A Survey of Erosion and Corrosion Resistant Materials Being Used on Boiler Tubes in Waste to Energy Boilers Available to Purchase

Waste-to-Energy boilers, including mass-fired, RDF-fired, and biomass-fired boilers, produce very corrosive and erosive environments which can significantly reduce the life of furnace, super heater, boiler, and in-bed tubes. Combustion products from municipal waste refuse are very corrosive. This corrosion is typically caused by chloride compounds which deposit on the furnace, superheater, and boiler tubes. Due to high flue gas velocities and soot blowing required to remove ash and slag deposits, and BFB media, these tubes are also subject to substantial erosion. Since 2000, Inconel weld overlays have been used for corrosion and erosion protection on boiler tubes. During this period, many other materials have also been tested in waste-to-energy boilers with mixed results. This paper will provide an overview of the materials that have been tested on in-bed, furnace, superheater, and boiler tubes in waste-to-energy boilers. The test results will be based on laboratory analysis used to evaluate these corrosion and erosion protection solutions. In addition, field results will be reviewed from various waste-to-energy sites to support the laboratory analysis.