Within the scope of the demonstration project „Kraftwerk 50plus“, E.ON Kraftwerke is carrying out a multitude of material tests. Apart from the main components such as steam turbine and steam generator, pipelines and fittings are essential components of a steam power station. Thus, the use of new materials has to be verified with particular thoroughness.

For a safe operation of the planned 700°C demo power station with an efficiency of 50 percent, E.ON Kraftwerke is testing the use of nickel-based materials in areas that are subject to high stress. The manufacturers’ previous experience with the materials is restricted to the manufacture of pipelines and fittings with small diameters and wall thicknesses. So as to resist the high pressure of 350 bar, pipes and fittings must exhibit considerably greater wall thicknesses (up to approx. 80 mm for the live steam line). For this, E.ON Kraftwerke is testing different manufacturing and processing methods. In addition, welding tests on nickel-based materials are carried out beforehand for a later installation of the pipelines and safety equipment in the plant.