Inspection of converter tubes for hydrogen production from natural gas
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For the natural gas-based hydrogen production facility, the furnace tubes have been in use for 10 years now; no inspections have been carried out during that time, although inspections are planned to be conducted annually. There are a total of 14 furnace tubes. I’d like to ask everyone: 1. Is testing required to be carried out by a professional agency, or is the local special inspection institute sufficient? 2. How much are the testing costs approximately?
I don’t think testing is necessary; ours is also 10 years old, and we have only used our own thickness gauge for testing
As far as I know, testing is required, but it’s not mandatory; given the special material of the furnace tubes, thermal expansion and contraction during startup and shutdown, as well as high-temperature creep, can all have an impact on these tubes
What are the main tests performed? During our inspections, we also measure the wall thickness
It is still necessary to inspect the converter tubes, as their material becomes brittle over time due to its special properties. I asked the tube manufacturer, and they said that after 15 years of use, vertical cracks can be seen through the cross-sectional slices, although these cracks are not visible on the outer surface; X-ray imaging should be used for inspection. Note: Do not strike a furnace tube that has been in use for 10 years, as it will break like ceramic when struck.
Hydrogen production converters in refineries and chemical plants are the most important equipment in hydrogen production systems, and the furnace tubes constitute the core of these devices. They are generally manufactured by centrifugal casting using heat-resistant steel materials such as HP40Nb and HP40Nb-M. Damage to any one of the furnace tubes forces the entire system to stop operating, resulting not only in significant economic losses but also a high risk of injuries or fatalities. Therefore, based on the types and characteristics of furnace tube damage, it is very important to evaluate the safety and reliability of furnace tubes using non-destructive testing methods. During the equipment shutdown for maintenance, each furnace tube is inspected individually, and a comprehensive technical assessment is conducted to determine the degree of damage to each tube. This approach enables prevention and early prediction, which is essential to ensure the safe and stable operation of the equipment in the next cycle. Macro inspection, intelligent ultrasonic inspection, creepage testing, metallographic inspection, hardness testing, thickness testing, PT testing, etc.; if needed, please contact qq1047328691