Date: 11/05/2008
Source: RIPI

The PetroTube CreepSoft© computer program is now available from RIPI (Research Institute of Petroleum Industry). This computer program provides a standard methodology for assessing the accumulated damage and remained creep-rupture life of cylindrical pressure tubes specially used in Fired Heaters of crude oil and gas refineries and petrochemical complexes. RIPI is licensing PetroTube CreepSoft© for individual use on Microsoft Windows platforms and personal computers.


The PetroTube CreepSoft© computer program is developed for use in refineries and is customizable for each refinery according to its structure (units and their heaters) and furnaces specification data sheets. It has a user-friendly interface and is an interactive computer application developed at Corrosion and Materials Group of RIPI .


PetroTube CreepSoft© can model the behavior of fired heater tubes during typical operations, including operational intervals. The operating history is simulated by a series of periods containing fluid pressure, skin temperature and tube thickness at begin and end of each period. Then the program calculates creep damage in each period using standard methods from API Std 530; and then calculates accumulated tube damage and remaining life fraction of the tube.


The input data are saved automatically in files using appropriate manner for later editing and re-use. Materials properties and creep models are available for all alloys exist in API Std. 530.