High-Temperature Hydrogen Attack (HTHA) Inspection
How It Works
Detection of Microstructural Damage: HTHA occurs when hydrogen diffuses into steel at high temperatures and reacts with carbon, forming methane. This weakens the material from the inside.
Advanced NDT Techniques Used: Ultrasonic testing (UT), especially phased array and time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD), are employed to detect early-stage HTHA damage.
Specialized Equipment: Sagnik NDE uses high-resolution ultrasonic probes, data capture software, and expert signal interpretation to identify internal cracking or voids.
Target Zones: Focus is given to areas exposed to high pressure and temperature, such as reactor walls, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels.
What It’s Used For
Petrochemical Plants: Inspection of hydrogenation reactors and catalytic reformers.
Refineries: Evaluation of pressure vessels, piping, and equipment exposed to hydrogen at elevated temperatures.
Chemical Processing Units: Detection in environments where hydrogen and high temperature coexist.
Integrity Assessments: Periodic checks as part of Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) programs to ensure long-term asset safety.
Benefits
Early Detection of Material Failure: Prevents catastrophic failures by identifying damage before it reaches critical levels.
Enhanced Plant Safety: Reduces the risk of explosions or shutdowns caused by unexpected equipment breakdowns.
Cost-Effective Maintenance: Enables targeted repairs instead of full equipment replacement.
Compliance with Industry Standards: Assists clients in meeting API 941 and other industry-specific guidelines for HTHA monitoring.
Prolonged Asset Life: Increases the operational life of critical components by maintaining structural integrity.
