SGS - Sealing Global Services
In the management of a refining plant, the start-up following the shutdown works is a very important phase to be carried out with great attention.
In this phase, in fact, the system components, valves, pumps, compressors, exchangers, reactors and any other component in which there are bolted joints, rotating mechanical seals, valve seals and any other removable seal coupling, receive a constant stress due to the change in the temperature and pressure conditions typical of this phase, and therefore can become a dangerous emissive source. Each of these potential emission points, if not properly controlled, could give rise to problems of various kinds, more or less serious. It should be added that during the shutdown works it cannot be excluded that some seals may not have been tightened correctly and therefore in the start-up phase it becomes essential to identify any anomalies of this type.
In the case of equipment and / or critical lines, which convey highly flammable fluids at high pressure, leaks can give rise to serious accidents, endangering the safety of operators, the plant and, consequently, the environment. Careful monitoring of the sealing bodies, during the start-up phase, guarantees the rapid identification of potential sources of leakage, preventing the occurrence of high-risk situations.
What we offer
VED, thanks to its many years of experience in LDAR services, offers a support service to the start-up phase of the plants through continuous monitoring (supervision), aimed at identifying any leaks that in this phase can give rise to real dangerous situations
Technical features
Technicians specialized in the search for leaks according to the EPA21 method and equipped with modern monitoring instruments guarantee 24-hour coverage throughout the start-up phase.
The instrumental equipment includes:
- FID detectors (Flame Ionization Detectors) to identify leaks of volatile organic substances;
- PID detectors (Photo Ionization Detectors) to identify leaks of inorganic substances such as ammonia and H2S;
- TCD detectors (Thermal Micro-conductivity Detector) to identify leaks of inorganic substances such as H2, CO, CO2 and mixtures;
- in the case of sources that are difficult to reach with portable instrumentation, the Gas Finder (Optical Gas Imaging) is used.
The technicians have a high level of experience in identifying leaks, gained over many years of LDAR monitoring according to the EPA21 method which dictates the inspection standards for system components such as:
- Agitators (sealing seals)
- Compressors (sealing seal)
- Connectors (threaded type)
- End of line (purges, sample taken)
- Flanges
- Pumps (sealing seal)
- Valves
- Security valves
The monitoring is carried out in collaboration with the staff responsible for managing the plant, in order to assist in any corrective measures for leaks before they can evolve into dangerous situations.
The monitoring data, and any anomalies, are recorded in computer devices and transmitted electronically (in real-time) to the plant manager staff, in order to ensure a quick response.
