Abstract |
Hydrocarbon leaks from valves and flanges in refineries may be responsible for appreciable emissions to the atmosphere. Questionnaires were sent out to obtain the number of valves and flanges, classified by service, in the refineries. A testing program was then initiated to obtain the leakage rates from a representative number of these units. Tests indicated that flanges were of minor importance as sources of emissions, having approximately one-tenth the leak frequency of valves. Nearly 10,000 valves were inspected, and the leakage was projected to the total population of 132,000 valves in Los Angeles County refineries. (Author) |