Component:

• Radiant heater tubes, fabricated from A335 T5 material and with 185,000h service, in a cabin furnace serving a crude distillation unit

Objective:

• To determine the remaining life and future inspection requirements of the radiant tubes under current operating conditions
• To determine the effect on tube life of potential increases in furnace throughput

Approach:

• Definition of baseline heater parameters by performing simulations of design and of current operating conditions
• Level 2 probabilistic life assessment

Results:

• Radiant tubes shown to have a good remaining life capability under current operating conditions
• Need for improved tube metal thickness measurements identified
• Relationship between heater duty and tube life defined

Benefits:

• Confidence in the remaining life of the tubes, under a variety of potential operating scenarios
• Definition of the balance between furnace throughput and tube life
• Identification of future tube inspection and re-assessment requirements
• Identification of potential limits on furnace performance, and of possible solutions