MBM – Materials Testing and Diagnostics Department

What is the Materials Testing and Diagnostics Department?

The Materials Testing and Diagnostics Department performs materials testing and materials and strength diagnostics of power equipment such as:

• steam pipelines,
• feedwater pipelines,
• heating surfaces of boilers,
• superheater chambers and manifolds,
• suspension systems for pipelines and superheater chambers,
• boiler rollers.

Along with the testing of all pipelines, inspections, repairs and upgrades of their fastening systems are performed.

What does the Materials Testing and Diagnostics Department do?

The scope of the research work carried out includes:

• structural testing by light and electron microscopy (SEM) - non-destructive metallographic testing by matrix replica method, performed directly on the equipment using the methodology developed in the Department, and metallographic testing on solid samples,
• hardness measurements directly on the object with portable hardness testers,
• measurements of the outside diameter and wall thickness of power equipment components and calculations of permanent deformation,
• tests of corrosion and erosion wear,
• testing of mechanical properties of materials: creep strength tests, static tensile tests, impact tests (instrumented impact test) with determination of the temperature of brittleness threshold, hardness and microhardness tests by Vickers method, hardness distribution tests.
• testing by methods of resistance strain gauging - testing of deformations (stresses) in components under load, testing of technological and assembly residual stresses in equipment components before or after installation,
• diagnostics of fastening systems - testing of all types of fixed, spring and rigid suspensions and supports, evaluation of the performance of fastening systems for power pipelines, superheater chambers, etc.,
• development of repair and adjustment guidelines to improve the performance of fastening systems,
• measurements of pipeline displacements between cold and hot states, measurements of pipeline gradients,
• measurements of deflections of superheater chambers,
• measurements of the Barkhausen effect.

In addition to the mentioned tests and measurements, the Department:

• performs strength calculations of pipelines using specialized software, in accordance with the latest European standards,
• carries out assessment of the degree of exhaustion of the service life of the material of power equipment operating in creep conditions and forecasting the period of further safe operation,
• develops diagnostic programs for power equipment, including long-operated power pipelines, even after exceeding the calculated operating time,
• supervises the construction or modernization of high-pressure power equipment.

Specialized research laboratories operate within the Department. Check out the scope of their activities.

Why should you choose our services?

The department has at its disposal research and measurement apparatus and equipment that allows us to perform material science tests and stress measurements and strength analyses at the highest level. Highly qualified personnel have many years of professional experience and the necessary qualification certificates authorizing them to conduct and supervise diagnostics of manufacturing power equipment. Our activities make it possible to release equipment for operation even after three times the calculated operating time.

The Department's testing methods and equipment are covered by the recognition of the Office of Technical Inspection: Laboratory Recognition Certificate No. LBU-064/27-22.

The Department of Testing and Diagnostics of Materials has positive opinions of, among others:

• PGE GiEK S.A. Bełchatów Power Plant Branch
• PGE GiEK S.A. Turów Power Plant Branch
• ZE PAK S.A.
• ENEA Wytwarzanie sp. z o.o.

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