A NEW APPROACH TO DETECT AND IDENTIFY HYDROCARBON LEAKS IN REFINERY COOLING SYSTEMS

Heat exchanger hydrocarbon leaks in refinery cooling water systems cau se corrosion, fouling, and loss of heat transfer due to the presence o f hydrocarbons and the resulting increased microbiological growth. Typ ical methods to control microbiological growth in the presence of hydr ocarbons include the use of oxidizing and nonoxidizing biocides. Exces sive use of these materials can cause additional corrosion and be proh ibitively expensive. Common methods of checking exchanger inlets and o utlets for hydrocarbon or oxidant residual are often unable to pinpoin t a leaking exchanger. This article details two methods to positively identify light and heavy hydrocarbons, using activated carbon or a gas trap followed by gas chromatography. Once the hydrocarbon is identifi ed, the task of finding the leaking exchanger is simplified and correc tive measures can be taken.