Leak detection methods for hydrocarbon heat exchangers
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Hello, Sea Friends. I have a question for everyone. The main media in my unit are hydrocarbons such as ethylene, propylene, and butylene; these hydrocarbons exchange heat with circulating water, deionized water, steam, etc. During operation, there may be slight or even minimal leaks in the heat exchanger tubes, which can result in water entering the medium and affecting the proper functioning of the process. I’d like to ask everyone: Is there any good way to detect whether there are leaks in a heat exchanger? For example, taking samples from the return water or condensate lines of the heat exchanger to analyze changes in the COD value. Please share your respective experiences, thank you.
Why is CAD detection proposed for water leaking into the medium?
It is hydrocarbons leaking into the water, causing an increase in the water’s COD
A high-point vent valve can be installed at the high point of the return pipe for regular inspection; the section before the vent valve should be relatively long to allow for periodic venting checks. If a large amount of gas is discharged, it can be preliminarily inferred that there is a leakage point in the tube bundle.