IN-SERVICE ACOUSTIC EMISSION MONITORING OF A STEAM-METHANE REFORMER FURNACE.
Abstract
The technique of acoustic emission was applied to monitoring the start-up and steady state operation of a component in a steam-methane reformer furnace. This particular structure is characterized by the presence of high-level extraneous noise and high skin temperature. Four independent transducers were mounted on waveguides which were welded to reference pins on the structure. Analysis of the emitted signals involved determination of the event rate and total counts and, at a later time, an analysis of some typical signals recorded during different phases of the start-up operation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using acoustic emission for real-time monitoring of such complex structures.