Insulations refinery leak

Refinery employees observed a noticeable leak on a 1-inch (2.5 cm) connection above a discharge header in a refinery. While carefully removing insulation around the leak to better observe the leak source, the mechanic aggravated the situation, and a threaded nipple and valve blew off. A stream of hot oil slurry (670° F (354° C)) sprayed the area and produced a dense cloud of heavy hydrocarbon mist. Oil sprayed over 90 ft. (27 m) into the air and the mist covered an extensive area of the refinery. [9] Immediately after the oil mist cloud formed, operators initiated a shutdown of the unit, and the alert team started the fire-water monitors. The hydrocarbon mist ignited about 10 minutes after the threaded nipple blew off. Responders extinguished the blare within about 90 minutes. Luckily, only a portion of the total volume of escaping oil burned. 

However, many pipes of interest are necessary wrapped with the coated materials for manufacturing process in refinery, chemical and petro-chemical plants. When the pipe is coated, some energy from the guided wave in the pipe wall can leak into the insulation... 

Refinery employees observed a noticeable leak on a 1 in. (2.5 cm) connection above a discharge header in a refinery. While carefully removing insulation around the leak to... 

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