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U.S. Department of Energy
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Effect of wet H{sub 2}S cracking on the serviceability of carbon steel equipment in petrochemical service

Conference ·
OSTI ID:176121
;  [1]
  1. CLI International, Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
Knowledge of the operable wet H{sub 2}S cracking mechanism(s) and mechanical behavior of wet H{sub 2}S damaged material is required to properly assess the fitness of equipment for continued service versus repair or replacement because of wet H{sub 2}S damage. This paper presents the results of large-scale wet H{sub 2}S exposure tests which utilized a steel pressure vessel containing various welded test plates. Particular attention was given to (1) the performance of conventional carbon steels versus advanced carbon steels designed for enhanced resistance to wet H{sub 2}S cracking, (2) defining which wet H{sub 2}S mechanisms result in in-plane cracking as opposed to through-wall cracking and providing the typical locations in which they are observed, (3) the interrelationship of stress, welding and plate orientation on the susceptibility to wet H{sub 2}S cracking and (4) residual mechanical properties of conventional carbons steels used in wet H{sub 2}S refinery service. The results of this program have provided valuable insight on the role of steel quality and microstructure on the susceptibility to wet H{sub 2}S cracking and provided valuable data on the residual strengths and toughnesses of steels containing extensive wet H{sub 2}S damage.
OSTI ID:
176121
Report Number(s):
CONF-950740--; ISBN 0-7918-1346-0
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English