Failure Analysis of the Stuffing Box in a Super High Pressure Compressor

Abstract

In this paper, theoretical and experimental researches were done to find the repeated cracking reason of stuffing box in a super hyper pressure compressor. The mathematical expression of the assembly pressure was deduced in interference fit. From macro and micro perspectives, residual stresses were measured by X-ray diffraction in typical position of stuffing box when the packing box in combination and separation states. Besides, metallography and fracture examinations were carried out. The results showed that the real magnitude of shrink range of the failed stuffing box was only account for 12% of the designed size requirements, however, under this working condition this stress was not sufficient to cause cracking; Unqualified smelting process and tensile stress concentration in tank caused micro crack, which finally results in fracture of the stuffing box under fatigue mode.