Scanning technology now available for local industry

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) said that Gamma Ray Column Scanning Technology services are available for local industry, particularly oil refineries and petrochemical plants, to inspect and check the condition of containers used in the refining process.

The PNRI said that the vessel and column scanning technology allows the conduct of proper density profiling, a technique that provides significant information on the condition of the whole process and the containers being inspected.

The technology, which uses stabilized isotopes, makes it possible to “see” inside a process vessel, such as distillation columns in refineries or petrochemical industries and quickly identify problems without interrupting normal plant operations. Time, money, and other resources are saved.

Engineers using the technology could identify damaged or missing trays and their positions, extent of flooding and its location, liquid weeping and foaming, liquid levels, and blockages, among others.

Engineers and operators could thus determine the status of the column and consequently make arrangements for maintenance and troubleshooting to prevent emergency shutdown.

Since the process does not involve direct contact with the insides of the containers it also avoids potential corrosion, temperature or pressure problems.

This precision nuclear tool could prove useful beyond troubleshooting structural problems.