Failure Analysis of Hot Clamp Induced Cracking on Hydrogen Reformer Outlet Pigtail Tubes

Abstract

Failure analysis of the hot clamped outlet pigtail tubes connected with hydrogen reformer tube in refineries has been carried out. In this paper, hot clamp induced cracking on Incoloy 800HT outlet pigtail tube of a reformer unit is studied by microscopic observation and mechanical properties testing. Metallurgical evaluation and chemical composition analysis have been performed on both hot clamped cracking tube and no cracking one. Results indicated that the most important parameter affecting the high temperature brittleness of pigtails are the Ni/Cr value, surface grain size and impurity atoms grain boundary segregation.