β Scribed by Robert M. Schisla Jr.; Steven C. Ernst; Peter N. Lodal
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
A recent incident at the Eastman Chemical Company's Kingsport site involved a 20βfoot section of PTFEβlined pipe that failed at a flange joint, resulting in a leak, but no injuries. Initial scene observations indicated that a section of the liner had disintegrated, leaving an open space where the liner forms the flange gasket. More detailed analysis showed that the entire liner was intact, but had retracted approximately 2.5 inches into the pipe.
This paper will discuss the physical mechanisms (thermal cycling, viscoelastic properties of PTFE) that explain the liner retraction, as well as the installation factors (electrical tracing, liner length), which influenced the timing and nature of the failure mechanism.
π SIMILAR VOLUMES
This is the final instalment of an article that reviews machinery reliability in terms of infant mortality, and provides information and data on developing plans to avoid the premature replacement or repair of equipment. This month we provide details of an API 682 world class refinery, and present b