A new power plant generation is being developed for the coming years with fresh steam temperatures of around 700 °C and pressures up to 352 bar. This is intended to increase the overall efficiency to more than 50%. For such power plants, even hardened steel with a high chromium content is no longer sufficient. Special alloys with a high nickel content provide sufficient mechanical strength. Pipes and components must be produced using these nickel-based alloys in order to withstand the high temperatures.
Materials for increased steam parameters have been tested in the Scholven coal-fired power plant (Gelsenkirchen) as part of a research project (COMTES 700). This enables the manufacturer and installation companies to qualify for the construction of a 700 °C power plant. The image shows a red-glowing fresh steam pipe for the component testing plant in the Scholven power plant.
