August 2026 | Blog: Could Your Next Reformer Shutdown Have Been Prevented?
A convection section tube failure can do more than trigger an unplanned reformer shutdown. It can lead to significant production losses, increased maintenance costs, and uncertainty about the integrity of critical assets. Yet many operators continue to rely on conservative life estimates because convection section tubing can be challenging to inspect and assess.
Throughout their operating life, convection section coils are exposed to several degradation mechanisms, including:
• Creep from prolonged high-temperature exposure
• Corrosion and erosion resulting in wall loss
• Fretting caused by vibration and tube movement
• Internal and external fouling that reduces efficiency and can conceal underlying damage
Compounding these risks are complex coil geometries, tight tube spacing, and limited access, which can make it difficult to accurately assess asset condition.
In their recent article, Life Management of Reformer Convection Section Tubing, Olivia Chung, Tim Haugen, and Charles Thomas of Quest Integrity explore the key damage mechanisms affecting convection section tubing and discuss advanced inspection technologies and assessment methodologies that help operators make more informed integrity management decisions and reduce the risk of unplanned outages.
📖 Click here to read the full article: Reformer Convecytion Section Tubing Life Management
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