Centrifugally-cast tube and related method and apparatus for making same

Abstract

An improved centrifugally-cast tube is provided, along with a related method and apparatus of making the tube. The tube includes a plurality of grooves and bosses that are mechanically machined into an interior surface of the tube, such as by a broaching process. The profile of grooves and bosses may be defined by a plurality of intersecting concave and convex radii. The tube is resistant to creep, carburization and metal dusting. The tube also has an enhanced heat transfer rate, and a desirable surface roughness. A method of making the tube is also provided. The method essentially consists of mechanically deforming the interior surface of the tube by passing a series of cutting inserts on support rings having incrementally-differing dimensions over the interior surface. An apparatus is also provided which includes a telescoping shaft upon which is mounted at least one cutting tool that has a plurality of cutting inserts and is adapted to form a plurality of grooves and bosses in the interior surface of the tube. The grooves and bosses may be straight or spiraled.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to furnace equipment for use in petrochemical plants, and more particularly, to improved centrifugally-cast tubes for use in such equipment and to a method and apparatus of making such tubes. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] It is well known that there are two basic types of furnaces used in petrochemical plants, one being “steam cracker” furnaces, and the other being “steam reformer” furnaces. Steam cracker furnaces are mainly used to make ethylene, and steam reformer furnaces are mainly used to make hydrogen. Both types of furnaces include a number of tubes, generally arranged vertically, that form a continuous flow path, or coil, through the furnace. The flow path or coil includes an inlet and an outlet. In both types of furnaces, a mixture of a hydrocarbon feedstock and steam are fed into the inlet and passed through the tubes. The tubes are exposed to extreme heat ge...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A key drawback to the tube disclosed in the '340 patent, however, is that it is not resistant to corrosion, carburization or metal dusting.

As is known in the art, use of the ECM method results in an electropolished surface and does not provide adequate deformation and / or orientation of the subsurface or material lattice of the inner surface of the tube.

In this regard, it is well known that an electropolished surface is not resistant to corrosion, carburization or metal dusting.

An additional drawback to the ECM process is that it results in a tube having an interior surface with an inferior surface roughness and dimensional accuracy when compared to the interior surface that has been prepared by mechanical machining.

A still further drawback to the ECM process is that it is more expensive relative to the cost of mechanical machining.

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