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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

A new approach to detect and identify hydrocarbon leaks in refinery cooling systems

Conference ·
OSTI ID:271981
 [1];  [2]
  1. Chevron Products Co., El Segundo, CA (United States)
  2. Betz Water Management Group, Long Beach, CA (United States)
Heat exchanger hydrocarbon leaks into refinery cooling water systems have long been the cause of corrosion, fouling and loss of heat transfer due to the presence of the hydrocarbon and the resulting increased microbiological growth. Typical methods to control microbiological growth in the presence of hydrocarbons include the use of oxidizing and nonoxidizing biocides. Excessive use of these materials can cause additional corrosion and be prohibitively expensive. Common methods of checking exchanger inlets and outlets for hydrocarbon or oxidant residual are often unable to pinpoint a leaking exchanger. The paper details two methods by which light and heavy hydrocarbons may be positively identified by using either activated carbon or a gas trap followed by gas chromatography. Once the hydrocarbon is positively identified, the task of finding the leaking exchanger is simplified dramatically and corrective measures can be taken.
OSTI ID:
271981
Report Number(s):
CONF-960389--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English