van Zyl, G.
Gys van Zyle is a principal engineer at SABIC’s Asset Technology Centre. He has 20 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, mostly related to mechanical design, numerical simulation and fitness for service. He holds an MS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Failure analysis of olefin furnace radiant tubes
A detailed failure investigation into the cracking of ethylene furnace radiant tubes included visual, fractographic, metallographic, scanning electron microscopy/x-ray spectroscopy, and hardness and chemical examinations. These analyses showed that the tube crack was initiated by thermal shock, accompanied by restrained thermal expansion due to internal coke layer formation. Details of the failure’s contributing factors, and recommendations to avoid similar failures, are shared here.
Case study: Service life assessment of boiler superheater tubes
Boilers are used in petrochemical facilities to generate steam that can be used to meet process and utility requirements. Many industrial boiler designs can be shop assembled and are therefore referre..
Case history: Failure analysis of a syngas compressor
A first-stage impeller in a synthetic gas compressor failed after 20 years of service. The compressor is a six-stage centrifugal compressor driven by a steam turbine. This case history discusses the i..
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