scope:

This recommended practice summarizes the results of experimental tests and actual data acquired from operating plants to establish practical operating limits for carbon and low alloy steels in hydrogen service at elevated temperatures and pressures. The effects on the resistance of steels to hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure that result from high stress, heat treating, chemical composition, and cladding are discussed. This recommended practice does not address the resistance of steels to hydrogen at lower temperatures (below about 400°F [204°C]), where atomic hydrogen enters the steel as a result of an electrochemical mechanism.

This recommended practice applies to equipment in refineries, petrochemical facilities, and chemical facilities in which hydrogen or hydrogen-containing fluids are processed at elevated temperature and pressure. The guidelines in this recommended practice can also be applied to hydrogenation plants such as those that manufacture ammonia, methanol, edible oils, and higher alcohols.

Hydrogenation processes usually require standards and materials that may not be warranted in other operations of the petroleum industry. At certain combinations of elevated temperature and hydrogen partial pressure, both chemical and metallurgical changes occur in carbon steel, which in advanced stages can render it unsuitable for safe operation. Alloy steels containing chromium and molybdenum can be used under such conditions.

The steels discussed in this recommended practice resist HTHA when operated within the guidelines given. However, they may not be resistant to other corrosives present in a process stream or to other metallurgical damage mechanisms operating in the high temperature hydrogen attack range. This recommended practice also does not address the issues surrounding possible damage from rapid cooling of the metal after it has been in high temperature, high pressure hydrogen service (e.g., possible need for outgassing hydroprocessing reactors). This recommended practice will discuss in detail only the resistance of steels to high temperature hydrogen attack.

Presented in this document are curves which indicate the operating limits of temperature and hydrogen partial pressure for satisfactory performance of carbon steel and Cr-Mo steels in elevated temperature, hydrogen service. In addition, it includes a summary of inspection methods to evaluate equipment for the existence of HTHA.