Outokumpu has recently supplied Ultra 254 SMO stainless steel grade for Jyväskylä Energy Groupâs power station in Jyväskylä, with peat and wood as main fuels, after comprehensive field tests with a wide range of materials. Ultra 254 SMO is one of Outokumpuâs most corrosion resistant grades and performed significantly better in comparison to the lower-alloyed alternatives. Ultra 254 SMO is typically used in challenging environments where standard materials will corrode.
Jyväskylä Energy Group had built a new power station with a 143 meter tall chimney made of coated carbon steel in 2010. However, the circumstances were more aggressive than thought, and in a few years the chimney was in need of renewal. Aleksi Vuorenmaa, Project Manager at Jyväskylä Energy Group, says: âWe decided to renew the chimney because of its widespread corrosion damage. We needed a material that could withstand the conditions in the flue gas duct and chimney, while also being cost-efficient. The most important requirement was a high corrosion resistance, and for that reason we chose stainless steel.â?
In order to find the optimal stainless steel, Outokumpuâs corrosion department in Avesta R&D Center performed two long-term field tests with a wide range of materials, paying attention for weight loss and visible corrosion.