Failure Analysis of the Johnson Screen in Ammonia Converter 105-D at Plant Area I B. PT Petrokimia Gresik Using the Finite Element Method

SyaifulDept. of Mechanical Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jl. Prof. Sudarto No. 13, Tembalang, Kec. Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java 50275, IndonesiaEflita YohanaDept. of Mechanical Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jl. Prof. Sudarto No. 13, Tembalang, Kec. Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java 50275, Indonesia

Vol 10 No 5 (2026): Volume 10, Issue 5, May 2026 | Pages: 140-148

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 09-05-2026

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2026.105019

Abstract

PT Petrokimia Gresik is one of the largest fertilizer and chemical producers in Indonesia. In addition to fertilizer production, the industry manufactures various other chemical products, notably ammonia gas. PT Petrokimia Gresik utilizes an ammonia converter unit as a critical component in the ammonia production process. The ammonia converter serves as a reactor designed to synthesize nitrogen (N₂) and hydrogen (H₂) into ammonia (NH₃) gas, employing a catalyst as a medium to accelerate the chemical reaction. This synthesis is an exothermic process that generates significant heat; consequently, the internal material components are required to possess superior high-temperature resistance characteristics. Field observations have identified damage to the Johnson screen, which functions as a catalyst support within the converter. This failure leads to catalyst leakage and a subsequent reduction in operational efficiency. This study aims to analyze the underlying causes of the damage and evaluate the material durability of the Johnson screen through an engineering design approach and structural analysis utilizing simulation software.

Keywords

Ammonia converter, Johnson screen, stainless steel 316, structural analysis, failure theory


Citation of this Article

Syaiful, & Eflita Yohana. (2026). Failure Analysis of the Johnson Screen in Ammonia Converter 105-D at Plant Area I B. PT Petrokimia Gresik Using the Finite Element Method. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 10(5), 140-148. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2026.105019

References
  1. A.Rahman, “Desain Proyek Pabrik Asam Nitrat Dengan Proses Ostwald High-Single Pressure Kapasitas 88.000 Ton/Tahun,” 2022, [Online]. Available: https://eprints2.undip.ac.id/id/eprint/12946/1/S_Azizah Rahman.pdf
  2. V. Pattabathula and J. Richardson, “Introduction to ammonia production,” Chem. Eng. Prog., vol. 112, no. 9, pp. 69–75, 2016.
  3. A.I. Amhamed et al., “Ammonia Production Plants—A Review,” Fuels, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 408–435, 2022, doi: 10.3390/fuels3030026.
  4. P. Examiner and M. C. Knode, “United States Patent (19),” no. 19, 2000.
  5. J. Humphreys, R. Lan, and S. Tao, “Development and Recent Progress on Ammonia Synthesis Catalysts for Haber–Bosch Process,” Adv. Energy Sustain. Res., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1–23, 2021, doi: 10.1002/aesr.202000043.
  6. R. M. Yusuf Agustria, Al Azhar, and Rizka Wulandari Putri, “Evaluasi efisiensi ammonia converter unit ammonia pada industri pupuk urea,” J. Tek. Kim., vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 70–74, 2019, doi: 10.36706/jtk.v25i3.130.
  7. M. Ojha and A. K. Dhiman, “Problem , Failure and Safety Analysis of Ammonia Plant : a Review,” vol. 2, no. October, pp. 631–646, 2010.
  8. D. Bahrin, I. N. Sakinah, and F. U. Kendari Putri, “Analisa Performance Ammonia Converter Pabrik Pupuk Sebelum dan Sesudah Turn Around (TA),” J. Tek. Kim, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 13–17, 2019, doi: 10.36706/jtk.v25i1.15.
  9.  “johnson screens technical information Architecture and Construction johnson screens technical information Architecture and Construction”.
  10. E. Nurisman, Y. Effendi, and N. Septiani, “Analysis of factors influencing the performance of the ammonia converter at plant IIB of PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja,” Sainteks J. Sain dan Tek., vol. 7, no. 01, pp. 88–98, 2025, doi: 10.37577/sainteks.v7i01.701.
  11. P. Baboo, “A CASE STUDY FOR FAILURE IN AMMONIA SYNTHESIS CONVERTER & TROUBLE FOR FAILURE IN AMMONIA SYNTHESIS,” no. December, 2015.
  12.  “Jurnal Teknik Mesin Volume XIX - No . 2 - Oktober 2004,” vol. XIX, no. 2, 2004.
  13.  “What is Finite Element Analysis (FEA)? | Ansys.” [Online]. Available: https://www.ansys.com/simulation-topics/what-is-finite-element-analysis
  14. D. Shrivastava and P. A. Dubey, “FEM Enabled Structural and Steady State Analysis,” no. September, 2025.
  15. S. N. Butt and G. Meschke, “Peridynamic analysis of dynamic fracture : influence of peridynamic horizon, dimensionality and specimen size,” Comput. Mech., vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 1719–1745, 2021, doi: 10.1007/s00466-021-02017-1.
  16. S. S. Salins, M. Mohan, and C. Stephen, “Annales de Chimie - Science des Matériaux Finite Element Investigation on the Performance of Pressure Vessel Subjected to Structural Load,” vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 201–205, 2021.
  17. V. Mykhailiuk, M. Liakh, R. Deineha, O. Matviienkiv, J. Pawlik, and D. Dzienniak, “OPTIMIZATION OF THE SUPPORT,” no. 202, 2024.
  18. M. Zielina, A. Pawłowska-salach, and K. Kaczmarski, “applied sciences Hydraulic Analysis of a Passive Wedge Wire Water Intake Screen for Ichthyofauna Protection,” 2023.
  19.  “INTERNALS FOR DOWN FLOW REACTORS”.
  20. S. Raju, “Thermal expansion studies on Inconel-600 â by high temperature X-ray diffraction q,” vol. 325, pp. 18–25, 2004, doi: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2003.10.007.
  21. Y. Zhu and G. Chen, “Quantifying thermal strain of steel plate subjected to constant temperature by distributed fiber optic sensors,” no. July, pp. 1–13, 2022.
  22. H. Laribou and A. Elbasset, “Numerical Study of the Thermo-mechanical Behavior of 304L Stainless Steel Pipeline Junctions,” vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 155–168, 2021, doi: 10.12691/ijp-9-3-3.
  23. R. C. Juvinall and K. M. Marshek, No Title.
  24. A.Hussein, L. Hao, C. Yan, and R. Everson, “Finite element simulation of the temperature and stress fields in single layers built without-support in selective laser melting,” Mater. Des., vol. 52, pp. 638–647, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2013.05.070.
  25. A.Fathurrahman, S. H. Suryo, D. T. Mesin, F. Teknik, and U. Diponegoro, “ANALISIS SIFAT MEKANIK DAN OPTIMALISASI STRUKTUR BOOM EXCAVATOR V EC650BE MENGGUNAKAN METODE ELEMEN HINGGA,” vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 405–414, 2022.
  26. A.Papanikolaou, E. Boulougouris, S. Erikstad, S. Harries, and A. A. Kana, “Ship Design in the Era of Digital Transition - A State-of-the-Art Report,” pp. 0–2, 2024.
  27. R. Paul and V. L. Chowdary, “AND ENGINEERING TRENDS DESIGN AND STATIC ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT PRESSURE VESSELS AND MATERIALS USING FEM METHOD,” vol. 5, no. 7, pp. 93–99, 2020.
  28. Y. Zhao, “The Pre and Post-Processing in Finite Element Analysis on the Technology and Programming of Plane Reinforced Concrete Based on AutoCAD Platform,” no. Meici, pp. 882–888, 2015.
  29. M. Ernesto, G. Rivera, L. David, and C. Garcia, “Thermal – Structural Linear Static Analysis of Functionally Graded Beams Using Reddy Beam Theory,” 2023.
  30. J. A. Collins, H. R. Busby, and G. H. Staab, Mechanical Design of Machine Elements and Machines: A Failure Prevention Perspective. Wiley, 2009. [Online]. Available: https://books.google.co.id/books?id=909-5C4eyUkC
  31. A.H. Manufacturing, X. Wu, W. Zhu, and Y. He, “Deformation Prediction and Experimental Study of 316L Stainless Steel Thin-Walled Parts Processed by,” 2021.
  32. B. Barkia et al., “Journal of Materials Science & Technology On the origin of the high tensile strength and ductility of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel : Multiscale investigation,” vol. 41, pp. 209–218, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jmst.2019.09.017.
  33. K. Tanriver, A. Etyemez, and M. Ay, “Integrated use of finite element analysis and gaussian process regression in the structural analysis of AISI 316 stainless steel chimney systems,” 2025.
  34. I.Ríos et al., “Compressive Behavior of 316L Stainless Steel Lattice Structures for Additive Manufacturing : Experimental Characterization and Numerical Modeling,” pp. 1–18, 2025.
  35. M. Iwaniszyn, K. Sindera, A. Gancarczyk, and B. Leszczy, “Characterization of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer of Expanded Metal Meshes for Catalytic Processes,” 2022.