000 03333nmc a2200217 4500
005 20260521160514.0
008 260224s2001 xxu ing
041 _aInglés
100 1 _aEdén, Roberto D.
_96168
100 1 _aRoman, Rául
_96169
111 2 _aLatin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference (7th : 2001 mar. 25-28 : Buenos Aires, Argentina)
_95738
245 0 0 _aStructural Integrity Evaluation of the Heat Exchangers of a Hydrocracking
_bSPE 69504
260 _aDallas, Texas
_bSociety of Petroleum Engineers
_c2001
270 _a12/09/06 ; 21/03/02
520 _aThe objective of this work is to evaluate the structural integrity of the feed-effluent heat exchangers of the Hydrocracking of the Luján de Cuyo Refinery, belonging to Repsol-YPF S.A. This equipment operates under a hydrogen load at a pressure of 2133 psi and at a temperature that varies between 300^C (572ºF) and 400ºC (752ºF). An inspection performed during the plant maintenance shutdowns revealed several cracks on the channel of one of the equipment. These cracks had a depth of 2.4 in and a length covering almost all the circumference of the channel. It was concluded after several studies that during the 27 years service period and being exposed to temperatures of above 300ºC (572ºF), the material suffered an embrittlement process due to a phenomenon known as Temper Embrittlement, and that at room temperature, the material was within the range of brittle fracture. The commencement of the crack can be associated to the presence of hydrogen, to the effects of local stress concentration and to the plant maintenance shutdowns. It was estimated that probably the growth of the cracks was produced by the thermal stresses originated during the plant starting and the plant maintenance shutdowns, and that it is facilitated by the embrittlement of the material and by the presence of hydrogen. A risk evaluation was performed to analyze the feasibility of the continuous operation of the equipment under the described metallurgic conditions. By accepting a criterion of risk decision, it was concluded that the operation under such conditions was "not desirable" and that situation must be accepted by a high rank executive officer. A heat exchanger was shut down from service and used to perform several tests to determine its condition and therefore to provide the necessary technical background to the management decision making. This study was highly significant because the remaining four heat exchangers were in similar metallurgical conditions than the equipment removed from operation and they should continue with their service operation. Several studies were performed such as Charpy V tests, fracture tests and stress analysis calculations to determine the value of the stress intensity factor (J). These studies were then used as technical background and support material for decision making in regards to the continuity of the service operation of the equipment for a certain period of time and under certain operational conditions.
700 1 _aRoman, Rául
_96169
711 2 _aLatin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference (7th : 2001 mar. 25-28 : Buenos Aires, Argentina)
800 1 _aEdén, Roberto D.
_96168
942 _cCONGTP
_2ddc
999 _c131013
_d131013