Failure Analysis of a High Pressure Orifice Flange of an Oil Refinery during Operation

Abstract

Structural failure of a high pressure orifice flange of an oil refinery is studied by using visual inspection, optical and electron microscopy, tensile tests, fractography and stress calculation. This flange was located at a high pressure (2700 KPa), elevated temperature (370 C°) feeding pipe line. Failure observed during a startup at the time of increasing pressure and temperature. The results of the analysis show that brittle fracture has acted as a main factor for failure of the structure and stress concent…