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    Ammonia Leak Test

    Uploaded by

    Adnan Sheikh
    The document describes methods for detecting leaks using ammonia as a tracer gas. There are two main methods - the vacuum method and the pressure method. The vacuum method involves evacuating the space to be tested to 70 millibars and then introducing ammonia gas. Leaks are detected using ammonia-sensitive developers. The pressure method uses a mixture of nitrogen and 15% ammonia to pressurize the space at 2.3 bars. Leaks are again detected using developers during a 10-12 hour response time. Safety precautions must be taken when using ammonia, including cleaning surfaces, purging spaces with nitrogen before introducing ammonia, and ensuring ammonia concentrations remain outside the explosion range of

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Ammonia Leak Test

    Uploaded by

    Adnan Sheikh
    395 views9 pages
    The document describes methods for detecting leaks using ammonia as a tracer gas. There are two main methods - the vacuum method and the pressure method. The vacuum method involves evacuating the space to be tested to 70 millibars and then introducing ammonia gas. Leaks are detected using ammonia-sensitive developers. The pressure method uses a mixture of nitrogen and 15% ammonia to pressurize the space at 2.3 bars. Leaks are again detected using developers during a 10-12 hour response time. Safety precautions must be taken when using ammonia, including cleaning surfaces, purging spaces with nitrogen before introducing ammonia, and ensuring ammonia concentrations remain outside the explosion range of

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    The document describes methods for detecting leaks using ammonia as a tracer gas. There are two main methods - the vacuum method and the pressure method. The vacuum method involves evacuating the space to be tested to 70 millibars and then introducing ammonia gas. Leaks are detected using ammonia-sensitive developers. The pressure method uses a mixture of nitrogen and 15% ammonia to pressurize the space at 2.3 bars. Leaks are again detected using developers during a 10-12 hour response time. Safety precautions must be taken when using ammonia, including cleaning surfaces, purging spaces with nitrogen before introducing ammonia, and ensuring ammonia concentrations remain outside the explosion range of

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    395 views9 pages

    Ammonia Leak Test

    Uploaded by

    Adnan Sheikh
    The document describes methods for detecting leaks using ammonia as a tracer gas. There are two main methods - the vacuum method and the pressure method. The vacuum method involves evacuating the space to be tested to 70 millibars and then introducing ammonia gas. Leaks are detected using ammonia-sensitive developers. The pressure method uses a mixture of nitrogen and 15% ammonia to pressurize the space at 2.3 bars. Leaks are again detected using developers during a 10-12 hour response time. Safety precautions must be taken when using ammonia, including cleaning surfaces, purging spaces with nitrogen before introducing ammonia, and ensuring ammonia concentrations remain outside the explosion range of

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 9
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    The document describes different methods for performing an ammonia leak test on vessels, including a vacuum method and a pressure method. It also discusses various developers that can be used to detect leaks.

    The two methods for performing an ammonia leak test are the vacuum method and the pressure method.

    The steps to perform a vacuum method ammonia leak test are to make connections, evacuate the space to 70 millibar with a vacuum pump, supply gaseous ammonia, and check for leaks using a developer.

    55825

    -------------------------------------1. Introduction.
    Leaks can be traced by using ammonia as a tracer and allowing it to react
    ~. th

    a developer. A leak will show up by change of colour of the developer.

    ~Suitable

    developers are ammonia sensitive paper, paint or spray.

    The helium test is more sensitive than the ammonia test, but the ammonia
    test is preferred for its performance in moist spaces, where the helium
    test just does not work.
    The helium test shall be done before the pressure test.
    the ammonia test shall be done preferable after the pressure test.
    The sensitivity of the ammonia test is greater than that achieved in a
    freon test; also the presence of freon at higher temperatures (e.g. in
    case of welding) forms chlorides which might lead to stress-corrosion
    cracking of stainless steel.
    No te: bar is understood to mean the absolute pressure.
    2.Teat methods.
    The ammonia test can be applied in two different ways,depending on the
    particular circumstances:
    2.1 Vacuum method
    2.2 Pressure method

    55825
    3

    2.1 Vacuum method


    This method is based on the use of pure amoonia and may be applied to
    spaces that a re not too large, the air within which can be evacuated
    down to app r oximatel y 70 millibar. The method is particulary suitable
    for loose liner vessels, where the test pressure must be not too high
    in ord er t o avoid buckling of the liner.
    2.2 Pressure method
    This method is based on the use of a mixture of nitrogen and about 15 % by
    volume of ammonia.It is applied when large spaces have to be filled, e.g.
    to check tube to tubesheet welds and a vacuum less than 70 millibar is not
    permitted.

    In order to avoid explosion hazards, spaces must first be purged With


    nitrogen bef ore ammonia is admitted.(explosion limits of ammonia in air
    are 15 and 29

    Yo

    by volume)

    Do not use copper or copper alloys for parts coming in contact with
    ammonia.

    3. Cleani ng
    Before the ammonia t est is started, the surface on which the developer is
    to be applied must be carefully cleaned with a detergent or a solvent and
    dried.
    This is to remove oil, grease and alkaline substances (welding slag) to
    avoid misleading detection.
    4.Safety
    Fo r safety reasons this specification should be completed by the person
    and/or company performing the test and this should be done in accordance
    with local regulations and laws. The recommandations are therefore by no
    mean. complete and the relevant regulations should be studied.

    55825
    4

    S.Description of test procedures.


    S.l.Vacuum method
    -Make connections in accordance with either figure 1 or 2.
    If there are more than two leakdetection holes per liner section, all
    other holes may be connected to the vacuuc pump. However, it is also
    possible to use only one hole and to plug the others.
    -Evacuate the air between pressure shell and liner with the vacuum pump
    until a pressure of 70 millibar is reached.
    -Supply gaseous ammonia until it emerge8 from the outlet of the vacuum
    pump.
    -Stop the vacuum pump and continue to supply ammonia.
    -Open the valve in the line to the U-tube as soon as the pressure becomes
    atmospheric.
    -Now the ammonia pressure may be increased to 1.03 bar.
    Note: take care to ensure that no liquid ammonia enters the equipment. For
    this reason, the ammonia cylinder should be positioned vertically and
    ammonia should be admitted only gradually via a pressure reducing valve.

    o.:.,~u Ll.~

    LeoL Iv.

    "."0"".",

    L\,e

    .""I'VU""

    dW"i..~

    VH)' .. mall leaks

    wl1~

    be rather long. about 10-12 hours. Therefore, :lpply the developer to the
    weld seams inside the equipment only during the last two hours of the test.
    Check for leaking ammonia during the response time.
    Note: before entering the vessel adequate safety precautions should be
    taken.
    -Upon completion of the test remove the ammonia by means of the vacuum pump
    (U-tube valve to be closed), the outlet of. the pump running to a safe
    location or into a tray filled with water.
    -Disconnect the 3t1l111onia' cylinder and admit air.
    When all ammonia is removed stop and disconnect the vacuum pump.

    55825
    5

    5. 2.'Pt:easure met;hod
    - Make connections in accordance with either figut:e 3 or 4.
    -Rais e the pressure around the tubes with nitrogen to 3 bar and
    depr essurize . Repeat this procedure so as to be sure that the ammonia
    pe r centag e is outside the explosion range.
    -Raise t he pressure to 2 bat: by means of nitrogen.
    -Supply ammonia until the pressure is 2.3 bar.
    Note: take care to ensure that no liquid ammonia enters the equipment. For
    this reaSon the ammonia cylinder should be positioned vertically and
    ammonia should be admitted only gradually via a pressure reducing valve .
    -Given the low test pt:essure, the response time for very small leaks will
    be rather long, about 10-12 hours. Therefore apply the developer during
    the last two hours of the test. If ammonia sensitive copying paper is used
    and th e tubesheet has protuding tube ends, it is not possible to localize
    leaks round the tubes; when an indication is found, the developer should
    be applied ca refully to the area in question to localize the leak more
    accurately.
    Check for leaking ammonia during the response time.
    Note: before entering the equipment adequate safety precautions should be
    taken.
    -Upon completion of the test, the equipment should be depressurized by
    means of a tube dipped into a tray containing running water. Open the

    -When the pres sut:e has reached a value of 1 bat:, removal of ammonia should
    be continued by purging with nitrogen so that the pressure is raised to
    3 bar and dep rssurize; repeat thiB to ensure that the ammonia concentration
    is out side the explosion range,
    the ammonia haB been removed

    follo~ed

    by purging

    ~ith

    air untill all

    55825
    6

    6.Developers
    The f ollowing developers have been succesfully in the past.
    6 . 1.Ammoni3 sensitive copying paper.
    6.2.Ammonia sensitive paint
    Supplier
    Societe Sud Me.rine
    41 Boulevard Gay Lussac
    13309 Marseille, Cedex 3

    Fr3nce
    tel. 989025
    telex 41679
    6.3.Ammonia detecting spray
    Supplier
    American Gas and Chemical Inc.
    5 Tenakill Park Cresskill
    New Jersey 0726

    USA
    tel. (201 ) 569-52000
    6.4.Ammonia

    sensi~

    p~\ ste

    the following recipe produces a makeshift substitute which may be used


    in the abs ence of the above mentioned products.
    1 dm3 water
    150 gram barium sulphate
    50 em3 phenolpht3line (1.5

    r.

    solution in spirit)

    20 gram cellulose wall papering powder.


    Colour change: white to purple.
    The sensitivit y decreases after 2-3 hours, due to pasta dr ying out. p",~~ P'
    r;me

    3-4-

    er

    )ollli)

    hl"<;'

    55825
    7

    FIG 2

    VACUUM METHOD
    ... ..i'

    "

    ...
    1

    e",

    ,'".

    q> ~
    'f-

    r- ....

    Q-

    :.

    II'

    Q,

    l)~

    II

    .. I

    J:J
    ~

    '-,

    ~>

    r-:-)

    ::>

    r-I-<
    cVI

    ....'"
    0

    :.::
    ....

    ...

    /
    ,

    t--

    -.....
    WORKSHOP SITUATION .

    __ 6

    -t. ., ,_ , .

    :,~

    . .

    ,_,_,.;:OJ

    55825
    8

    FIG 1

    VACUUM METHOD

    U tube

    .--

    leaking liner
    section
    '--

    ammonia

    v~cuum

    pump

    PLANT SITUATION

    -.

    ....ater

    ,'=, .'_

    55825
    9

    FIG 3

    PRESSURE METHOD

    c: -

    ~./

    '-

    CE
    a...

    J~
    ,

    ,[::

    It

    ~V~V ' ~~M


    ,

    , ,

    "c

    ...

    -'"
    AI

    1
    ,

    ~./

    ""

    .,

    ,-)

    '
    ....'"

    , ,

    , ,

    )I

    (
    ,

    ' v.-

    I-

    .I
    7

    "

    I '~'"e
    '"

    ., ,
    ,

    a...

    ,
    ,

    , ,

    I
    t:( V V ~ V V V v/

    l/

    WORKSHOP SITUATION

    55825
    10

    FIG 4

    PRESSURE METHOD
    '-17~-

    -~~ -

    ?- ~ 1/V

    '

    PI

    / VJ"V

    ' ,I

    ,..., ....

    ,...,...,

    L--

    l.-

    I,

    ammonia

    I
    I

    nitrogen

    ' , ,

    . , ,
    ,

    ~
    r/

    '/

    r/ V

    V V V '/

    . .,ELANT SITUATION

    runninq ',later
    A

    ..,.".-

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