Research Output
Root cause analysis on manufacturing defects in brass oxygen valves
Failure analysis on U-bend header tube of boiler economizer
Failure investigation and analysis of locally manufactured turbine blade
1 - 3 of 3
Publication
Brass valves are widely used in oxygen gas cylinder systems to regulate pressure and ensure safe operation. The production methods for brass valves include hot forging (700 °C), stress-relieving (300 °C), shot blasting, machining, and selective chrome plating on the external surface. Pneumatic testing at 400 bar has detected more than 10 % of the product production was found to have signs of leakage, and the most severe was when there were visible hairline cracks on the inner wall. Therefore, several tests to investigate valve failure were conducted to identify the root cause of the failure using a series of microscopic methods on the failed sample as well as the as-received brass billet. The study found that hairline cracks in brass valves were most likely caused by internal dross originating from the billet that was not properly removed during the casting process. The presence of dross in the billet manufacturing stage was identified as the primary reason for valve failure. Hot forging and other manufacturing techniques were found to be insufficient to eliminate the formation of dross, leading to a deterioration in the mechanical properties of the valves. In order to overcome this issue, flux can be added to the molten brass to help remove impurities and reduce the formation of dross. As a result, the mechanical properties of the final product deteriorated even though it had gone through the forging process.
Publication
A water tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by fire. It was found that the water tube economizers are often subject to the serious damage mainly because of the overheating and corrosion. Thus, the metallurgical investigation procedures starts with the visual inspection, stereomicroscopy, metallography and chemical analysis methods. It was identified that the failure of the u-bend tube was due to the cracking caused by bending forces during the procedures. This cracking causes a leak for the tube. The appearance of corrosion on the shell side is due to the presence of small content of sulphur under the boiler environment. Several welding imperfections were also detected, however, both corrosion and welding imperfections were not the primary caused of the tube failure. From the analysis, the use of SUS304 grade stainless steel was discovered to be the appropriate material selection for the tube boiler.
Publication
This study aims to identify the root cause of a turbine blade failure after only 36 hours of operation and recommends measures to prevent future failures. The analysis involved four samples, including an OEM sample, three fabricated samples with cracks and parts, including a kept sample for failure analysis. Microstructural analysis using Villella's reagent as an etchant, surface morphology, and micro-elemental analysis were conducted using the benchtop SEM & EDS. The hardness of the samples was tested using the Rockwell (HRC) method. The failed blade was made of AISI 422 grade stainless steel. It failed due to chipping that initiated cracks when it was tightly fastened, facilitated by internal stress and intermetallic particles in the microstructure. Instead of turbine blades made of hardened steel, the material was found to be slightly ductile and highly prone to compression before breaking when over-tightened during assembly. Inadequate heat treatment practices caused varied microstructural patterns, including the presence of intermetallic particles and significant hardness differences between the fabricated and OEM samples, leading to internal stress. In order to prevent future failures, there is a requirement to improve quality control measures during the fabrication process, particularly in the aspect of heat treatment practices.Thorough testing and analysis of the material microstructure may also be necessary to identify and eliminate potential sources of internal stress and intermetallic particles. Proper installation and fastening of turbine blades, regular inspection, and maintenance can also help identify early signs of failure and prevent catastrophic failures from occurring.