| Case Studies
TRACERCO Diagnostics™ Leak Study
Leak detection on a distillation column reboiler system
Tracerco were recently requested by a major European petrochemical
company to both identify and quantify the extent of a leak
that was suspected of coming from a reboiler system on a
distillation column, as it was effecting the overall efficiency
of the separation chain.
The system consisted of two reboilers operating in parallel,
as per Figure 1. The operator wanted to identify the leaking
reboiler (or reboilers) so that it could be taken off line
and either replaced or repaired during the planned shutdown.
Following consultation with the customer, Tracerco decided
to use the TRACERCO Diagnostics™ Leak study
technology, utilizing novel short half-life radioisotope
tracers, and non-intrusive detectors, to identify and quantify
the leak.
The tracer was injected into the heat transfer stream feeding
the reboiler that was suspected of leaking using a secure
injection rig and a series of non-intrusive detectors were
placed at several positions on both the inlet and outlets
of the reboilers (both the process stream and the heating
stream). These detectors were then connected to a central
data collection system so that the results of the study
could be shared with the customer immediately.
A total of five injections, all within a hour of each other,
were carried out to ensure that sufficient statistical data
was achieved to give precise results. The results of the
TRACERCO Diagnostics™ Leak study clearly showed
that the No. 2 reboiler was leaking at a rate of approximately
1.3% of the total heat transfer fluid flow and that No.1
reboiler was not leaking at a rate greater than 0.3% (the
level of detection for this system).
The petrochemical operator has now planned the repair of
the No. 2 reboiler during its quarter two planned maintenance
shutdown when it plans to use the TRACERCO Diagnostics™
Leak study (helium leak) technology to identify the position
of the leak within the reboiler.
If you would like to know more about the TRACERCO Diagnostics™
Leak study or any other TRACERCO Diagnostics™
technique please don't hesitate to contact us.
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