Steam Pipe Failure

[engrpiper]

Has anyone heard any information regarding a utility steam pipe failure in Kansas?

 

[metengr]

Yes. I received a cryptic email late last week, and it was reported a 3" attemperator line ruptured in service. One killed, several injured.

 

[davefitz]

It would be of interest to read about the failure analysis. The spray water line downstream of the water block valve should be fab'd of P22 , since steam can back up to this section, espescially if it has a warmup drain in service. If it was CS, it may have overheated, graphitized, and failed.

 

[JStephen]

Here's an article on it- not any technical detail:

http://www.kansascity.com/206/story/100971.html

 

[metengr]

Here is a follow-up to the pipe failure at KCP&L

-failure was in the feedwater piping to the attemperator station
- the feedwater line was reported to be 4" Sch 160, SA 106 Grade C carbon steel
- cause of failure was flow accelerated corrosion (FAC)
- 18" long rupture
- piping adjacent to the failure was reduced to 0.100"

 

[rmw]

How old was this unit?

rmw

 

[davefitz]

the link states the plantis 25 yrs old