Identification of ammonia leakage points
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Our company uses ammonia mainly for heat exchange purposes. However, an ammonia smell can often be detected on site, though at other times it isn’t present; it’s difficult to identify the exact location of the leak, and there are few ways to more easily locate the source of the leakage.
What to ask? Is it a search method or an elimination method?
If there is a leak in the heat exchanger, an ammonia smell will be present at all times, and it can be detected using simple methods; in China, soap water is used for bubble testing and test strips are employed, while abroad, microhole detection methods are used； Generally, detection methods for ammonia leaks are quite effective at identifying such leaks ； A ammonia smell at the site does not necessarily mean there is a leak in the heat exchanger.
Our testing method is: prepare a weakly acidic solution and add phenolphthalein indicator. During inspection, use a small piece of paper dipped in the indicator solution and bring it near the area where ammonia is detected; if there is a leak, the paper will turn red. By checking each location where a leak is suspected in this way, the leaky spot can generally be identified.
Our method is to dip a small piece of paper in phenolphthalein solution and bring it near the area where ammonia is emitted; if there is a leak, the paper turns red. If it’s difficult to determine where the leak is, check each flange or end cap of the heat exchanger.
We often use a leak detection bottle filled with laundry detergent solution or soapy water to check for leaks. The ammonia smell varies in intensity depending on the location; try to narrow down the area where the leak is occurring as much as possible, taking into account the wind direction and the strength of the smell. After locking the range, check each drain valve one by one to see if the empty discharge valves are fully closed or if there is any internal leakage; this is easy to detect by blowing air at them with your hand and sniffing nearby. The easy leakage points are still the flanges, as well as those on the equipment heads, pipelines, and valves; simply use a leak detection bottle to check each one. If the temperature of the ammonia medium is low, frost usually forms at the leakage point, making it easier to locate.
This post was last edited by ZZJJAA70 on 2009-10-15 at 13:04. To detect small leaks that are hard to spot, we use paper strips dipped in phenolphthalein indicator, which is a simple and effective method. Using a fan and sniffing to check for tiny leaks upstairs doesn’t seem to be a very effective method.
Use the method of pressurizing with soapy water bubbles and testing with test strips
You can check for leaks using a pH test strip