The oil and gas industry constantly battles one major challenge — equipment wear and tear caused by extreme working conditions. Fluid ends, a key component in pumping systems that handle abrasive slurries and corrosive fluids, often fail prematurely due to corrosion fatigue and slurry erosion.
A
groundbreaking study by Dr. Rajkumar
Singh, Senior Director at Kalyani Centre for Technology & Innovation (KCTI),
Bharat Forge Ltd., India, offers a powerful solution through advanced
surface engineering on AISI 4330V steel — a material widely used for its
cost efficiency and mechanical properties.
Title : Life
enhancement of fluid end using surface engineering on 4330V steel
🧪
A New Approach to Durability
Dr.
Singh’s research explored how nitrocarburizing combined with oxidation could
transform the performance of 4330V steel. Experiments involved rigorous
testing, including rotating bending fatigue under corrosive
3.5% NaCl drip conditions, and slurry erosion
tests using silica
sand at a 45° impact angle and 7.6 m/s velocity.
⚙️ Key Findings at a Glance
·
8× longer corrosion fatigue life
than untreated material
·
2× higher slurry erosion
resistance
·
3× better corrosion resistance
based on Tafel plot results
·
Surface-hardened layer from the nitrocarburizing + oxidation
process provided exceptional durability and protection against aggressive
oilfield environments.
🌍 Why It
Matters
This
innovation holds great promise for oil and gas applications, where improving
equipment lifespan directly reduces downtime, maintenance costs, and
environmental waste. The findings suggest that surface-engineered 4330V steel
could replace more expensive alloys like 17.4 PH and 15.5 PH steel, delivering both performance and
economic advantages.
👨🏭 About Dr. Rajkumar Singh
With
over 150
publications and 26 patents, Dr. R.K.P. Singh is one of India’s most respected
metallurgical engineers. A Ph.D. graduate from IIT Madras, he has
led several pioneering projects in failure analysis, product development, and steel processing.
Currently serving as Senior Director at KCTI, Bharat Forge Ltd., Pune, Dr. Singh’s
leadership continues to shape the future of metallurgy and industrial
innovation in India.
🧭
Presented At
International
Congress on Materials Science and Nanotechnology
📅 November
20–22, 2025 | Singapore & Online
🌐 https://materials.miconferences.com/
📩 Submit
Abstract: https://materials.miconferences.com/abstract-submission
📝 Register Now:
https://materials.miconferences.com/register
No comments:
Post a Comment