Assessment of fitness for service of Cr-Mo steel tubes in catalytic reforming charge heaters

In this paper characteristic features of metal dusting corrosion in high temperature gas mixtures of high carbon activity in catalytic reforming units, including Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) platformer are presented. Examples of 2.25Cr-1Mo and 9Cr-1Mo steel tubes at advanced stages of metal dusting process after long-term service in charge heaters are used to prove that destructive examinations are necessary to provide certain information about possible mechanisms of damage, and are helpful in assessment of immediate fitness for purpose and long-term service capability of the components during and following shut-downs.