How does the gas separation unit determine internal leakage in heat exchangers?
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As the title suggests, it’s a gas handling unit: there is liquefied gas inside the heat exchanger and water on the outside. How can one determine whether liquefied gas has leaked into the water?
Flammable gas detectors can be installed in cooling towers or air-cooled systems for online monitoring purposes.
It can be determined by the pressure on the shell side of the heat exchanger, or by listening to the sounds; there is definitely a difference in sound before and after a leak occurs.
Reply to 1# sdjnqcx: It has happened several times in our unit. I took some water from the water outlet of the heat exchanger, smelled it, and there was a strong odor of liquefied gas – indeed, there was a leak.
It’s happened several times in our facility. I took some water from the water outlet of the heat exchanger, smelled it, and there was a strong odor of liquefied gas – so indeed, there was a leak. I’m in favor of this method; our facility uses it as well! It means regularly monitoring the yield rate in one’s own unit; if the yield decreases, immediately investigating the reasons for it.
Based on the principle of osmosis, water should also have leaked into the liquefied gas
Reply to 2# huaying76: We have this as well and have tried it, but the leak in the heat exchanger wasn’t detected. Where is yours installed? We are installed on top of the cooling tower; is it too high up where we’re installed?
Reply to 3# Master Kong: This is a good idea, but experience is required
Reply to 4# Step on the Sand: This premise seems to be quite overlooked, isn’t it? Small leaks still cannot be detected. And it’s not even possible to figure out which specific heat exchanger is broken, right? What you said does make sense. Thank you
Reply to 6# wdh2010: I’m afraid that won’t work, right? The pressure of liquefied gas is 4 kilograms higher than that of water; it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone
Reply to 10# sdjnqcx: The principle of penetration – it’s definitely possible to get through. The level of pressure cannot completely prevent the exchange of materials.