Two lifetime estimation models for steam turbine components under thermomechanical creep–fatigue loading

The flexibility of steam turbine components is currently a key issue in terms of the fluctuations in the power supply due to regenerative energy. Conventional steam power plants must run at varying utilization levels. Life estimation methods according to standards, e.g. ASME Code N47 and TR, assess the influences of creep and fatigue separately under the assumption of isothermal conditions at the maximum operating temperature. The influence of thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) loading still requires a significant number of experimental studies. Further, the interaction of creep and fatigue is not adequately taken into account. Thus, new lifetime estimation methods are required for the monitoring, re-engineering and new design of power plant components. In this paper, both a phenomenological and a constitutive crack initiation lifetime estimation model for steam turbine components are introduced. The effectiveness of each method is shown by recalculation of uniaxial as well as multiaxial service-type creep–fatigue experiments on high-chromium 10%Cr stainless rotor steel. Finally, the two models are compared with respect to different aspects, such as the type and number of necessary experiments to determine model parameters, the prerequisite for the application and the limitations of each model.