Managing Refractory Degradation and Hotspots in Cold-Walled Equipment
Authors: Seetha Ramudu Kummari, Ph.D., P.E., Consulting Engineer I; Dan McArthur, Ph.D., P.Eng., Senior Engineer II; Kevin Haley, P.E., Group Head, Consulting Engineer I
Refractory linings are used to protect pressure vessels and piping components from hot process conditions but can degrade over time, leading to hotspots, creep damage, and potential failure. In this article, the authors discuss the benefits of conducting periodic inspection programs to manage refractory degradation and share an example to highlight the importance of detecting permanent material damage caused by creep or creep-fatigue.