Failure Analysis of Carbon Steel Tubes in a Reformed Gas Boiler Feed Water Preheater

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - This study involves the failure analysis of carbon steel tubes in a reformed gas boiler feed water preheater unit operating at an ammonia plant. It was...     

Failure Analysis of Two Stainless Steel Based Components Used in an Oil Refinery

The petroleum industry has changed significantly over the past decades. For example, in Brazil, oil extraction under very deep sea water is growing very quickly. As a consequence, materials and components used for such applications must have properties required to withstand adverse conditions and ensure satisfactory performance and reliability in service. Nonetheless, components that normally fulfill these standard requirements can fail under severe service conditions such as high pressure and temperatures and high concentrations of H₂S and CO₂. Among the factors that can cause the premature failure in metallic components are the use of inadequate materials, the presence of defects that appeared during the production, and errors of project, assembly, or maintenance. Failure analysis allows the identification of causes and thus contributes to improvements in the operation and performance of similar equipment. In this work, light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the microstructure and fracture surface of two centrifugal pump shafts that failed during use in a Brazilian petroleum refinery. The results showed that one shaft, made of duplex stainless steel, failed by fatigue fracture, and the other, made of 316 austenitic stainless steel, experienced a similar fracture, which was promoted by the presence of nonmetallic inclusion particles.     

Failure Investigation of Boiler Water Wall Tubes of a Thermal Power Station

Failure investigation was carried out on boiler water wall tubes of a thermal power plant through visual inspection, chemical analysis, and metallurgical analysis. Failure was in the form of thin/micro cracks along the length of the tubes which were located at the girth welding joint of tubes. Experimental results revealed that the cracking was from inward to outward of the tube thickness. Discontinuities/cavities were observed in the welded region which might have occurred due to lack of fusion of base metal and the weld metal. Cracks were initiated from the sharp corner/crack tip of the cavities/discontinuities present at the welded region under the action of hoop/thermal stress existed during the operation. Nature of the crack propagation indicates the case of typical hydrogen-induced cracking. Moreover, the presence of the cavities/discontinuities reduced the cross-sectional area of tubes resulting increased stress intensity. Increased stress beyond the flow stress of the material assisted by hydrogen-induced effect resulted the cracking of the tubes. In order to mitigate the problem, proper welding of tubes joints should be carried out followed by proper inspection after weld. Secondly, hydrogen dissolution during welding should be prevented and treatment for its removal after welding should be carried out.     

Investigations on the Failure of Economizer Tubes in a High-Pressure Boiler

This article describes the results of an investigation concerning the failure of economizer tubes of a high-pressure boiler in a dual-purpose power/water cogeneration plant. The failure was observed in the form of rupturing of one tube and a macrohole or pinhole in another tube. The boiler had an operating period of 116,123 h since its inception. For approximately the first 100,000 h, the fuel for the boiler was crude oil, which was replaced by Bunker C oil. The boiler tube is fabricated from carbon steel SA 210A1. The location of the failure was determined by on-site visual inspection of the boiler. Detailed macro- and microexaminations of inner and outer scales on the tube were begun to determine the cause of the rupture. The composition of the fire- and waterside scale and ash deposited on the outer surface of the tubes was analyzed by energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) technique. The reduction percentage of wall thickness of the tube facing inside and outside the furnace was calculated. The cause of the failure of the economizer tube appears to be H₂SO₄ dew-point corrosion. The relatively low temperature of feedwater lowered the tube metal temperature and promoted the condensation of H₂SO₄. The external deposits on the tubes, as a result of bunker oil firing, further helped to lower the tube metal temperature, thus promoting H₂SO₄ condensation over the deposit and subsequent corrosion of the tube wall. Recommendations are given to prevent/minimize such failures.     

锅炉过热器管爆裂原因分析

针对某热电厂4号锅炉12CrlMoV钢过热器管的爆裂破坏,进行了宏观形貌、化学成分、金相组织、扫描电镜等的分析。结果表明,炉管爆裂的原因是炉内局部温度过高,该处炉管长期过热,管壁组织珠光体球化达到5级．晶界出现蠕变裂纹,导致炉管强度降低所致。     

Stress Assisted Corrosion of Waterwall Tubes in Recovery Boiler Tubes: Failure Analysis

Waterside cracking of carbon-steel boiler tubes is one of the major safety and efficiency concerns in kraft recovery boilers in the pulp and paper industry, because any water leak into the furnace could cause a smelt-water explosion in the boiler. Failed carbon-steel boiler tubes from different kraft recovery boilers were examined to understand the role of carbon-steel microstructure on crack initiation and crack morphology. A number of carbon-steel tubes showed a deep decarburized layer on the inner surface (water-touched) and also an unusually large grain size at the inner tube surface. In some boiler tubes, cracks were found to initiate in areas with large-grained-decarburized microstructure. However, tubes without such microstructure were also found to have stress assisted corrosion (SAC) cracks. It was found that the decarburization and large grained microstructure may facilitate initiation and growth, but it is not necessary for SAC of carbon-steel boiler tubes.     

锅炉顶棚过热器管开裂原因分析

对某热电厂3号锅炉的无损探伤检查,发现该炉部分顶棚过热器管的背火面上存在裂纹。通过对过热器管的裂纹形貌、化学成分、金相组织和断口等的分析,确认3号锅炉顶棚过热器管的开裂失效性质属于热疲劳破坏。     

电站锅炉末级再热器管泄漏失效分析

采用化学元素分析、力学性能试验、金相分析及断口扫描电镜观察等方法对某电站锅炉末级再热器管泄漏失效的原因进行了分析.结果表明,焊接质量不良,存在未熔合焊接缺陷,在退刀槽应力集中处萌生裂纹,进而扩展,是导致泄漏的原因.     

Failure Analysis and Fatigue Investigation on Titanium Tubes in a Condenser

This paper presents an analysis of condenser titanium tube leakage in nuclear power plants. Chemical compositions, mechanical properties, metallographic structures, and microscopic morphologies were analyzed. The results show that the titanium tube leakage was mainly caused by fatigue failure on the basis of the fatigue fracture features. Fatigue tests had been carried out in both air and steam environments, and the fatigue resistance of titanium tubes decreased distinctly in a steam environment. Based on the investigations, proper recommendations have been proposed to enhance the prevention of fatigue fracture of titanium tubes in condensers.     

低硬度P91钢管件布氏硬度转换值存在偏差原因分析

以不同硬度的P91钢管件和低合金钢管件作为研究对象,在消除外部因素(试样温度、刚性、质量及表面状况等)导致的误差后,通过硬度对比试验发现,相对于真实布氏硬度值,低硬度P91钢管件的布氏硬度转换值(HBHLD)仍然存在较大负偏差。根据力学性能试验结果,结合里氏硬度检测原理及强化理论,分析了HBHLD值产生偏差的内在原因。结果表明:P91钢管件硬度的降低伴随着固溶强化及位错强化效果的减弱,致使屈强比降低,是导致其HBHLD值出现负偏差的主要原因;弹性模量的微小变化对其影响不大。     

Failure Analysis of Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tubes in a Petrochemical Plant

Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention - A shell and tube heat exchanger had failed its four tubes after just over a year in service. One of these tubes was analyzed in this examination. This...     

超临界锅炉末级过热器T91钢管爆管原因分析及预防措施

对某超临界锅炉末级过热器T91钢管的爆管原因进行了分析。结果表明:该T91钢管爆管是由于管内壁偏厚的氧化皮剥落,在下弯头处堆积造成管内介质流量减少,引起钢管过热所致。针对该问题,通过对T91等铁素体锅炉钢管进行内壁氧化皮厚度测量,并根据测量结果采取相应措施,可大大减少或避免由于氧化皮剥落、堆积而引起的爆管事故。     

碳钢大气腐蚀加速试验研究

对碳钢进行了四种加速腐蚀试验，研究表明，以氯化钠和过硫酸钠的混合液作为加速剂，采用含有干／湿循环过程的加速腐蚀试验方法，对碳钢大气腐蚀的模拟性和加速性较好。     

Failure Investigation of a Defective Weldment of an Oil Product Transmission Pipeline

An API 5L X52 oil product transmission pipeline experienced a sudden failure at a portion which had been buried in the bed of a river crossing after 33 years of service. Results showed that mechanical properties of the weldment had been reduced due to weld defects. The defects had been formed during construction welding and installation of the pipeline in the bed of the river crossing. No failure had occurred until this portion of the buried pipeline came out of its place in the bed of the river crossing. Under this condition, defective weldment (due to hydrogen stepwise cracking, incomplete fusion, porosity formation, and entrapped slag inclusion) was not capable of enduring stress imposed by the strong river stream and consequently failed. Metallographic and SEM studies as well as stress analysis were used for pipeline fracture investigation.     

锅炉管道安装中常见焊接缺陷的控制

文章列出了在锅炉安装时管道焊接中易出现的几种焊接缺陷,介绍了焊接工艺和操作等方面的控制措施。     

某井油管变扣短节断裂原因分析

某井油管变扣短节服役5个月即发生断裂失效。通过对失效油管变扣短节的宏观形貌、微观形貌、理化性能进行分析和检验,查明了其断裂原因。结果表明:该油管变扣短节断裂主要是由硫化氢应力腐蚀开裂导致的;由于该井硫化氢含量较高,因此建议该井油管柱采用抗硫材料。     

超超临界锅炉末级过热器T92钢管爆管原因分析

通过宏观检查、化学成分分析、金相检验及力学性能测试等方法,对某电厂超超临界锅炉末级过热器T92钢管爆管原因进行了分析。结果表明：爆管是由管子内壁局部位置少量氧化皮脱落引起的长时过热导致的,并针对爆管原因提出了预防措施。     

A Study on Wear Failure Analysis of Tungsten Carbide Hardfacing on Carbon Steel Blade in a Digester Tank

This paper addresses wear failure analysis of tungsten carbide (WC) hardfacing on a carbon steel blade known as the continuous digester blade (CD blade). The CD blade was placed in a digester tank to mix ilmenite ore with sulphuric acid as part of a production process. Tungsten carbide hardfacing was applied on the CD blade to improve its wear resistance while the CD blade was exposed to an abrasive and acidic environment. Failure analysis was carried out on the hardfaced CD blade in order to improve its wear resistance and lifetime. A thickness and hardness comparison study was conducted on worn and unworn specimens from the CD blades. The carbide distribution along with elemental composition analysis of the hardfaced CD blade specimens was examined using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The investigation revealed that an inconsistent hardfacing thickness was welded around the CD blade. Minimum coating thickness was found at the edges of the blade surfaces causing failure to the blades as the bare carbon steel blades were exposed to the mixed environment. The wear resistance of the CD blade can be improved by distributing the carbide uniformly on the hardfaced coating. Applying extra coating coverage at the critical edge will prevent the exposure of bare carbon steel blade, thus increasing the CD blade lifetime.     

某油井修复油管断裂原因分析

某油井在起甩管柱时第329根修复油管发生断裂。通过化学成分分析、力学性能测试、断口宏微观分析、金相检验以及受力分析等方法,对该油管的断裂原因进行了分析。结果表明:该油管为过载断裂,油管管壁因修复过程及均匀腐蚀减薄严重,使其承载能力大大降低,从而导致其在提升过程中的较大载荷作用下发生过载拉伸断裂。