Boiler World Update

Written by 11:21 am All, General • One Comment

Reformer Tube Maintenance in Petrochemical Refinery

In petroleum refining, steam and catalytic reforming processes reshape hydrocarbon molecules and produce hydrogen in large-scale refineries. The operating temperature for these processes can exceed 900°C. 

In petrochemical plants, such as Olefin and Aromatic facilities, naphtha from the refinery enters a cracker, which operates at temperatures that can surpass 1,150°C. The cracking process leaves coke deposits on the tube walls, increasing the temperature and pushing the tubes toward their operational limits.

Centrifugally cast tubes play a crucial role in both reforming and cracking applications. These tubes and their welded joints must endure several damage mechanisms, including creep, stress rupture, carburisation, and fatigue. The industry has long struggled to balance increased strength, higher creep resistance, and improved toughness.

Over the years, new alloys with various levels of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) have been introduced, along with elements such as silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo), and cobalt (Co). These alloys allow the tubes to withstand higher temperatures while maintaining reasonable creep strength and carburisation resistance. At voestalpine Böhler Welding, we offer over-alloyed welding consumables and matching consumables for every new tube grade. This ensures minimal differences in the thermal expansion coefficients between the weld joint and the tube, leading to a longer lifespan for welded tubing.

The product section of this brochure provides a comprehensive list of our main products for welding furnace tubes.


The recommended products from voestalpine Bohler Welding range are as follows.

For Iron Base Alloy Group

For Nickel Base Alloy Group

Author:

Ms Grishma Deshmukh

MarCom Deputy Manager

voestalpine Bohler Welding India Pvt. Ltd.