Re: leak in ammonia plant
could you give us more information about you system and your heat exchanger. to find leaks in NH3 is very easy ((smelling )) is a best way .,
Re: leak in ammonia plant
Sulphur sticks are handy to catch very small pinhole leaks but it's very rare to get a leak on an ammonia system without corrosion unless you are leaking at a flanged joint of some type.
Re: leak in ammonia plant
Could it be that you had a pressure relief valve, opened releasing NH3, then resetting.
Re: leak in ammonia plant
Best method to check tube leakage, if nonferrous material use Eddy Current Tubing Examination and if ferrous material use Remote Field Eddy Current (RFT)/Internal Rotary Inspection System (IRIS) as such NDT methods could solve your problem.
If you test 100% of the tubes than you will know which tube having wall thickness loss and the percent of wall loss and take quick action to plug off the defect tubes, in anticipation of tube failure.
Re: leak in ammonia plant
Could you give better information surrounding your refrigeration plant?
I.e. Make of unit, type of heat exhanger (PHE/Shell and tube)