Could someone experienced explain liquid accumulation and flow deviation in cold boxes?
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How to distinguish between fluid accumulation and misalignment? How to avoid it? What should be done if this happens?
If there is fluid accumulation on the refrigerant side, it is usually due to a lack of heat source, which may cause blockages; in such cases, the circulation volume of the refrigerant should be reduced, and it might be necessary to purge the cold box. If there is liquid accumulation on the raw gas side, check the level control valve; however, this situation occurs relatively rarely – liquid accumulation usually takes place on the refrigerant side. To avoid uneven flow, keep an eye on the flow control valve and ensure it opens or closes evenly on both sides.
Is that deviation one of the causes of fluid accumulation?
Indeed, deviation of flow can be a possible cause of fluid accumulation or it may worsen the fluid accumulation. The main adjustment measure for the liquid accumulation is to reduce the circulation volume of the liquid-phase refrigerant in order to improve the flow conditions and enable the heavy refrigerant to be returned to the circuit. During this period, it is necessary to closely monitor the temperatures before and after throttling in order to adjust the J-T valve and prevent large fluctuations in the cryogenic tank temperature.
Does the term \"blockage\" mentioned here refer to a blockage on the refrigerant side of the cold box? Is the blockage the cause of the deviation, or does the deviation lead to the blockage?