High-Temperature Stainless Steel and Nickel Alloy Pipes for Power Generation
Recommended Pipe & Tube Materials
Power plants push materials hard: steam at high temperature and pressure, cyclic loading, fireside corrosion and, in nuclear plants, radiation and high-purity water chemistry. This guide covers the heat-resistant stainless steel and nickel alloy pipes and tubes used in thermal, nuclear and emerging advanced power systems.
What Power Plant Pipes Must Withstand
- Creep: slow deformation under long-term stress at high temperature
- Oxidation and steam-side scaling at superheater and reheater temperatures
- Fireside corrosion from ash, sulfur and chlorides in the combustion gas
- Thermal fatigue from start-up and shutdown cycles
- Stress corrosion cracking in nuclear water chemistry (for steam generator tubing)
Materials by Application
Superheaters and Reheaters (Thermal Plants)
- TP304H / TP347H (ASTM A213): austenitic stainless steels with controlled carbon and grain size for good creep strength. 347H is stabilized with niobium for better resistance to sensitization.
- Super304H (S30432) and HR3C (TP310HCbN): enhanced creep-strength grades used in supercritical and ultra-supercritical boilers.
- 310S: used where higher oxidation resistance is required.
Advanced Ultra-Supercritical (A-USC) Systems
Very high steam temperatures call for nickel-based alloys such as Alloy 617 (UNS N06617) and Alloy 740H, which retain strength at temperatures where stainless steels lose creep resistance.
Nuclear Power
- Alloy 690 (UNS N06690): the standard steam generator tubing material in modern pressurized water reactors, with strong resistance to primary-water stress corrosion cracking.
- Alloy 800 / 800H/HT (N08800, N08810, N08811): used in certain steam generators and heat exchange components.
- 304L / 316L: auxiliary and cooling systems.
Waste-to-Energy and Biomass Boilers
Chlorine-rich, corrosive flue gases make Alloy 625 overlay or tubes, and high-chromium alloys, important for superheaters and evaporator walls.
Typical Standards
| Product | Standard |
|---|---|
| Seamless boiler / superheater tubes | ASTM A213 (TP304H, TP347H, TP310HCbN) |
| Welded tubes | ASTM A249 |
| Stainless steel pipe | ASTM A312, ASTM A376 (seamless, high-temperature central-station service) |
| Nickel alloy tubes (Alloy 600/690/800/617) | ASTM B163, ASTM B167 |
| Nuclear components | ASME Section III, project-specific requirements |
Selection Tips
- Define the metal temperature, steam pressure and design life, since creep governs the choice
- Check fireside conditions (fuel type, chloride and sulfur content)
- Confirm grain size and heat treatment requirements for H-grades
- Verify inspection level: ultrasonic testing, eddy current testing, hydrostatic testing, and PMI
- For nuclear or code-stamped work, confirm that quality documentation and traceability meet the customer’s requirements
- Email: info@duplex-stainless-steel.com
- WhatsApp / WeChat: +86-13587686960
- Send Your Inquiry →
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does the “H” in 304H and 347H mean?
“H” indicates a higher and controlled carbon content (typically 0.04-0.10%) together with grain size requirements, which give better high-temperature creep strength than standard “L” or regular grades.
Q2: Why is TP347H preferred to TP304H in some boilers?
347H contains niobium, which stabilizes carbon and reduces sensitization and intergranular corrosion, and it generally provides better creep and oxidation performance in long-term high-temperature service.
Q3: Why is Alloy 690 used for nuclear steam generator tubes?
It has high chromium content, which provides excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking in high-temperature primary water, and it is less susceptible than the earlier Alloy 600.
Q4: Can you supply tubes with special heat treatment and testing?
Yes. Please state the required standard, grain size, heat treatment and NDT scope in your inquiry.
Request a Quote for Power Plant Pipes and Tubes
Send us your grade, standard, OD × wall thickness × length, quantity and required testing, and we will reply with pricing and lead time within 24 hours.