influencing these
mechanisms can be reasonably predicted or measured. However,
life prediction for high cycle corrosion fatigue and fatigue has
not been so successful because the vibratory stresses and the
corrosiveness of the environment are usually not accurately known.
Life prediction is based on results of inspection, fracture
mechanics analysis of components with defects, and application of
SCC and CF crack growth data. Time or number of load cycles to
reach ductile or brittle fracture is predicted and a safety factor is
applied to determine the time for the next inspection. In the
procedure used by OEMs and Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) for nuclear turbines for determining the inspection interval
for turbine discs under SCC conditions, the safety factor of two
was applied to the predicted time-to-failure.

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Discs

Stress corrosion cracking of LP turbine disc keyways and blade
attachments have been the two most expensive generic problems in
large steam turbines (Cheruvu and Seth, 1993; EPRI, 1982a, 1982b,
1984a, 1984c, 1985a, 1985d, 1987b, 1989, 1991a, 1997a, 1998d;
Jonas, 1978; Speidel and Bertilsson, 1984; Clark, et al., 1981;
When a corrosion problem is discovered during inspection or by Rosario, et al., 2002; Nowak, 1997; Kilroy, et al., 1997; Amos, et al.,
equipment malfunction, the failure mechanism and the root causes 1997; Turner, 1974; Newman, 1974; Parkins, 1972; Holdsworth,
are not always known. Even when the damage fits a description of 2002). The keyway cracking problem has been resolved by
a well-known problem (disc or blade cracking), replacement parts redesigns of the shrunk-on or bolted-on discs, material replacement
may not be readily available and the decision for what to do has to with lower strength material, and by elimination of the corrosive disc
be made quickly. The main objectives in handling identified and bore lubricants, based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), used in
potential problems are maintaining safety and avoiding forced assembling the rotor. SCC of blade attachments of various designs is
outages. The questions should be asked: can we operate safely until still a problem (EPRI, 1997d, 1998a, 2002c; Nowak, 1997).
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 219
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
There are several corrosion damage mechanisms and many Materials—All low alloy steels used for LP turbine rotors
factors affecting discs (Figure 16). Typical locations and orientations and discs are susceptible to SCC and CF in numerous turbine
of SCC cracks in LP discs are shown in Figures 17 and 18. There environments including pure water and wet steam. The strongest
has also been SCC in pressure balance holes. Most incidents of material factor influencing SCC is yield strength. At higher yield
disc rim attachment cracking have been found in nuclear units, strength, SCC crack growth rate can be several orders of magnitude
however, there have also been problems in fossil units. In an higher than for lower yield strength materials. The purity of the
independent survey, 13 of 38 (35 percent) boiling water reactors material and the steel melting practices mostly influence the
(BWRs) and 28 of 72 (39 percent) pressurized water reactors fracture toughness, which determines the maximum tolerable crack
(PWRs) reported disc rim attachment cracking while 29 of 110 (26 size before a disc brittle fracture and burst.
percent) supercritical fossil units and only 20 of 647 (3 percent) Fractography—SCC cracks of low alloy steels often initiate
subcritical units reported cracking (EPRI, 1997d). Disc rim blade from pits and propagate intergranularly with branching. The initial
attachment cracking occurred in multiple-hook (steeple), fir tree part of the crack can be corroded and filled with magnetite. There
attachment designs (typically occurs in the corners of the hooks), could be beach marks or stretch marks, caused by overloading the
in straddle mount dovetail and pinned-finger attachments, and in crack during overspeed testing. Another type of beach mark can be
T-roots. It is always associated with stress concentrations. caused by changes of the environment or by fatigue. Depending on
the ratio of the steady and cyclic stresses, the disc cracks can be a
mixture of intergranular and transgranular cracking. Figure 19
shows an SCC crack initiating at the radius of the upper serration
of L-1 blade steeple. The intergranular crack initiated from a pit.

Figure 16. Crack Locations in Turbine Discs with Probable Impurity Figure 19. SCC Crack in the Upper Steeple Serration-L-1 Blade
Concentration and Corrosion Mechanisms and Corrodents. (Courtesy Attachment.
of Jonas, 1985a)
The factors that determine the SCC crack initiation time and
propagation rate include material yield strength, surface stress,
temperature, and the local chemical environment. Some of these
relationships are shown in Figures 6 and 7. At yield strengths
above ~135 ksi (930 MPa), these low-alloy steels show high SCC
growth rates.
Pitting often initiates SCC. When corrosive deposits are present,
pitting during unprotected layup can be faster than pitting during
operation. This is because during the layup, there can be 100
percent relative humidity and there is oxygen present. At high
stresses, above the elasticity limit of the material, pitting is
enhanced through the mechanism identified as stress induced
pitting (Parkins, 1972). In some cases, blade attachment cracking
is a combination of stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue
because of the effects of blade vibration.

Root Causes
SCC of discs (at keyways, bores, and blade attachments) is
caused by a combination of high surface stresses, a susceptible
material, and operational and shutdown environments. Design-related
root causes are the most important and prevalent. They include
high surface tensile stresses and stress concentrations, and use of
Figure 17. Typical Locations and Orientations of SCC Found in LP high strength materials.
Turbine Discs. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1982a) Sources of stresses that contribute to SCC of discs include:
• Basic centrifugal load caused by rotor rotation. Locally high
concentration of centrifugal loads caused by variation in the gaps
(gauging) between blade and disc rim attachment.
• Residual machining stresses.
• Vibratory stresses—interaction of SCC and corrosion fatigue. Also,
vibratory stresses reduce the life of the cracked disc when the flaws
reach a sufficient size that fatigue becomes a dominant mechanism.

Steam chemistry root causes of SCC and CF cracking include:

• Operating outside of recommended steam purity limits for
Figure 18. Typical Locations of Disc Rim Cracking. (Courtesy of long periods of time; sometimes caused by organic acids from
EPRI, 1982a) decomposition of organic water treatment chemicals.
220 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

• Condenser leaks—minor but occurring over a long period of time. all fatigue cracking should be considered corrosion fatigue. The
fatigue limit of all turbine materials in turbine environments
• Condenser leaks—major ingress, generally one serious event, including pure steam is lower than the air fatigue limit. Corrosion
and the system and turbine not subsequently cleaned.
fatigue cracks often originate from pits.
• Water treatment plant or condensate polisher regeneration
chemicals (NaOH or H2SO4) leak downstream.
• Improperly operated condensate polisher (operating beyond
ammonia breakthrough, poor rinse, etc.).
• Shutdown environment: poor layup practices plus corrosive deposits.
Sodium hydroxide is the most severe SCC environment
encountered in steam turbines. The sources of NaOH include
malfunctioning condensate polishers and makeup systems and
improper control of phosphate boiler water chemistry combined
with high carryover. Many other chemicals can also cause SCC of
low alloy steels. The chemicals used in turbine assembly and
testing, such as molybdenum disulfide (lubricant) and Loctite™
(sealant containing high sulfur), can accelerate SCC initiation
(Turner, 1974; Newman, 1974).

Solutions
In most cases where material yield strength is <130 ksi (895
MPa), the solution to disc SCC is a design change to reduce
stresses at critical locations. This has been achieved by eliminating
keyways or even disc bores (welded rotors) and by larger radii in Figure 20. Typical Locations of Cracking and Localized Corrosion
the blade attachments. Higher yield strength (>130 ksi, 895 MPa) on LP Turbine Rotating Blades. There Has Also Been SCC and CF
low alloy steel discs should be replaced with lower strength Cracking in the Tiewire Holes. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1998a)
materials. The goal is to keep the ratio of the local operating stress
to yield stress as low as possible, ideally aiming for the ratios to be Figures 21 and 22 show corrosion fatigue cracks of L-1 blade
less than 0.6. Minimizing applied stresses in this manner is most root and airfoil, respectively. Figure 23 illustrates pitting in the
beneficial in preventing initiation of stress corrosion cracks. Once blade tenon-shroud area, which sometimes initiates corrosion
cracks begin to propagate, a reduction in stress may be only fatigue cracking. Fractography shows that CF blade cracking often
marginally effective unless the stress intensity can be kept below initiates from a pit, continuing for 50 to 150 mils (1.3 to 3.8 mm)
~10 to 20 ksi-in1/2 (11 to 22 MPa-m1/2). This is because of the by intergranular cracking and then proceeding as a flat fatigue
relative independence of the crack growth rate over a broad range fracture with beach marks and striations.
of stress intensities. For many rim attachment designs, such levels
of applied stress intensity are impossible to achieve once an initial
pit or stress concentration has formed. An emerging solution to
disc rim stress corrosion cracking is a weld repair with 12%Cr
stainless steel. Another solution has been to shot peen the blade
attachments to place the hook fit region into compression.
Good control of the steam purity of the environment can help to
prevent or delay the SCC. Maintaining the recommended levels of
impurities during operation and providing adequate protection
during shutdown can help minimize the formation of deposits and
corrosive liquid films, and lengthen the period before stress
corrosion cracks initiate. The operating period(s), events, or
transients that are causing excursions in water and steam
chemistry should be identified using the monitoring locations and
instrumentation recommended in the independent water chemistry
guidelines (EPRI, 1986, 1994c, 1998b, 1998c, 2002a; Jonas, et al., Figure 21. Corrosion Fatigue of L-1 Blade Attachment. (Courtesy
2000) and special monitoring as shown in Figure 15 and elsewhere of EPRI, 1998a)
(EPRI, 1997c, 2001b; Jonas, et al., 2007).

Corrosion Fatigue and

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Blades
LP turbine blades are subject to CF, SCC, and pitting of the
airfoils, roots, tenons and shrouds, and tie wires (Holdsworth, 2002;
EPRI, 1984c, 1984d, 1985c, 1985d, 1987c, 1991b, 1993b, 1994b,
1998d; Jaffe, 1983; Evans, 1993; Singh, et al.; BLADE-ST ™,
2000). Figure 20 depicts the typical locations on an LP turbine
rotating blade that are affected by localized corrosion and cracking.
In addition, the blade surfaces are also subject to fatigue, deposition,
water droplet erosion, and foreign object damage. CF is the leading
mechanism of damage. It is a result of the combination of cyclic
stresses and environmental effects. There are always environmental Figure 22. Corrosion Fatigue of L-1 Blade Airfoil. (Courtesy of
effects in fatigue cracking in LP turbines (EPRI, 1984d, 1984e) and EPRI, 1981)
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 221
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Root Causes
High stresses and marginal steam chemistry acting together are the
most frequent root causes. Corrosion fatigue cracks are driven by
cyclic stresses with high mean stress playing a large role. Figure 10
shows how fatigue strength is reduced at high mean stresses. It has
been estimated that the corrosion fatigue limit for long LP turbine
blades in the area of high mean stress is as low as 1 ksi (7 MPa). Rough
surface finish and pitting often shorten the time to crack initiation.
Cyclic stresses are caused by turbine startups and shutdowns
(low number of cycles, high cyclic stresses), by the turbine and
blades ramping through critical speeds at which some components
are in resonance (high amplitude, high frequency), and by over 15
causes of flow induced blade excitation during normal operation
that include:
Figure 23. Pitting in the L-1 Blade Tenon-Shroud Area. (Courtesy
of EPRI, 1981)
• Synchronous resonance of the blades at a harmonic of the unit
running speed.
Damage by corrosion fatigue occurs in the last few rows of LP • Nonuniform flows.
turbines, mostly in the phase transition zone (PTZ) (salt zone
shown in Figure 14). The PTZ moves according to load changes,
• Blade vibration induced from a vibrating rotor or disc.
but is typically near the L-1 row in most LP fossil turbines (Figure • Self-excitation such as flutter.
24). Units that increase cycling duty may be subject to worsened
corrosion fatigue problems. As the unit is ramped up and shut
• Random excitation-resonance with adjacent blades.
down, the blades pass through resonance more frequently and the • Shock waves in the transonic flow region and shock wave-
phase transition zone shifts, potentially affecting more stages during condensation interaction.
the transients. In addition, the steam purity can be significantly
worse during transients than during steady-state operation, and if
• Bad blade design with wrong incidence flow angle and flow
separation.
the unit is shut down as part of the cycling operation, significant
degradation of the local environment can occur (deposits and Elevated concentrations of steam impurities (particularly of
humid air). chloride, sodium, and sulfate) and the resulting deposition and
concentration by evaporation of moisture are underlying causes of
corrosion fatigue. When feedwater, boiler water, and steam
impurity levels exceed recommended limits, cycle chemistry can
be a contributor or even the root cause. Poor shutdown and layup
procedures are primary contributors to aggressive environments
that can lead to pitting and corrosion fatigue. High steam sodium
or cation conductivity may indicate conditions that can lead to
rapid accumulation of deposits and concentrated liquid films on
blade surfaces.

Solutions
The solutions to blade corrosion fatigue problems include:
• Design of blades that are not in resonance with running speed
and its harmonic frequencies or with any of the excitation sources
Figure 24. Distribution of Blade Failures in U.S. Fossil Turbines by listed above.
Row. (Courtesy of Power, 1981)
• Design with friction damping.
Causes of blade and blade attachment failures are listed in Table 5 • Elimination of the sources of excitation.
(Jonas, 1985a). To find the true causes of corrosion, it is essential to
analyze the local temperature, pressure, chemistry, moisture droplet • Reduction of mean and alternating stresses by design (lower stress
concentrations, etc.).
flow, and stress conditions. These analyses are often neglected.
• Better materials, such as by avoiding high strength alloys, using
Table 5. Causes of Blade Failures in LP, IP, and HP Steam Turbines. materials with high material damping, or using titanium alloys.
• Improvement of steam chemistry.
Long-term actions for dealing with corrosion fatigue begin with
economic and remaining life assessments. Depending upon the
severity of the problem and the costs to eliminate it, some solutions
may not be practical for all circumstances. The available prevention
strategies fall into four main categories: redesigning the blade to
reduce resonance, redesigning the blade or attachment to reduce
stress levels, improving steam purity, and/or changing the material
or surface (better surface finish, shot peening) of the blade.
Stress reduction options include:
• Changing the vibration resonance response of the blade by
design modification (adding or reducing weight of the blade,
222 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

changing to free standing, grouped or fully connected shrouded Solutions

blades, moving tiewires or tenons, shroud segment integrally The first line of defense against pitting is controlling steam
machined with the blade—no tenons, etc.). purity. This will improve the local environment produced during
• Changing the response of the blades by mixed tuning. operation and decrease the amount of deposition. The chemistry
guidelines established by an independent research and development
• Increasing the damping of the blades. firm (EPRI, 1986, 1994c, 1998b, 1998c, 2002a; Jonas, et al., 2000)
• Changing operating procedures; for example, avoiding off-design particularly for cation conductivity, chloride, and sulfate, should be
operation such as very low load, high backpressure operation followed. There should be a layup protection of the LP turbines by
(which can cause stall flutter), and changing rotational speed dehumidified air, vapor phase inhibitors, or nitrogen.
during startups. After a steam chemistry upset, such as a large condenser leak,
the turbine should be washed online or after a disassembly. Doing
Options to improve the turbine environment include: nothing may result in multimillion dollar corrosion damage
requiring rotor replacement.
• Controlling impurity ingress (reduce air inleakage, plug leaking
condenser tubes, etc.). Flow-Accelerated Corrosion
• Changing unit operating procedures, particularly for shutdowns Flow-accelerated corrosion of carbon and low-alloy steels in the
and startups. steam path two-phase flow has been less widespread in fossil
• Control of boiler carryover by drum design and water chemistry. plants than in nuclear plants; however, it has occurred at some
locations (EPRI, 1996; 1998a; Kleitz, 1994; Jonas, 1985b;
• Optimizing or changing feedwater and boiler water treatment to Svoboda and Faber, 1984) such as:
reduce concentration of impurities in steam.
• Wet steam extraction pipes and extraction slots.
Another option to improve the environment at surfaces is to
improve the surface finish of blading. Deposition and subsequent • Exhaust hood and condenser neck structure.
concentration of impurities are a function of blade surface finish • Casings.
(EPRI, 2001b), and this improvement may help slow the accumulation
of impurities. Improving the continuous monitoring of steam
• Rotor gland and other seal areas.
chemistry (sodium, cation conductivity) will help to verify • Disc pressure balance holes.
improvements in the environment. • Rim and steeples of last row disc.
If such changes are not sufficient, then changing to a more
corrosion resistant material, such as a material with a higher • Rotor shaft—last disc transition.
chromium content or a titanium alloy, is generally recommended. • Leaking horizontal joint.
It should be noted that higher strength materials are often more
susceptible to stress corrosion cracking. It has been shown that • Transition between the stationary blades and the blade ring.
403SS, with yield strength above ~90 ksi (620 MPa), becomes While most cases of flow-accelerated corrosion damage are slow
susceptible to SCC. to develop and are found during scheduled inspections, FAC of
Pitting piping and turbine casing horizontal joints can lead to leaks and
FAC of rotors and discs can initiate cracking.
Pitting can be a precursor to more extensive damage from CF and
SCC, although extensive pitting of blades can also cause significant Root Causes
loss of stage efficiency by deteriorating the surface finish (EPRI, Root causes of FAC in the turbine (EPRI, 1996, 1998a; Jonas,
2001b). Pitting is found in a wide range of components. It occurs 1985b) include:
most prevalently during shutdown when moisture condenses on
equipment surfaces and as a result, it can be found in stages of the • Susceptible material: carbon steel or low-chromium steel.
turbine that are dry during operation. However, it can also occur
during operation, particularly in crevices (crevice corrosion).
• Locally high flow velocities and turbulence.
In LP turbines, pitting is primarily found on the turbine blades • High moisture content of the steam.
and blade-disc attachments, particularly in the “salt zone” (Figure
14). There is little pitting on wet stages because corrosion impurities
• Low levels of dissolved oxygen, excess oxygen scavenger.
are washed away by the steam moisture. Pitting is frequently found • Low pH of moisture droplets.
in the blade tenon-shroud crevices because, once corrosive impurities • Water/steam impurities.
enter, they cannot be removed. Titanium alloys are the most
resistant to pitting corrosion, followed by duplex ferritic-austenitic Solutions
stainless steels (Fe-26Cr-2Mo), precipitation hardened stainless It is recommended that a comprehensive FAC control program
steels (Fe-14Cr-1.6Mo) and 12%Cr steels. be implemented, including an evaluation of the most susceptible
piping and other components (EPRI, 1996). Areas of local thinning
Root Causes need to be periodically inspected and repaired. Approaches to
Steam and deposit chemistries are the main causes of pitting, piping repair include replacement with low alloy steels, weld
with chlorides and sulfates being the main corrodents. Copper and overlay, and plasma arc and flame spraying to protect susceptible
iron oxides accelerate pitting by providing the matrix that retains surfaces. The material applied should have high chromium content.
salts. Copper oxides also transport oxygen to the corrosion sites. If a component is replaced, the material of the new component
Dissolved oxygen does not concentrate in the liquid films forming should contain some chromium. For example, carbon steel pipe
on blade surfaces during operation but does, however, accumulate should be replaced with 1.25 percent or higher chromium steel.
in the liquid films and wet deposits that can form during unit Little can be done about changing the moisture concentration in
shutdown if proper layup practices are not used. There have been fossil turbines. Steam chemistry improvements through better
cases of severe blade pitting requiring blade replacement on brand control of feedwater and boiler water chemistry, such as reduction
new rotors from which preservatives were stripped leaving them of organic acids, could result in increase of pH of the early
exposed to sea salt during prolonged erection periods. condensate and less FAC (EPRI, 1997b, 1997c, 1999).
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 223
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Treatment of feedwater, such as maintaining high pH levels Water Droplet Erosion
(above 9.6) and elevated oxygen concentrations, can also reduce In the last stages of the LP turbine, the steam expands to well
FAC in the turbine. below saturation conditions and a portion of the vapor condenses
Other Phenomena (Noncorrosion) into liquid (EPRI, 2001b; Ryzenkov, 2000; Oryakhin, et al., 1984;
Rezinskikh, et al., 1993; Sakamoto, et al., 1992; Povarov, et al.,
Although not specifically corrosion related, there are other 1985; Heyman, 1970, 1979, 1992). Although the condensed
problems that occur in steam turbines including: deposition on droplets are very small (0.05 to 1 µm, 2 to 40 µin diameter), some
blade surfaces; water droplet erosion of wet stage blades; low cycle of them are deposited onto surfaces of the stationary blades where
thermal fatigue of heavy high temperature sections of rotor, casing, they coalesce into films and migrate to the trailing edge. Here they
and pipes; solid particle erosion of turbine inlets and valves; and are torn off by the steam flow in the form of large droplets (5 to 20
water induction and water hammer. microns, 0.2 to 0.8 mils). These droplets accelerate under the
Deposition on Blade Surfaces forces of the steam acting on them and, when they are carried into
the plane of rotation of the rotating blades, they have reached only
Deposits are the result of impurities in the feedwater, boiler a fraction of the steam velocity. As a result, the blades hit them with
water, and attemperating water being carried over into the turbine a velocity that is almost equal to the circumferential velocity of the
(Jonas and Dooley, 1997; EPRI, 1997b, 2001b; Jonas, et al., 1993; blades, which can be as high as 640 m/s (2100 ft/s) in a fossil LP
Jonas, 1985d). All impurities are soluble in superheated and wet turbine. Water droplet erosion typically occurs in the last two to
steam and their solubility depends on pressure and temperature. three rows of the LP turbines in fossil fired units. The damage is
The steam leaving the steam generator is at the highest steam most common on the leading edge and tip of the blades and along
pressure and temperature in the cycle. As it passes through the the shroud.
turbine, the pressure and temperature decrease, the steam loses In turbines operating at low load for long periods, such as
its ability to hold the impurities in solution, and the impurities cycling and peaking units, reversed flow of steam caused by
precipitate and deposit on the turbine blades and elsewhere. windage and activation of hood spray can erode the trailing edges
The main impurities found in turbine deposits are magnetite, of blades. Thin trailing edges with erosion grooves can become
sodium chloride, and silica. It takes only a few hours of a chemical fatigue or corrosion fatigue crack initiation sites. Less frequent
upset, such as a major condenser leak or a boiler carryover event, erosion damage locations include LP turbine glands and seals,
to build up deposits, but it takes thousands of hours of operation stationary blades, blade attachment sections of discs, disc flow
with pure steam to remove them. holes (impulse design), and the LP rotor at the gland.
The impact of deposits on turbine performance is the most The effects of steam and early condensate chemistry on water
pronounced in the HP section. Performance loss depends on droplet erosion are not known, but studies have found that NaCl in
deposit thickness, their location (steam pressure), and the resulting the droplets significantly reduces the incubation period for erosion.
surface roughness (EPRI 2001b). Deposits will change the basic In addition, pH was found to have a strong impact on both the
profile of the nozzle partitions resulting in losses caused by incubation period and the erosion rate. At higher pH, both the
changes in flow, energy distribution, and aerodynamic profiles, as maximum and steady state erosion rates decrease while the incubation
well as by surface roughness effects. These changes can result in period increases (Ryzenkov, 2000; Povarov, et al., 1985).
large megawatt and efficiency losses. With replacement power Solutions—There are several options available for reducing the
typically over $100/MWh and costing as much as $7000 per MWh amount of damage from liquid droplet impact. There are two principal
in the summer of 1998, the savings from reducing this deposition options: protection of the leading edge by a hard material and
can be very high. collection and drainage of moisture. Table 6 outlines these options.
In the LP turbine, deposits are often corrosive, they can change
the resonant frequency of blades, increase the centrifugal load on Table 6. Long-Term Actions for Reducing Moisture Erosion on LP
blade shrouds and tenons and, in the transonic stages, they can Turbine Blades.
influence the generation of shock waves.
Solutions—Optimization of cycle chemistry (Jonas, 1982,
“Progress in...,” 1981; EPRI, 1986, 1994c, 1998b, 1998c; 1985d,
2002a; Jonas, et al., 2000, 2007; ASME, 2002) is the easiest method
for reducing impurity transport and deposition. The optimal cycle
chemistry will result in reduced corrosion and minimized impurity
transport. This is especially important if copper alloys are present in
the system because the optimal feedwater pH for copper alloys and
ferrous materials are not the same and the incorrect pH can result in
high levels of iron or copper transport. Other methods for managing
deposition on blade surfaces include:
• Specify good surface finishes (polished blades) on all new and Turbine Inspection and Monitoring
replacement blades.
Adequate turbine inspection methods are available to detect
• Determine the effect of erosion and deposition on maximum corrosion and deposition. These NDT methods include visual,
MW and efficiency with a valves wide open (VWO) test. The data magnetic particle, ultrasonic, dye penetrant, eddy current, and
from several VWO tests can be compared to determine the rate of radiographic techniques. Modern turbine designs consider the
MW loss and MW versus chemistry and operation. This can be accessibility of individual components by inspection probes.
used to optimize the system. Monitoring techniques include stress and vibration monitoring
• Turbine washing to reduce deposition and MW losses and (i.e., vibration signature), temperature and flow measurement, and
improve efficiency. Both, a turbine wash of an assembled turbine water and steam chemistry sampling and analysis. (Jonas, 1982,
and a wash of a disassembled rotor can be used to remove soluble 1985d, 1986, 1994; EPRI, 1984b, 1994a, 1994c, 1997b, 1997c,
deposits. To remove corrosive salt deposits, several days of 1998c, 1999, 2002a; Jonas, et al., 1993, 2000; Jonas and Syrett,
washing may be needed. A wash is usually completed when the 1987; Schleithoff, 1984; “Progress in...,” 1981). An advanced
concentration of corrosive impurities, such as sodium and chloride, expert system has been developed (EPRI, 1994c) for the use by
in the wash water is less than 50 ppb. station operators and chemists, which automatically determines the
224 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

problems and recommends corrective actions. There are also Inspection: Inspection procedures and the acceptance criteria
monitoring methods for online diagnosis of the environments on that would be applied were developed before the outage.
turbine surfaces and corrosion (Jonas, 1994; EPRI, 1994a, 1997b, Eventually NDE inspection found some damage in each of the 12
1997c, 1999; Jonas, et al., 1993). ends of all six rotors. Severe cracking was found in all four-rotor
ends in Unit 2 and in Unit 3 on both ends of LPB. Next in severity
MISSING KNOWLEDGE were both ends of Unit 1 LPB and Unit 3 LPA; with a few indications
It is estimated by the author that 70 percent of knowledge to in Unit 1 LPA. In the heavily cracked rotors, damage was most
solve and prevent corrosion problems in steam turbines is severe in Fingers 3, 4, and 5 with little or no cracking in Fingers 1
available. The percentage of available knowledge for understanding or 6. Cracking was evenly distributed between admission and
the effects of stress and environment is much lower than that for discharge sides in Fingers 3 and 4 with somewhat more cracking
solving the problems, about 40 percent. The knowledge that is on the admission side in Finger 5.
missing or needs improvement includes: Results of metallurgical analysis: A metallurgical evaluation
confirmed the presence of extensive pitting. Cracks were found to be
• Threshold stress required to initiate SCC in blade attachments. intergranular, highly branched, and oxide-filled. The metallurgical
• Effects of steeple geometry (stress concentrations and size) on examination was unable to detect the presence of specific contaminants
SCC and CF. on the fracture surface. Sampling of deposits, which had occurred
elsewhere in the cycle (crossover piping, bucket pins, and bucket
• Effects of overloads during heater box and overspeed tests
fingers) during prior outages, had found indications of sodium, sulfur,
on stress redistribution and SCC in steeples, blade roots, and disc
keyways. and chloride and sodium hydroxide was found by x-ray diffraction in
crossover piping.
• Effectiveness of grinding out SCC and CF cracks as a corrective Analysis of samples from two rotors showed that the chemical
measure. composition was within the specification for ASTM A470 Class 7
material. Tensile strength averaged 126.5 ksi (870 MPa) for the two
• Effects of organic water treatment chemicals, and organic impurities specimens; yield averaged 112.5 ksi (775 MPa).
on SCC, CF, and pitting and composition of water droplets.
Review of cycle chemistry: Several cycle chemistry changes
• Effects of electrical charges carried by water droplets on corrosion. had been made over time in response to events such as improved
• Effects of galvanic coupling of dissimilar materials, such as the technology and information, and upsets caused by condenser tube
blade-steeple, on corrosion. leaks, demineralizer breaks, and variations in boiler water makeup.
The main water chemistry problem was operation with morpholine,
• Effects of residues of preservatives and Loctite™ on SCC, CF, which resulted in poor condensate polisher performance and high
and pitting of blade attachments. concentrations of sodium hydroxide in feedwater and steam. A
• Effects of blade trailing edge erosion on cracking. heavy deposit of sodium hydroxide was found in the crossover
piping. The unit had been changed to oxygenated treatment about
• Accelerated stress corrosion testing. the time of the discovery of the stress corrosion cracks, which has
• Effects of variable amplitude loading on CF crack initiation since resulted in better water and steam purity.
and propagation. Results of stress analysis: A finite element stress analysis showed
that Fingers 3, 4, and 5 of the group were the most highly stressed.
• Effects of water droplet pH and composition on erosion and how The maximum equivalent elastic stresses around the pin holes were
to predict erosion.
~222 ksi (1530 MPa), ~114 ksi (786 MPa) at the inner land, and ~89
• Effects of shot peening to reduce stresses and SCC of blade roots ksi (614 MPa) at the outer land (closer to disc outer diameter [OD]).
and disc steeples. The differences between inner and outer land stresses agreed with the
• Understanding of the basic mechanisms of stress corrosion, observation that field cracking was more severe at the inner land.
corrosion fatigue, fatigue, and stress induced pitting. However, no SCC was discovered in the flat portion of the disc
fingers around the holes, where the stress was nearly twice as high.
CASE HISTORIES Closer examination found that the flat surface near the pinholes
did not show cracks nucleating from the bottom of the pits,
Stress Corrosion Cracking in Finger-Style Dovetails whereas intergranular cracks appeared in the pits along the ledge
Unit: The station consists of three 805 MW, once-through boiler, where the pits were linked to form continual flaws.
supercritical, coal-fired units that went into operation between Root causes: There were two root causes of this massive
1974 and 1976. Each of the three units has two LP turbines (LPA problem: high design stresses and improper feedwater chemistry
and LPB). using morpholine, which resulted in the presence of NaOH and
Problem: In 1995, in Unit 1, a blade failed in the L-1 row at a other impurities in steam. One can also speculate about the
tiewire hole of the leading blade of a four-blade group (Nowak, contributions of the local stress concentration, poor surface finish,
1997; Kilroy, et al., 1997). Three damaged groups of blades were and residual machining stresses.
removed for replacement. A wet fluorescent magnetic particle Economic analysis: An economic analysis was performed and
examination of the finger-style disc attachments found hundreds of the costs considered included: replacement of rotors in-kind,
crack-like indications, which were later identified as SCC. Cracks replacement with an improved rotor steam path that would improve
ran both axially and radially, and were deep (Figure 25). unit heat rate by 1.2 percent, rotor weld repair, outage duration
costs, performance changes, reduced generation capacity from
pressure plates, fuel pricing, and replacement energy costs.
Actions: As a temporary fix, the affected blade rows were
removed and nine pressure plates were installed out of the 12
possible locations. A pressure plate is a temporary device that
provides a pressure drop when installed as a replacement for a
removed blade row. A decision was made to purchase two new fully
bladed rotors and to refurbish the existing rotors. For Unit 1, new
Figure 25. Locations in Finger and Pin Attachments Where SCC rotors were purchased from the original equipment manufacturer
Has Been Found. (Courtesy of EPRI, 1997) (OEM). The two LP rotors removed from Unit 1 were weld repaired
 STEAM TURBINE CORROSION 225
AND DEPOSITS PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
using 12 percent chromium material applied with a submerged arc Corrosion Fatigue of Numerous Modifications of L-1 Blades
weld process, and installed in Unit 3. Material testing and analysis Problem: One type of LP turbine experienced corrosion fatigue
were used to determine the expected lifetime of the refurbished failures of the L-1 blade airfoil, which was modified and
parts against damage by SCC, and both high- and low-cycle fatigue. redesigned over 10 times. Fatigue failures occurred in periods
Turbine and crossover pipes were cleaned to remove deposits. ranging from six weeks to over 10 years of operation. The presence
Massive SCC of Disc Rim—Supercritical of chloride in the blade deposits at concentrations above 0.25
percent caused pitting, which accelerated crack initiation. In one
Once-Through Unit after Only Five Years of Service case, new 16 inch (40 cm) blades were forged in two dies and most
Problem: Stress corrosion cracking of the L-1 stage disc was of the blades forged in one of the dies (but none from the other die)
discovered during routine inspection (Figure 26). failed within about six weeks.
Root cause: The root cause of this fast CF failure was an off-design
blade geometry caused by wrong die dimensions, which brought
these blades into resonance. The failure acceleration was caused by
corrosive impurities in steam, mainly chloride.
Actions: Redesigned, better tuned blades were installed and
improved control of water and steam chemistry was initiated.

Massive Pitting of a Turbine (HP, IP,

and LP) after Brackish Water Ingress
Problem: A separation of the welded end of the condensate
sparger caused breakage of condenser tubes and ingress of
Figure 26. Massive SCC of L-1 Disc Caused by High brackish water into a once-through boiler cycle. Because of
Concentration of NaOH in Steam. the poor reliability of the water chemistry instrumentation, the
instrument readings were ignored and the trouble was noticed after
Root cause: The SCC was caused by poor performance of the there was almost no flow through the superheater because of heavy
condensate polishers that operated in H-OH form through deposits. The turbine with sea salt deposits was left assembled in
ammonia breakthrough when they released Na+. The sodium the high humidity environment and was only opened 11 days after
reacted with water forming NaOH and deposited in the turbine. the condenser tube failure. It was found that the whole turbine was
Actions: Rotor replaced and operation of condensate polishers severely rusted and pitted and it was eventually replaced.
and monitoring was improved. Mixed bed condensate polishers were not able to protect the
cycle against the massive ingress of brackish water. They were
Stress Corrosion Cracking of
exhausted within a few minutes.
Bolted-on Discs in One Type of LP Turbine Root cause: The root cause of the impurity ingress was a failure of
Problem: In the effort to accommodate longer L-0 blades, one the condensate sparger. Poor water chemistry monitoring and control
type of LP turbine was originally designed with the bolted-on last and the long delay in beginning turbine damage assessment and
disc made of NiCrMoV low-alloy steel and heat treated to a yield cleaning significantly contributed to the amount of damage caused.
strength of up to 175 ksi (1200 MPa). This steel was found to be Actions: The rotors were replaced and new chemistry monitoring
susceptible to SCC. instrumentation was installed.
Root cause: The root cause of this problem was design with a
high strength material that is very susceptible to SCC. L-0 Blade Corrosion Fatigue
Solution: All of these discs in many power plants had to be Cracking Caused by Trailing Edge Erosion
replaced with a lower strength material because of the danger of Problem: After 14 to 18 years of service of one type of 400 MW
SCC failures in all types of steam environments. turbine, there were five cases of L-0 33.5 inch (85 cm) long
shrouded blade failures about 5 inches (12.7 cm) below the tip. The
Corrosion Fatigue of a Blade Airfoil CF cracks originated at the eroded and thinned trailing edge. When
Unit: A 400 MW reheat unit with a once-through boiler, the blade tips separated, the blade fragments had such kinetic energy
seawater cooling, and mixed bed condensate polishers. that they penetrated over 2 inches (5 cm) of carbon steel condenser
Problem: During a three-month period, condenser cooling struts. The blade material was martensitic 12%Cr stainless steel with
water leakage occurred periodically. Cation conductivity in the a Brinell hardness of ~345. All affected units were similar drum
condensate and feedwater increased up to 2 µS/cm for about 30 to boiler units, some on all volatile treatment (AVT) and some on
60 minutes per day. At the end of the three-month period, vibration phosphate treatment. Steam chemistry in the affected units was good
was detected in the LP turbine (EPRI, 1998a) and did not play a role in the rate of erosion or cracking.
Damage: The turbine was opened and five broken freestanding Root cause: Erosion caused by frequent operation at low load
L-2 rotating blades were found. According to the turbine design with the hood sprays on and reversed steam flow, lack of proper
data, the broken blades were in the phase transition zone. The early inspection, and blade design with thin trailing edge.
blades were broken at the transition between reddish deposits at the Actions: Heavily eroded and cracked blades were replaced,
blade foot and clean metal in the upper part of the blades (phase shallow erosion damage was polished, and similar turbines were
transition on the blade). A laboratory investigation found chloride inspected for damage.
and sodium at the crack site and confirmed corrosion fatigue as the
underlying mechanism. A calculation of vibration frequencies did Stress Corrosion Cracking of Dovetail Pins
not show abnormal conditions. Problem: A dovetail pin, which penetrates both the rotating
Root cause: Improper water chemistry conditions caused by the blade and the wheel dovetails, holds a bucket in place on the wheel
condenser tube leak. of a rotor. In many plants during the 1970s and earlier, dovetail pins
Actions: The broken blades were replaced, the condenser leak had suffered stress corrosion cracking, although no lost blades had
was repaired, and a dampening (lacing) wire was introduced into resulted. The material originally used for the dovetail pins was
the blade design. By doing so, both the environmental and stress similar to ASTM A681 Grade H-11 tool steel, with a chemistry of
contributors were reduced. Fe-5.0Cr-1.Mo-0.5V-0.4C at a strength level of 250 to 280 ksi
226 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM • 2008

(1715 to 1920 MPa). This material is still used in rare cases where Results of 1982 Survey, American Society of Mechanical
the highest strength is required. Engineers, New York, New York.
Root cause: Use of high strength material, which is susceptible ASME, 1989, The ASME Handbook on Water Technology for
to SCC, combined with high bending stresses. Thermal Power Systems, American Society of Mechanical
Actions: The approach to solving the cracking problem was Engineers, New York, New York.
twofold: changing the material chemistry and strength and using
steel ball shot peening to impart a compressive layer to the surface ASTM 2001, 2001 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 3:
of the finished pins. The new high strength material is 5CrMoV Metals Test Methods and Analytical Procedures, 03,
low alloy steel at a strength level of 240 to 270 ksi (1645 to 1850 Nondestructive Testing, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
MPa). For lower stress applications, a new 1CrMoV low alloy steel ASME, 2002, Consensus for the Lay-up of Boilers, Turbines,
with a strength of (170 to 200 ksi) is used. Turbine Condensers, and Auxiliary Equipment, ASME
Results: No cracking has been observed in dovetail pins since the Research Report, CRTD-Vol. 66, 2002. American Society of
change in materials and the introduction of the shot peening practice. Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
Turbine Destruction—Sticking Valves Atrens, A., et al., 1984, “Steam Turbine Blades,” Corrosion in
Power Generating Equipment, Plenum Press.
Problem: After only 16 hours of operation of a new 6 MW steam
turbine installed in a fertilizer plant, an accidental disconnect of the Baboian, R., Editor, 1995, “Corrosion Tests and Standards—
electrical load on the generator led to a destructive overspeed. The Application and Interpretation,” ASTM, West Conshohocken,
overspeed occurred because high boiler carryover of boiler water Pennsylvania.
treatment chemicals, including polymeric dispersant, introduced BLADE-ST™ Version 3, 2000, STI Technologies, Rochester,
these chemicals into the bushings of all turbine control valves, New York.
gluing the valves stuck in the open position.
Root cause: Poor control of boiler operation (drum level) Cheruvu, N. and Seth, B., 1993, “Key Variables Affecting the
together with the use of the polymeric dispersant that, after Susceptibility of Shrunk-On Discs to Stress Corrosion
evaporation of water, becomes a strong adhesive. Controls of the Cracking,” The Steam Turbine Generator Today: Materials,
electric generator allowed accidental disconnect. Flow Path Design, Repair, and Refurbishment, ASME, New
Actions: New turbine generator installed, boiler and generator York, New York.
controls fixed, turbine valves reused after dissolution of the Clark, W. G., et al., 1981, “Procedures for Estimating the Probability
bushing deposits in hot water. of Steam Turbine Disc Rupture from Stress Corrosion
Cracking,” ASME/IEEE Power Generation Conference, Paper
CONCLUSIONS No, 81-JPGC-PWR-31, New York, New York.
• Steam turbines can be a very reliable equipment with life over Cotton, K., 1993, Evaluating and Improving Steam Turbine
30 years and overhaul approximately every 10 years. However, Performance, New York, New York: Cotton Fact, Inc.
about 5 percent of the industrial and utility turbines experience EPRI, 1981, “Steam Turbine Blades: Considerations in Design and
corrosion and deposition problems. Mostly due to LP blade and blade a Survey of Blade Failures,” Palo Alto, California, CS-1967.
attachment (disc rim) corrosion fatigue or stress corrosion failures.
EPRI, 1982a, “Steam Turbine Disc Cracking Experience: Volume
• The root causes of the blade and disc failures include design with 1—Literature and Field Survey, Volume 2—Data Summaries
high stresses, bad steam chemistry, and use of high strength materials. and Discussion, Volume 3—Stress Corrosion Cracking of
Low-Alloy Steels, Volume 4—Factors Determining Chemical
• Other steam turbine problems include: low cycle thermal
Composition of Low Pressure Turbine Environments, Volume
fatigue, pitting during unprotected layup and operation, loss of
MW/HP and efficiency due to deposits, water droplet erosion, flow 5—Characteristics and Operating Histories of U.S. Power
accelerated corrosion, solid particle erosion by magnetite particles Plants, Volume 6—Description of Turbine Rotor Models,
Volume 7—Metallurgical Analysis of Cracked Discs from 10
exfoliated from superheater, turbine destructive over speed caused
U.S. Power Plants,” Palo Alto, California, NP-2429-LD.
by the control valves stuck open because of deposits in the
bushings, and water induction-water hammer. EPRI, 1982b, “Metallurgical Evaluation of a Failed LP Turbine
Disc,” Palo Alto, California, NP-2738.
• All the problems are well understood, detectable, and preventable. EPRI, 1983, “EPRI Research Related to the Steam Turbine
Monitoring, inspection, and defects evaluation methods are available.
These methods include design reviews and audits of operation and Generator,” Palo Alto, California, NP-3288-SR.
maintenance, NDT, life prediction, vibration monitoring, vibration EPRI, 1984a, “Properties of Turbine Disc Materials,” Palo Alto,
signature analysis, water, steam, and deposit chemistry monitoring California, NP-3634.
and analysis, valve exercise, and control of superheater temperatures.
EPRI, 1984b, “The Effects of Phosphate Environments on Turbine
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by causing high steady and vibratory stresses, by thermal stresses
EPRI, 1984c, “Stress Corrosion Cracking in Steam Turbine Discs:
related to load and temperature control, and by water and steam
Survey of Data Collection, Reduction, and Modeling
purity and boiler carryover.
Activities,” Palo Alto, California, NP-3691.
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