Failure Analysis of G4852-Micro Ethylene Cracking Tubes, Arya Sasol Polymer, 2017
The failure of G4852-Micro radiant tubes in an ethylene cracking unit in a petrochemical plant (Arya Sasol Polymer) was investigated. Tubes in this plant were replaced after approximately 38,000 hours of service, which is much shorter than the anticipated service lifetime (100,000 hours). She did the failure analysis by gathering process and operational history and conducting visual and microscopic examinations. Both optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM) were used to analyze the microstructure of damaged tubes.