Hydrotest medium in Shell side Hydrotest (MOC :SA-516-70N and service : LPG)

[Nikhil Dhir]

Hello All,

Wanted to know which hydrotest fluid should be used for Shell side Hydrotest in Shell and Tube side Exchanger (Shell Side (SA516-70N) : LPG and Tube side (SA-179- Killed): Water)?
And in which scenarios we use Cold condensate as a Testing medium?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dhurjati Sen]

Dear Nikhil Dhir,

Service water is used in India and potable water is used in the Middle East since ages.

You can use cold condensate as a service test maybe, but it would contain quite a bit of oxygen and salts, and I never recommend it.

Regards.

DHURJATI SEN
Kolkata, India

 

[MJCronin]

Water is the best media .... do not make the common mideastern mistake of using seawater or any type of water containing chlorides over 50 ppm.

It is important to chloride test a sample of of the hydrotest media and keep that record

If liquid hydrocarbons are used, the owner must correct for the volume changes versus temperature. Water is usually best media

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[georgeverghese]

Use low chloride potable water. Dry out the HX thoroughly to the required dewpoint after flushing for low temp LPG service.

 

[mk3223]

The fresh water is the first choice.
But, you may want to verify the quality of either the "fresh" water or condensate water you have prior to using for the test.