Failure analysis of carbonate reboiler heat exchangers

Abstract

Unacceptably high leakage rates from a large number of type 304 stainless steel tubes forced the scrapping of two carbonate reboiler heat exchangers from the carbon dioxide removal system of a fertilizer plant. Extensive failure investigation carried out on the failed heat exchangers established that the main factor responsible for premature failure of the heat heat exchangers was partial expansion of the stainless steel tubes into the carbon steel tube sheet as against the design specification for the expansion of almost the full length of the tubes inside the tube sheet. Partial expansion of the tubes into the tube sheet left undesirable tube-to-tube sheet gaps, which subsequently acted as crevices and led to localized corrosion of the tube sheet as well as the tubes.