(98a) Anti-Erosion Coating for Improving Transfer Line Exchanger Durability

Transfer Line Exchangers (TLEs) are affected by erosion, with most erosion damage occurring on the gas side. Damage can be caused by improper decoking or unfavorable operating conditions but can also happen during normal operation under certain conditions. Erosion damage can lead to increased maintenance downtime, repair expenditure, operational upsets, and decreased run lengths. Special attention must be paid to weld repairs caused by erosion damage, it can be challenging and lead to failures if not carried out correctly.

To overcome this issue of erosion damage, the application of a protective layer is suitable at relevant parts of the TLE. The right choice of the material for the erosion resistant layer is crucial to ensure proper wear protection and long equipment lifetime. Therefore it is important to consider the particle properties, the interaction between particles and wear resistant material, and the microscopic wear mechanism. This is done by the fabrication of test pieces, their metallurgical assessment, and the experimental determination of the erosion properties of the individual protection coatings under replicable laboratory conditions.

This paper discusses the selection and special fabrication procedure to apply erosion resistant material onto TLE parts, enhancing durability and improving overall reliability. It will give an overview on the identification of the appropriate erosion resistant material, the manufacturing procedure to meet specific plant needs and other options in case damage occurs.