US EPA

7457821 

Meetings & Symposia 

To minimize risks of catastrophic failure in urea plant process lines requires RBI methodologies 

Scheerder, A 

2012 

Chicago, IL 

57th AIChE Safety in Ammonia Plants and Related Facilities Symposium 2012 

53 

189-199 

English 

In the high pressure synthesis section of a urea plant the prevailing process conditions (ammonium carbamate solutions) are highly corrosive, which poses a potential risk for catastrophic failure. However the structural integrity of process equipment and piping is also compromised from outside: atmospheric corrosion and corrosion under insulation. In urea plants, HP equipment are inspected on regular basis during planned turnarounds, however the interconnecting HP process lines specific and piping systems in general, do not always get the same attention. This lack of attention is not justified, as is demonstrated in three cases. A more systematic approach is needed covering the total life cycle of piping systems, based on a RBI methodology. 

Ammonium carbamates; Catastrophic failures; Corrosion under insulations; High-pressure synthesis; Potential risks; Process condition; Process equipments; Process line; Total life; Urea plants; Ammonia; Ammonium compounds; Atmospheric corrosion; Metabolism; Piping systems; Urea