I’ve just been updated on a (for me) new and unique application of stainless steels in the power sector.
Allow me to play the history teacher for a moment and take you to the beautiful city of Tampere, in southern Finland.
Founded as a market place on the banks of the Tammerkoski channel in 1775, Tampere developed quickly as an industrial centre in the 19th Century. It has also witnessed quite some important political events during the 20th Century.
But now it’s time to consider the Tammerkoski channel in more detail. This channel links two lakes with water levels that differ by a staggering 18 metres.
That means there is a tremendous force in the water, which has been harnessed in various ways for centuries.
For example, today the Tammerkoski channel feeds four hydroelectric power plants.
Now, over the years various structures and equipment have been built to control the water flowing through the channel, and much of that is reaching the end of its service life.
Take the old floodgates, largely built from wood which took hours to open.
Now four sluice gates and three flood gates are to be re-built, with the project scheduled for completion in 2012.
Initially, engineers chose carbon steel as the main material for construction, with stainless steel selected for certain moving parts that would be hard to paint.
However, following discussions with Outokumpu, the project team realized that lean duplex could be a more effective materials choice for the gates themselves.
Apparently, important considerations included the high strength to weight ratio (for lighter, easier to operate gates), excellent corrosion resistance (so maintenance-free operation) and even the high surface hardness (protecting the gates against wear caused by ice and floating debris).
In short, a highly interesting project with plenty of green angles.
I am delighted, therefore, with the upcoming opportunity to talk to one of Outokumpu’s experts about the materials aspects of this channel re-build.
If all goes to plan we will meet up in Helsinki in mid September.
Hopefully by then I shall have some sensible questions to ask, so please do check this website to see my report.
In the meantime: if you have any questions you would like me to put to Outokumpu, then please do get in touch at the usual address.
