Failure analysis of a cracked stainless steel holder in a condensate stabilizer unit

Abstract:

The article focuses on a failure that occurred in a stabilizer tower at a petroleum plant in Egypt that involved cracking of a Type 304 stainless steel (SS) (UNS S30400) tray holder. Two samples provided by the petroleum company represent the damaged holder. The holder (clips) samples received for failure analysis were first examined visually, both externally and internally, with the aid of a low-power stereomicroscope, and photographed. The samples were then sectioned longitudinally to permit close examination of the internal surfaces. The x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique was used to determine quantitatively the overall composition of the elemental species within the deposit, and x-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to identify the crystalline species present. The holder specimen showed severe macrocracks in both sides as observed by visual inspection. The cracks in the SS samples were long, wide, and deep. The cracks initiated from a stain point with some corrosion products around it.

Año de publicación:

2013

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus