How to determine internal leakage in a heat exchanger or cooler
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Since I’m a beginner with little experience, I often think about certain issues during my routine inspections. For example, if there’s a leak inside a heat exchanger, how can I determine it accurately? Is it based on the inlet and outlet temperatures of the fluid in the tube side or shell side of the heat exchanger, or is it through condensate removal? If heavy oil is flowing through it, can I still remove the condensate? I’m asking those with experience to offer help
During routine inspections, we can only detect external leaks in the equipment. In the case of an internal leak, there will definitely be a change in the operating pressure of either the tube side or the shell side, and this can be observed from the control room. At that point, by taking samples from the fluid in the tube side or shell side for analysis, a leak can be detected. Another way to identify internal leaks is during a gas-tightness test or when the equipment is evacuated. Usually, such leaks are detected by the production system, as routine equipment inspections do not go deep enough to uncover them. Our main responsibility is to address these leaks once they are identified by others.:lol
It can be used to analyze the components in the tube side; secondly, it is possible to determine this based on changes in inlet and outlet pressures; thirdly, if feasible, the tube side or shell side can be removed to check for internal leaks; fourthly, it can be determined based on changes in inlet and outlet temperatures
Doubts arise mainly from analyzing changes in the medium on the low-pressure side; additionally, an understanding of the device allows one to notice subtle changes in various parameters, and experienced operators are able to detect such changes. Third, for the water cooler, close the water supply and drain the water, then check whether there is any cooling medium at the drainage point. Relying on external observation for inspections cannot solve the problem.
Internal leakage in a heat exchanger can be determined from various aspects. First, it is assessed based on key process parameters such as pressure, temperature, flow rate, and gas composition; a comprehensive judgment is made by comparing these values with those under normal conditions. Additionally, the sampling instruments are used for analysis.
Laboratory analysis is the most convincing. Both media should be analyzed