Technical requirements for petrochemical reactor steels have proliferated in the last decade. The need to increase economic benefits together with higher operating temperatures and pressures are leading to the construction of higher capacity reactors with thicker walls.

Also, more severe requirements in these steel specifications leave the steelmaker little scope to find a good balance between all the influencing parameters, in order to achieve a steel design, fulfilling safely all expectations of the industry, economic and high quality. 

The design of pressure vessel for petrochemical industry is based on mechanical properties and the design method, which are given by the construction code.

Although industrial guidelines are given in form of API 934 C, D, E recommended practice, designers very often specify SA 387-11-2 for thickness far beyond the scope of above mentioned documents. Especially severe requirements on mid thickness toughness are critical due to chemical restrictions, the physical limits of the achievable cooling rates and related to this, the resulting microstructure.

In insisting in too overextended condition that a vessel in his life cycle can be faced, the reliability of the equipment can be impaired. For instance too extensive PWHT conditions in form of intended repair cycles may lead to a decrease in mechanical properties below the specified limits.

It is task of the design experts to define an adequate solution in steel product, as for example SA387-22-2, which is more appropriate in terms of mid thickness toughness for thick plates. We motivate the user to verify the aptitude of the specified steel grade, depending on the service conditions and necessary repair cycles.

The paper targets the sensibility of users of codes to take into account the real potential of highly sophisticated steels, such as CrMo-steels in accordance with ASME SA387. The modern technology of steel production as well as an appropriate methodology has been taken into account to offer a safe product.

It is a further outcome of this case study that a deep exchange between all relevant players in the supply chain is necessary at the time of the inquiry or steel specification redaction to find out the best solution in steel, without any compromise on quality.


Utilisation Limits of 1\xbccr\xbdmo (Sa387-11-2) Steel in High Plate Thickness

Division / Sponsors: 
Pressure Vessels & Piping (PVP)


Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/PVP/PVP2020/volume/83815

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