Models for predicting hydrogen attack Page 1 of 2

- Stress Engineering Services (Europe) Limited

Home Models for predicting hydrogen attack
Client industries

Client issues

Services and Component:
Pressure parts, fabricated from low-alloy

products steels, operating in hydrogen service at
elevated temperatures
Mission
Situation:
The susceptibility of such components to hydrogen attack is currently
Latest news determined by reference to the 'Nelson curves' (API RP541)

These material-specific curves provide a go / no-go criterion based on
Contact us temperature and hydrogen partial pressure

For most materials they do not contain any time-dependence, and are thus
subject to periodic revision based on accumulating service experience in the
Phone: industry
+44 (0) 1243 778231 Objective:
To provide a secure basis for determining the susceptibility to hydrogen attack
Approach:
Analysis of the current Nelson curves, and the underlying data where available,
in terms of accepted models of solubility and diffusion

Calculation of theoretical curves based on solubility and diffusion models
Benefits:
A significant step towards understanding the basis of the Nelson curves

A provisional theoretical form of the Nelson curves with time dependence
included

A reasonable correlation between the model and recent service experience of
failures under conditions below the current published limits

http://www.seseurope.com/htm/industries/petrochemical/PVPcase/pvpnelson.htm 23/12/2010
Models for predicting hydrogen attack Page 2 of 2

Publication: Brear, J.M. and Church, J.M., “Technical basis for API Publication RP941 (Nelson Curves)”, Third Int
Conf ‘Engineering Structural Integrity Assessment’, Cambridge, September 1996

See more case studies: Pressure vessels and piping Remaining life prediction

Petrochemical and refining SES Europe Home Page

http://www.seseurope.com/htm/industries/petrochemical/PVPcase/pvpnelson.htm 23/12/2010