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Neutron Scan - Piping
Benefits of TruTec™ Neutron Backscatter
- Identify plugs and vapor pockets in piping
- Monitor fouling deposits
- Reduce maintenance time by locating severely plugged piping
 Routine
scans of relief piping can assure that no dangerous deposits exist that
could result in undesirable back pressures or flow restrictions. Tracerco’s
TruTec™ Neutron Backscatter application uses a source of high energy
or “fast” neutrons with a neutron detector that is sensitive
to low energy, or “slow” neutrons. When the neutron source/detector
tandem moves across a liquid/vapor interface such as water and nitrogen,
then a large change in detector response is observed due to the hydrogen
concentration difference between the water and nitrogen. At interfaces
between materials of different hydrogen concentration, such as oil and
water, then a smaller magnitude change in detector response would be observed.
In general, the greater the difference is in the concentration of hydrogen
nuclei between two or more substances, the greater the magnitude of change
in the detector response.
One of the most common piping applications is to periodically monitor
the progress of fouling in flare relief headers. Fouling or partial plugging
in relief lines can increase the system back pressure beyond acceptable
levels, resulting in major equipment failure and/or unburned atmospheric
releases. Results from the neutron scans can enable maintenance crews
to focus their efforts on the most severely plugged sections of relief
piping.
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