Application Note: Abrasion-Resistant Pipe Takes Beating Of Coal-Fired Power Plant Applications

Steel piping systems are widely used at coal-fired power plants for a variety of purposes, including the conveyance of coal ash slurry to nearby settling ponds, the transfer of limestone slurry to absorber spray towers for removal of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) from flue gases, and for transporting away the calcium sulfate by-product of the flue gas desulfurization process.

However, when these abrasive, caustic slurries are transported through steel pipe, the effect on the inner surface can be devastating. Abrasive wear within these transportation systems is produced when hard particles are forced against or slide along the wall of the pipe. The loss of material is the result of the hard, sharp angular edges producing a cutting or shearing action on the pipe wall, which in more extreme cases can result in pipe leaks and even failure, or significant maintenance costs and downtime for pipe replacement.

For these highly abrasive applications, mild steel pipe is simply not tough enough to stand up to the abuse for more than a year or two. As a result, maintenance engineers are seeking superior piping alternatives to reduce maintenance and prolong system life, at a price point that will not significantly impact the budget.