Condensate monioring for HF leaks

[NOLAengineer]

The client I work for wants to install some type of pH, conductivity, or fluoride ion monitors on the alkylation unit high pressure (55 psig 300 F) and low pressure (25 psig 230 F) condensate headers. This is to monitor for HF leaks in the condensate system. The acid coolers already have pH analyzers on the cooling water streams, so my initial reaction was to use similar technology. One vendor suggested that since the condensate operates at a high temperature, conductivity sensors would provide better reliability compared to the pH probes. Does anyone have suggestions for one monitoring method over another? What would be the conductivity ranges that I should be monitoring? I've also considering installing sample coolers before the probes to help with taking off-line samples, and it seems this would help with the high temp issue. Any information or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Eric

 

[KiwiMace]

I worked on a large online steam plant analyser lab once and all the hot samples went through chilled water bath coolers. You get to choose the best analysis method, rather than just the one that works with the sample temp.

 

[moltenmetal]

Good advice there: cool the samples and look for what you're worried about- fluoride, not just conductivity. Otherwise you might spook people with false positives.