Gas detection
FLIR GF346 can detect leaks from main CO gas lines at a variety of points that supply gas to the hot strip mill furnace from gas mixing stations, like flange joints. As a result, a facility can develop a routine program to do pipeline scanning on a consistent basis. Using the GF346 to inspect connections, joints and other potential leak points provides an efficient way to further improve safety within a broader facility footprint and reduce emissions helping the organisation meet environmental stewardship metrics. Steel industry operators can use the FLIR GF346
to inspect blast furnaces, which produce liquid iron for steel making. Blast furnaces have tuyers for supplying hot blast to the furnace that are fitted to the furnace shell. Frequent leakage of CO gas from these tuyers creates an unsafe and unhealthy atmosphere at the tuyer platform and above.
Inspectors can use the GF346 to scan all tuyers and identify the leaky tuyers from a safe distance. If a leak is discovered, operators can take immediate corrective action and update the tuyers with a new welded design. After changing the tuyers, a user can scan the area with the GF346 again to confirm the leaks were eliminated. As a result, operating personnel are now working in a safe, gas-free environment. Hot strip mill applications produce hot-rolled
sheets for automobile and LPG grades. Mills are fed by reheating furnaces which use carbon monoxide-rich blast furnace gas and coke oven gas as fuel. Leakage of unburnt CO can be identified through the camera, and inspectors can quickly and safely find the source of the leak(s) in pipe joints. Once a leak is found, a technician can take immediate corrective action to eliminate the presence of CO near the furnace.
CO leak from a bleeder valve detected with the FLIR GF346 camera.
TIME IS MONEY A key advantage in using a FLIR GF346 for LDAR inspections is the high return on investment of the technology. Gas leaks can cost money in a variety of ways: lost product, added safety expenses, and increased downtime. Using an OGI camera for LDAR inspections can help the steel industry streamline their shutdown processes and procedures. These shutdowns can cost a company a considerable amount of money; an OGI camera like the FLIR GF346 can show operators exactly what needs to be repaired, allowing maintenance teams to plan for repairs and avoid unexpected shutdowns. There is a safety element
as well: adding a telescopic lens to the FLIR GF346 allows operators to look for dangerous leaks from a safe distance, keeping them out of confined/hot work permit areas. The FLIR GF346 can also reduce downtime by allowing operators to identify areas of interest during regular operations, and then schedule closer inspections for planned shut downs. Since a turnaround could run 24/7 with hundreds of personnel working 24 hours a day, the time spent looking for leaks without the benefit of an OGI camera can be considerable. Saving even an hour of laborious inspection time would help pay for the camera. The FLIR GF346 OGI camera can serve as an
extremely important tool for steel companies, helping inspection crews identify problems before they become catastrophic and conducting surveys without shutting down operations. The GF346 is ideal for monitoring plants where it is difficult to reach components with handheld contact measurement tools such as gas sniffers, or TVAs. Inspectors can scan thousands of components per shift without the need to interrupt the process. Optical gas imaging cameras also allow operators to detect profuse leaks and find their source while working from a safe distance, outside the gas cloud. Using the FLIR GF346, steel companies can improve work safety, reduce environmental impact, and help them maintain regulatory compliance while increasing efficiency as this technology can operate without interrupting a plant’s production process.
teledyne flir
www.flir.co.uk
Instrumentation Monthly January 2023
63
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