Tube Rupture in Hydrodesulfurisation Heater During Hydrogen-Only Start-Up
A vertical cylindrical hydrodesulfurisation reactor charge heater was being started up with hydrogen flow only rather than hydrogen plus oil as in normal operation. As a result of the low heat load only a couple of the burners were being fired. The uneven firing resulted in one pass of the furnace being overfired and a tube ruptured. This problem was solved by installing a single centre burner for start-up. In addition multiple skin thermocouples were installed on each tube pass at the hottest points.
Event Date
January 1, 1971
Record Quality Indicator
Region / Country
Event Initiating System
Classification of the Physical Effects
Nature of the Consequences
Causes
Facility Information
Application Type
Application
Specific Application Supply Chain Stage
Components Involved
reactor
Location Type
Location description
Industrial Area
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
to install multiple skin thermocouples were installed on each tube pass at the hottest points.
Event Nature
Emergency Action
he uneven firing resulted in one pass of the furnace being overfired and a tube ruptured. This problem was solved by installing a single centre burner for start-up. In addition multiple skin thermocouples were installed on each tube pass at the hottest points.
Detonation
No
Deflagration
No
High Pressure Explosion
No
High Voltage Explosion
No
Source Category
References
References
Event description extracted from the UK database ICHEME in PDF
ICHEME database is no longer available for purchase, but data can be download as PDF for free.
https://www.icheme.org/knowledge/safety-centre/resources/accident-data/
(accessed October 2020)