An intrinsic study of fatigue mechanisms and a strategy to prolong service life of coke drum under thermal-mechanical cyclic loading

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This proposal is for a two and half year research program focusing on damage analysis and long term reliability evaluation of delayed coke drums - primary equipment associated with the processing of oil sand bitumen. The service lives of current coke drums are limited due to severe thermal-mechanical load experienced. Through tightly-coupled experimental investigation, theoretical modeling and FEM numerical simulation, a thorough understanding of the initiation and propagation of damage in coke drums will be obtained. A more reliable life estimation methodology will be developed, as well as the proposal of enhancements to delay the damage and to prolong lives of coke drums.Unprecedented investments in oil sands are currently occurring in Western Canada. The primary technology of coke drums has remained essentially the same since its introduction in the 1940's. It is critical that this equipment provide long term reliability to suit today's economy and labor-challenged environment. The benefit of the successful completion of this proposed research to industrial users is to construct more robust new equipment and to remediate existing equipment. Overall, this research will improve the profitability of the Canadian industry, free up labor demands and advance knowledge of the technology.