Outside-the-firebox creep rupture failures of steam reformer catalyst tubes

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Natl. Assoc. Corros. Eng. 'Corros./80' Meet. Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6316582

Creamer, E L; Kelley, J W

Metallographic investigations of failures in the HK40 alloy catalyst tubes of a steam methane reformer below the floor of the firebox, where temperatures were 1470/sup 0/-1500/sup 0/F, at about 100,000 hr operation showed typical creep rupture damage in the catalyst tube base metal near the outlet pigtail opening. Calculated stress levels for the unreinforced opening showed that the equivalent stress concentration factor was 2.82, i.e., for the nominal equivalent stress in the tube of 1616 psi, the stress at the outlet opening was 4557 psi. This stress value and 100,000 hr time to rupture, incorporated into the stress vs. Larson-Miller relationship, gave a temperature of 1460/sup 0/F. The use of the ''weldolet'' reinforced outlet connection design is recommended.

• Research Organization: Shell Dev. Co.
• OSTI ID: 6316582
• Report Number(s): CONF-800305-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Natl. Assoc. Corros. Eng. 'Corros./80' Meet. Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: 166
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080103 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Steam Reformer Processes
42 ENGINEERING
420600 -- Engineering-- Safety Engineering-- (-1987)
421000* -- Engineering-- Combustion Systems
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CREEP
DAMAGE
EVALUATION
FAILURES
FURNACES
JOINTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALLOGRAPHY
REFORMER PROCESSES
STEAM REFORMER PROCESSES
STRESS ANALYSIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TUBES
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
WELDED JOINTS