QuantiFlo System

QuantiFlo is a system for measuring the flow of air or any other non-condensible gas either within a vacuum or pressurized system or into a vacuum system. It is most commonly used to carry out air ingress surveys on steam condensers.

The system is based on the use of a tracer gas, usually helium, and flows are measured by determining the amount of helium in a sample drawn from the vacuum system.

On steam condensers, three types of quantitative measurement are normally taken

1. The total amount of air drawn from the condenser by the air extraction plant
2. The amount of air flowing into the condenser through attached sub-atmospheric piping systems, such as vents and drains.
3. The amount of air being drawn in through the common leak sites associated with the condenser box, such as the turbine shaft glands, steam penetrations and bursting disks.

From the basic set of measurements, the major sources of leakage are identified and the search concentrated in these areas only.

The benefits compared to existing non-quantitative methods are considerable

• Total flow for condenser is reliably known
• By measuring flows into to condenser via attached piping systems, many areas of plant can often be quickly eliminated and efforts concentrated on areas with a known problem.
• Quantitative leak measurements enable best strategy for repair of serious leaks to be determined