Pipe for steam turbine, manufacturing process of same, main stream pipe and reheat pipe for steam turbine, and steam turbine power plant using those pipes

1. A pipe for a steam turbine wherein the pipe is formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction.

2. The pipe for the steam turbine according to claim 1 , wherein said steel contains 0.05-0.5% by mass of C, not more than 1.0% of Si, 0.05-1.5% of Mn, 0.01-2.5% of Ni, 8.0-13.0% of Cr, 0.05-2.5% of Mo, not more than 3.0% of W, 0.05-0.35% of V, 0.01-0.5% of Nb, not more than 5% of Co, 0.01-0.1% of N, not more than 0.03% of B, and not more than 0.05% of Al.

3. The pipe for the steam turbine according to claim 1 , wherein said steel is made of 0.07-0.20% by mass of C, 0.2-0.6% of Si, 0.3-0.7% of Mn, 0.2 -0.8% of Ni, 8.0-13.0% of Cr, 0.9-1.8% of Mo, 0.1-0.7% of W, 0.05-0.35% of V, 0.01-0.3% of Nb, 0.01-0.1% of N, 0.005-0.02% of Al, and the balance being unavoidable impurities and iron.

4. The pipe for the steam turbine according to claim 1 , wherein said steel is made of 0.07-0.20% by mass of C, 0.2-0.6% of Si, 0.3-0.7% of Mn, 0.2 -0.8% of Ni, 8.0-13.0% of Cr, 0.5-1.2% of Mo, 1.0-3.0% of W, 0.05-0.35% of V, 0.01-0.3% of Nb, 0.5-2.0% of Co, 0.01-0.1% of N, 0.003-0.02% of B, 0.005-0.02% of Al, and the balance being unavoidable impurities and iron.

5. The pipe for the steam turbine according to claim 1 , wherein said centrifugal casting material has smooth-specimen creep rupture strength of not less than 95 MPa at 600° C. and 100,000 hours, and tensile strength of not less than 570 MPa at room temperature.

6. The pipe for the steam turbine according to claim 1 , wherein said centrifugal casting material has a flange at one end at least.

7. A main steam pipe for a steam turbine, wherein a main steam pipe for feeding high-temperature and high-pressure main steam to a high-pressure steam turbine or a high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction.

8. A reheat pipe for a steam turbine, wherein a reheat pipe for reheating steam discharged from a high-pressure steam turbine and feeding the reheated steam to a medium-pressure steam turbine or a reheat pipe for reheating steam discharged from a high-pressure section of a high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine and feeding the reheated steam to a medium- pressure section of said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction.

9. A steam turbine power plant comprising a high-pressure steam turbine, a medium-pressure steam turbine and a single low-pressure steam turbine, or comprising a high-pressure steam turbine, a medium-pressure steam turbine and two low-pressure steam turbines coupled to each other in tandem, wherein at least a main steam pipe for feeding high-temperature and high-pressure main steam to said high-pressure steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, or a reheat pipe for reheating steam discharged from said high-pressure steam turbine and feeding the reheated steam to said medium-pressure steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, said main steam pipe being joined by welding to an external casing of said high-pressure steam turbine through an elbow pipe.

10. A steam turbine power plant according to claim 9 , wherein said outer casing is made of cast steel containing 0.06-0.2% by mass of 0,1.5-2.5% of Cr, and 0.5-1.5% of Mo.

11. A steam turbine power plant according to claim 9 , wherein said high-pressure steam turbine or said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine has an inner casing within said outer casing, and said inner casing is made of cast steel containing 0.09-0.14% by mass of C, not more than 0.3% of Si, 0.40-0.70% of Mn, 8-10% of Cr, 0.4-0.7% of Ni, 0.15-0.25% of V, 0.04-0.08% of Nb, 0.02-0.06% of N, 0.40-0.80% of Mo, 1.4-1.9% of W, and 0.00 1-0.0025% of B.

12. A steam turbine power plant comprising a high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine and a single low-pressure steam turbine, or comprising a high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine and two low-pressure steam turbines coupled to each other in tandem, wherein at least a main steam pipe for feeding high-temperature and high-pressure main steam to said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, or a reheat pipe for reheating steam discharged from a high-pressure section of said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine and feeding the reheated steam to a medium-pressure section of said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine is formed of one of (1) a pipe formed of a centrifugal casting material made of martensitic steel having a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, and (2) a pipe manufactured by a manufacturing process comprising the steps of preparing ferrite-based molten steel by cradle refining; pouring the ferrite-based molten steel into a rotating cylindrical mold including a ceramic wash formed on an inner surface of said mold, thereby to perform centrifugal casting; and forming a columnar structure in the radial direction with the crystal grain size number of 5 or more in a plane perpendicular to the radial direction, said main steam pipe being joined by welding to an external casing of said high- and medium-pressure integral steam turbine through an elbow pipe.