ANALISA KEGAGALAN KEBOCORAN RISER TUBE KATALIS REFORMER DAN EVALUASI METODA PERBAIKANNYA DI PABRIK PETROKIMIA

Abstract

A Reformer furnace is an important unit in petrochemical plants where this unit is used to break hydrocarbon gas into hydrogen. In this process, an endothermic reaction uses a catalyst as a reaction accelerator. The operating pressure was approximately 30 bar and the operating temperature was approximately 900oC. The dominant failure is failure due to creep rupture, which is a combination of pressure and temperature, as the temperature rises, the life of the catalyst tube material decreases. The operating temperature use and the appropriate insulation are a key factor in maintaining tube life in a reformer. In the failure evaluation at one of the petrochemical ammonia plants, brittle cracks appeared, and the top riser tube bulged making it look like an extreme crack. From the description of the visual inspection, it is known that the failure is due to long-term overheating; therefore inspection is needed in other tube areas in the vicinity, and the repair method is to replace the tube and conduct a weldability test to determine the ability of the material to be connected by welding.