Gerrit Buchheim, Manager of the Pono Division of Becht Engineering, has developed a practical and simple-to-use approach to prioritizing the inspection and replacement of equipment in High Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA) service. This approach utilizes the existing and accepted “Nelson Curve”, but adapts it to better fit the realized operating conditions at an individual facility, […]
CFD was used to confirm that poor design of the steam inlet nozzle was the main contributor to deaerator head to shell weld cracking, and confirmed proposed design improvements. This recent Becht project illustrates one of the causes of deaerator cracking. A through-wall crack had been found at the head-to-shell junction at the steam inlet […]
In the US and throughout much of the world, pressure equipment for oil refining services is designed according to ASME Codes (possibly augmented by API standards) and the integrity is assured by performing periodic inspection and maintenance according to equipment strategies, which often are developed in accordance with and guidance from API recommended practices and […]
Fired Heaters come in many types and configurations: catalytic reformers, crude heaters, visbreakers, vacuum heaters, coker heaters, etc; and many are prone to carburization damage (i.e. residual carbon diffusing into the tube material, causing damage or even failure). Many refineries today use delayed coking processes to upgrade their crude product. This process includes the use […]
Changing Your Crude Slate? You Need to Consider More Than Just Naphthenic Acid Corrosion and High Temperature Sulfidation. Refiners are constantly evaluating their crude slates in an effort to maximize profits. It involves a continuous effort in trying to get the most product value from the lowest cost crudes. Generating a $1.00 per barrel margin […]
