Base test (Round Robin Test) for the planned project „Non destructive examination methods for casted nickel based alloys“ (COORETEC TD-2)

Project Number 351

To increase efficiency in conventional-fired power plants it is necessary to enhance steam temperature and pressure. For these conditions austenitic steels and nickel based alloys are needed. For casted thick-walled components out of nickel-based alloys it is very important to have a possibility to detect defects coming from manufacturing or operation.

In this base test non-destructive examinations (ultrasonic) with at the moment available mobile equipment were carried out at 2 casted thick-walled components out of Alloy 625. The reason is to find out the state of the art for the follow-up project COORETEC TD-2 “Non destructive examination methods for casted nickel based alloys” (follow-up of project 296). It is the aim to determine the possibility to detect material defects by using a reference block and a staged test block for validation. The foreseen examinations deliver the base to develop a procedure for quality assurance for casted thick walled components out of nickel based alloys.

VGB coordinates the base test. Participants are the research institutes, generators and manufacturers, which are also interested in the planned R&D project COORETEC TD-2. In principle there is also the possibility for other interested companies to take part.

The examinations are carried out from the following research institutes:

  • Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung
  • Fraunhofer Institut Zerstörungsfreie Prüfverfahren
  • intelligeNDT System & Services GmbH
  • Materialprüfungsanstalt Universität Stuttgart
  • Müller und Medenbach GmbH
  • TÜV Rheinland Werkstoffprüfung GmbH

The following manufacturers are attending the project:

  • Siemens AG
  • Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
  • BHR Hochdruck-Rohrleitungsbau GmbH
  • SCHMOLZ+BICKENBACH GUSS GmbH

The following generators are participating in the project:

  • EnBW Kraftwerke AG
  • E.ON New Build & Technology GmbH
  • RWE Power AG
  • STEAG GmbH
  • Vattenfall Europe Generation AG

The development of the methods to improve the detectability, the inspection of the improved procedures and the integration in quality assurance concepts are part of the follow-up project. The results can also be used to prepare an application for public funding within COORETEC.