Steam air ejector and condensate system for tube leaks

**lkolenda** · July 22nd, 2010, 01:31 PM

What is the best method to check your two stage inter/after condensor air ejector for leaks. How do you determine if you have a problem during the season?

Thanks

**Steamer** · July 22nd, 2010, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by lkolenda

What is the best method to check your two stage inter/after condensor air ejector for leaks. How do you determine if you have a problem during the season?

Hmmm, that's tricky. I would look for either a large volume of condensate from the drains (drag line or at the drain tank) or a bunch of slobbering out the air vent. Are you running at a high enough load long enough so that you can secure the air ejector and give it a quicky hydro? No vacuum pump available? Season? Is this an old C6 conversion by any chance?

**NewEngr** · July 22nd, 2010, 11:35 PM

Check out this website. http://www.dieselduck.ca/forum/index.php?c=1 They always seem to have something. A lot of lakes guys there too, and they have probably seen this issue before. Is the air ejector in question a duplex, two stage (first stage to approx 20", second stage to 28")? Is the shell divided into two partitions allowing isolation of one side? Are the turbo-generators lined up to a secondary steam system with their own air ejectors and condenser? You may be able to secure the main air ejector long enough to do a hydro as Steamer said.

**lkolenda** · July 24th, 2010, 07:28 AM

yes, you correct on the specifications of the air ejector.Your hydro is a good idea and i will look into it.

Thanks

**lkolenda** · July 27th, 2010, 06:21 AM

This is what i have so far.

Annual checks-Lay-up
1.) Prior to draining the condensate system, operating Pressure should be placed on the system. Primarily between the hot well and DA tank piping. Once pressure has been established, open the drains on the air ejector, third stage heater, First stage and drains cooler. This would be a good annual check to determine if any of your heat exchangers tubes are leaking. The air Ejector drain should be removed and checked for leaking between stages(3/4” drain bottom of ejector.) If the tubes are leaking at the rolled or packing end there will be evidence at the drain piping. This method offers the least amount of time involved and is relatively easy to perform.

During the season-If you suspect the air ejector has a tube leak.

1.) First look for any changes in condensate temperature leaving the heat exchangers. Secondly, look for either a large volume of condensate from the drains (drag line or at the drain tank). This would be better indicated by a larger volume of condensate in the hot well. An additional indication that that there is a problem is excessive misting or a slobbering out of the air vent. In port, switch to auxiliary air ejector and perform an inspection.

**Steamer** · July 27th, 2010, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by lkolenda

During the season-If you suspect the air ejector has a tube leak.

1.) First look for any changes in condensate temperature leaving the heat exchangers. Secondly, look for either a large volume of condensate from the drains (drag line or at the drain tank). This would be better indicated by a larger volume of condensate in the hot well. An additional indication that that there is a problem is excessive misting or a slobbering out of the air vent. In port, switch to auxiliary air ejector and perform an inspection.

Are you actually on a ship or are you writing a paper for a class or something? What is a "season"? Are you working on a fish processor called the OP by any chance? Or on the Lakes? What is the real reason for your question? Something smells fishy here ...

A "larger volume of condensate in the hot well", which steam engineers call a high level, might be caused by any number of things, the last of which is a leak in the air ejector condenser. The "drag line" I referred to is the loop seal, a large flow there can indicate a leak. Be careful if you are just snagging anecdotal information on a website because if what you wrote in that last post is for an instructor or your chief engineer it will make them give you a really funny look before they send you back to pipe tracing.

I think you need to do some more reading before you simply "switch to auxiliary air ejector and perform ..." some kind of inspection on anything. Are you splitting the plant and breaking vacuum on the main condenser? What do you think auxiliary air ejectors do for a living?