Z phase strengthened steels for ultra-supercritical power plants (Z-ULTRA)
Forskningsprojekt, 2013 – 2016

The aim is to develop heat resistant steel with a 100000 hour creep strength of 100 MPa at 650C. This allows increasing the thermal efficiency of fossil power plants to over 50%, which is 30% higher than the present standard in most existing power plants. The CO2 emissions are reduced accordingly. The consortium combines the expertise of a steelmaker, two utility companies, an engineering consultant company from Ukraine and eight research organizations and universities from EU and Eastern Partnership countries.The idea is to exploit the Z phase as a thermodynamically stable strengthening agent in martensitic creep resistant steels. Previously the Z phase has been considered as detrimental, since the coarse Z-phase particles that develop during long time service in high-chromium steels hardly contribute to the strength while growing at the expense of the fine, strengthening nitride particles. However, high chromium contents around 12% are needed, since the current 9% chromium steels do not provide sufficient oxidation resistance at 650C. Hence the challenge is to control the precipitation of the Z phase in 12% Cr steels such that fine Z particles are formed, which are stable for long times. An important aspect is that the beneficial microstructure should be established also by the post-weld heat treatment.To achieve the goal, test melts containing different alloying elements are prepared and subjected to different heat treatments. Welding consumables and processes are also tested. Since a purely empirical alloy development is time consuming and costly, the process is supported by microstructural investigations on an atomic scale. Similarly, multiscale modelling methods are developed and applied to Z-phase strengthened steels. Modelling not only enhances the fundamental understanding of the strengthening and degradation mechanisms, but also provides design tools and lifetime estimation methods for the safe and reliable operation of future power plants.

Deltagare

Hans-Olof Andrén (kontakt)

Materialens mikrostruktur

Samarbetspartners

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)

Lyngby, Denmark

Engineering Academy of Armenia

Yerevan, Armenia

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Munchen, Germany

Georgian Technical University

Tbilisi, Georgia

IPP Centre

Kyiv, Ukraine

Institut Elektrozvaryuvannya IM.E.O. Patona Nacionalnoi Akademii Nauk Ukrainy

Kyiv, Ukraine

RWE Power

Essen, Germany

Saarschmiede - Freiformschmiede

Volklingen, Germany

Technische Universität Graz

Graz, Austria

Ustav Fyziky Materialu, AV CR, V.V.I.

Praha, Czech Republic

Finansiering

Europeiska kommissionen (EU)

Projekt-id: EC/FP7/309916
Finansierar Chalmers deltagande under 2013–2016

Relaterade styrkeområden och infrastruktur

Hållbar utveckling

Drivkrafter

Publikationer

Mer information

Projektets webbplats

http://www.z-ultra.eu

Senast uppdaterat

2020-09-02