Analysis of Corrosion and Thinning Causes for a High Temperature Steam Drum Head in Boiler

By means of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy spectrum analysis, hardness testing, chemical composition analysis and other means of material science analysis, combined with the actual operation situation on site, the causes of corrosion and thinning of a steam drum head were analyzed. The results show that properties of the material for steam drum were normal, so material was not the reason for corrosion of steam drum. The presence of dissolved oxygen and sulfates in medium water was the main reason for the corrosion of the drum head, and high temperature accelerated the corrosion process. The design of drum structure was unreasonable, so that high temperature water vapor directly eroded the head of drum, which resulted in the speed of thinning of the head area faster than that of other areas.