US 6,981,422 B1 | ||
Method and apparatus for differential pressure testing of catalytic reactor tubes | ||
Mathis P. Comardo, 7042 Satsuma Dr., Houston, Tex. 77041 (US) | ||
Filed on Oct. 14, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/965,338. | ||
Int. Cl. G01L 7/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 73—756 | 48 Claims |
1. A method for conducting blow-down and differential pressure testing of the catalyst tubes of a tube and shell type catalytic
reactor having an upper tube sheet and a multiplicity of reactor tubes each having the upper ends thereof extending downwardly
from the upper tube sheet, comprising:
providing at least one test probe defining a testing path having an air supply thereto and a restricted orifice therein and
having a selectively activated blow-down path in communication with the air supply and by-passing the restricted orifice;
establishing sealing of the test probe with a selected reactor tube;
activating the blow-down path and injecting compressed air from the air supply into at least one reactor tube at a predetermined
pressure and volume for reactor tube blow-down;
de-activating the blow-down path and controllably injecting a pressurized gas through the orifice and into a reactor tube
at a predetermined test pressure and volume determined by air supply pressure and by the restricted orifice;
measuring the back-pressure of the reactor tube and developing an electronic signal representing the measured back-pressure;
and
recording the electronic signal representing the back-pressure measurement.
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