Microstructural evolution in service exposed low alloy power plant steels

This work forms part of the EPSRC Supergen 2 Lifetime Extension of Conventional Power Plant project. In particular this research investigates the remaining life of a number of ditferent YzCr YzMo 'i4 V power plant steels which have been in service for considerable lengths of time and which have subtle differences in chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. The low alloy ferritic steels all operate in the creep regime and therefore resistance to creep is an important microstructural characteristic. There are a number of key questions which this research aims to address: Having endured this extensive time in service how do engineers within the power industry know that the component is still safe to run? Even as the components reach and often exceed their original design life, it is important to safely extend the lives of existing conventional plant in a bid to ensure that the country's electricity supply remains intact... cont'd