ESTABLISHING A MECHANICAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM FOR FIRED HEATER TUBES

摘要

Fired heaters are among the most critical equipment in refineries and chemical plants. Owing to the criticality of the equipment, tube failures in fired heaters present significant safety and financial impacts to the owner/operator. A mechanical integrity program is warranted to reduce the risk of failures. This article provides a general overview of the tasks that can be included in an effective mechanical integrity program for tubes in fired heaters. The article is intended to be a general outline, applicable to the majority of fired heaters.