Summary of selected H-Coal reactor thermal-fatigue studies

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5638857

Huxtable, W P

Thermal fatigue life of large high-pressure coal liquefaction vessels is a prime factor in the safety and economics of coal conversion facilities. To ensure the successful operation of the reactor vessel in the H-Coal Pilot Plant engineering analysis of thermal fatigue was provided from 1978 to 1983. This analysis and subsequent monitoring during operations was due in large part to the specific mechanical design of the vessel. An independent review of the vessel manufacturer's reports indicated an unrecognized approach for estimating vessel fatigue life. A creep-fatigue evaluation by UCC-ND based on ASME Code Case N-47 indicated that the vessel could be operated safely over its planned two-year life. The H-Coal reactor was designed in accordance with ASME Section VIII, Division 2, Paragraph 160.2 rules, which specify that the life of the vessel is expended when the sum of pressure cycles and equivalent thermal fatigue (ETF) cycles exceeds 1000. Simulation of vessel thermal response to hypothetical process temperature transients was valuable for comparing temperature monitoring strategies for measuring ETF cycles prior to actual vessel operation. The grid support region most rapidly accumulates ETF cycles in the H-Coal vessel due to its method of attachment to the vessel wall. These analytical studies led to the recommendation that metal rather than process temperatures be used to reduce the accumulation of ETF cycles in the grid support region. Additional thermocouples were installed on the grid support, and the resulting data allowed a 28% reduction in ETF cycles. Significant circumferential variation in ETF cycles was observed in the H-Coal vessel grid support region, suggesting a need for careful fluid dynamic design. Local reaction hot spots which occur above the grid plate were not found to significantly affect ETF cycles in the grid support region if the reactor refractory liner remains intact.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5638857
• Report Number(s): ORNL/ENG/TM-29; ON: DE84001489
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
H-COAL PROCESS
PILOT PLANTS
PRESSURE VESSELS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMAL FATIGUE
MONITORING
CHROMIUM-MOLYBDENUM STEELS
COAL LIQUEFACTION
COAL LIQUEFACTION PLANTS
CREEP
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOWSHEETS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
REFRACTORIES
SERVICE LIFE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ALLOYS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CONTAINERS
DATA
DIAGRAMS
FATIGUE
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LIQUEFACTION
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NUMERICAL DATA
STEELS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010405* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
360103 - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties