FAILURE ANALYSIS AND LIFE PREDICTION OF A SET OF EXTRA HIGH-PRESSURE HEAT-EXCHANGERS CONTAINING DEFECTS

Random sampling for inspection has been applied to an extra-high press ure heat-exchanger. It was found a large number of etching pits and cr acks were in existence on the outside surface of the extra-high pressu re inner pipe of the double-pipe heat exchanger. These threaten safety in production and constitute a hidden peril for the plant. Failure an alysis and life prediction in this work provide proposals for guarante eing safety. They have been adopted by the plant and have given a sign ificant economic benefit. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.