UPDATE ON SMART LDAR PLANT APPLICATION RESULTS

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UPDATE ON SMART LDAR PLANT APPLICATION
RESULTS

• Karl Loos Shell Global Solutions (US)

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SMART LDAR WHAT IS IT?
Old LDAR monitor individual process components
using handheld detectors
(OVA, TVA, Rae and Cosmos)
Smart LDAR optically scan process unit at a
distance to view image of
leaking VOC cloud
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SMART LDAR WHAT CAN IT DO?
General recognition than gt90 fugitive VOC
emission arise from 1 of process unit component
leakers. Rapid frequent screening to detect and
repair big leakers for a more productive and
cost-effective VOC control strategy.
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GAS IMAGING SYSTEMS
Principle of operation absorption of IR by
hydrocarbons Active absorption and detection
of backscattered radiation (Sandia
Labs, Laser Imaging Systems) Passive detection
of low level IR emissions from leaking VOC
(PAT, Leak Surveys, Inc.)
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ACTIVE SYSTEMS
Detect absorption of IR radiation Laser based
portable systems with BW viewer Provides a taped
record of events Laser Imaging Systems,
Inc. Sandia Laboratories
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LASER IMAGING SYSTEMS, INC.
Commercially available CO2 laser, 10µ 110V power
required Not intrinsically safe Somewhat
portable Detects SF6,, ethylene
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Sandia Laboratories
Prototype, not commercially available Solid state
pumped laser, 3.4µ Battery operated Not
intrinsically safe Somewhat portable Detect
saturated hydrocarbons, tunable(?)
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Passive Systems
Detects emissions of IR radiation from
VOC Wavelength selective camera with sensitive
detector Pacific Advanced Technologies Leak
Surveys, Inc.
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Leak Surveys, Inc.
Commercially available Infrared emissivity
detected with selective filter, 3.4µ Cooled
semiconductor detector BW taped record of
events Battery operated Currently not
intrinsically safe
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Refinery Field Test Plan
November 2003 May 2004 Joint EPA/refinery
program EPA NEIC staff using Method 21 Gas
Imaging with Sandia Labs System Leaks detected by
Gas Imaging are bagged and analyzed to
determine emission rates. Only those leaks
detected by Gas Imaging are repaired (do
small leaks grow?)
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Refinery Field Test Results
Problems with Sandia System in February
2004 Switch to Leak Surveys, Inc. camera for May
2004 Issues with M-21 leak findings/repairs
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Fugitive Emissions Detection Results May 2004
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Fugitives Emissions Detection Results
Method 21 Screening Emissions by
Bagging Component Value
(ppm) (grams/hours) Connector gt100
,000 6.1 Connector 130,000 5.6
Connector 140,000 2.5 Connector
160,000 6.5 Connector 100,000
19.4 Connector 41,000
2.7 Connector gt100,000 3.2 Connector
110,000 16.6 Pump Seal 38,000
0.5 Connector gt100,000 87.5 Connector
205,000 6.7 Valve Gate 20,000
1.5 Connector gt100,000 290.0 Connector gt100,
000 465.0
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Path Forward
Future tests needed EPA rule change to enable
Gas Imaging being prepared Emissions
quantification?