Troubleshooting of external heat exchanger tube bundle leaks
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It has been confirmed that there is a leak in the outer heat exchanger tube bundle; how can we determine which tube is leaking?
Cut them off in groups, and monitor the changes in the regenerator temperature and the chimney; any changes indicate a leak.
Cut them out in groups? Are both the drain valve and the steam valve closed? If they are both closed, won’t the fluid inside the tube bundle remain under high temperature and cause overpressure? Also, isn’t there much impact on the tube bundle when it’s cut out and then subjected to high water temperatures?
Previously at Changqing Petrochemical, I saw that each tube bank was equipped with pressure gauges; during inspections, the tubes were turned off one group at a time, and the pressure changes were used to make judgments – a small change in pressure indicated no leakage, while a sharp drop in pressure meant there was a leak!
The methods are: 1. Using a probe to listen for sounds; 2. Closing the outlet valve to build up pressure and monitoring it; 3. Observing the fluctuations on the pressure gauge. These three methods are used together to identify and remove the leaking tube bundle. If a pipe bursts, handle it as an emergency shutdown.
First, determine what form your external heat extraction takes. If the heat extractor is separated from the steam drum, it can be removed one by one. Next, consider the pressure: first shut off the water supply, and then the steam supply. Do this slowly to prevent leaks in the steam valves or water valves, as a sudden increase in the vaporization pressure of water could lead to pipe explosions
What does it look like when the drum and the external heat-exchange tubes are integrated?
What does it look like when the drum and the external heat-exchange tubes are integrated?
Below is the tube bundle, and above it is the drum; the two share a common shell
Is it the original early design? Also, why can the separate-type drum be cut off one by one, while the integrated type cannot? I’d appreciate some guidance
The integrated tube bundle does not have separate valve control, so it cannot be isolated