Damage Mechanisms in Refining and Petrochemical Plants (API 571)

Overview

Almost every failure of static equipment in a refinery or petrochemical plant can be traced to a known damage mechanism that was either not expected or not monitored. API RP 571 describes more than sixty of these mechanisms, the conditions that cause them and how they can be found and controlled. This course turns that document into practical knowledge for the people who plan inspections and run units. Participants study the mechanisms that matter most in hydrocarbon processing: general and localised corrosion, sour water and amine corrosion, high-temperature sulphidation and naphthenic acid attack, wet H2S cracking, chloride and caustic stress corrosion cracking, high-temperature hydrogen attack, creep, fatigue and brittle fracture. For each one they learn the susceptible materials, critical process variables, appearance, inspection methods and prevention. The course links mechanisms to process units so that participants can build damage mechanism reviews for their own plants.

Objectives

• Explain how process conditions, materials and stress combine to cause damage
• Identify the key damage mechanisms in refining and petrochemical units
• Describe the appearance and morphology of each mechanism
• Select inspection and monitoring methods suited to each mechanism
• Define integrity operating windows for critical process variables
• Prepare a damage mechanism review for a process unit

Who should attend

Training methodology

Each mechanism is presented with photographs of real failures, micrographs and the process conditions that produced them. Participants work in teams on failure case studies, deciding which mechanism was active and what inspection would have found it earlier. Process flow diagrams of a crude unit, a hydrotreater and an amine unit are used to map mechanisms by circuit. On the last day each team builds a short damage mechanism review and integrity operating window list for a unit of its choice.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions