Chlorofluorocarbon leak detection technology

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6175700· OSTI ID:6175700

Munday, E B

There are about 590 large coolant systems located at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) and the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP) leaking nearly 800,000 lb of R-114 refrigerant annually (1989 estimate). A program is now under way to reduce the leakage to 325,000 lb/year -- an average loss of 551 lb/year (0.063 lb/h) per coolant system, some of which are as large as 800 ft. This report investigates leak detection technologies that can be used to locate leaks in the coolant systems. Included are descriptions, minimum leak detection rate levels, advantages, disadvantages, and vendor information on the following technologies: bubbling solutions; colorimetric leak testing; dyes; halogen leak detectors (coronea discharge detectors; halide torch detectors, and heated anode detectors); laser imaging; mass spectroscopy; organic vapor analyzers; odorants; pressure decay methods; solid-state electrolytic-cell gas sensors; thermal conductivity leak detectors; and ultrasonic leak detectors.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge K-25 Site, TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OT21400
• OSTI ID: 6175700
• Report Number(s): K/QT-390; ON: DE91006906
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200 -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
440800* -- Miscellaneous Instrumentation-- (1990-)
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
CALIBRATION
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
ISOTOPE SEPARATION PLANTS
LEAK DETECTORS
LEAK TESTING
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
SPECTROSCOPY
TESTING