Feedwater Heaters of

Boiler
Failure Mode & Defense
Cited from EPRI
Failure Mechanism and Strategy
Feedwater Heater Response
 • Tube vibration
Drains subcooler flashing and
The most •
level control
serious areas • Tube plugging
identified were • Corrosion
the following: • Tube inlet erosion
• Steam impingement
 • Tubes / Coils Austenitic Stainless Steel, Admiralty
The Heat Brass, Copper-Nickel,Titanium, Copper
• Tube Sheets Carbon Steel, Austenitic Stainless
Exchanger AMG Steel, Muntz (copper alloy)
• Shell / Nozzles / Internals Carbon Steel, Austenitic
details typical Stainless Steel
• Baffle Plates Carbon Steel, Austenitic Stainless
heat Steel
exchanger • Divider Plates Carbon Steel, Austenitic Stainless
Steel
materials • Fasteners Forged Stainless Steel, Forged Carbon
Steel
• Waterbox / Channel Head Carbon Steel, Austenitic
Stainless Steel
 • Inadequate Venting Leading to Corrosion Problems and
Problems in Thermal Deficiencies
• Tube Damage Resulting from Inadequate Impingement
the Plates
• Erosion Resulting from Inadequate Impingement Plates
Condensing • Lack of Flash Chambers Causing Shell Erosion and Tube
Damage
Zone • High Velocity Wet Steam Causing Erosion of Shells and
Support Plates
Problems in the Drain Cooler Zone

• Erosion of Tubes and/or Baffle Plates Resulting from Inadequate Water Level and/or
inadequate Anti-Vortexing Design
• Erosion Resulting from Excessive Pressure Drop and Flashing
• High Drain Cooler Velocity Causing Vibration Damage, Baffle Plate Erosion
• High Drain Cooler Velocity Resulting from Excessive Duty (i.e., a lower pressure FW
heater being isolated)
• Inadequate Level Control Resulting in Erosion due to Flashing or Excessive
Flow10248192Historical Performance Data from Industry Operating Experience4-8
• Erosion and Tube Damage Resulting from Inadequate Plate Thickness
• Erosion and Steam Flow from Tube/Plate Leakage