Integrated Fluid System Solutions for Refinery Operations
Oil refineries and chemical plants depend on thousands of interconnected fluid system components to maintain safe, efficient, and reliable operations. From analytical sampling and instrumentation systems to mechanical seal support systems and steam tracing applications, every connection plays a critical role in overall plant performance.
This animation demonstrates how Swagelok supports refinery and chemical processing facilities with integrated fluid system solutions designed to help improve reliability, safety, and operational efficiency. See how application expertise, engineered assemblies, and complete system solutions work together to address complex process challenges, reduce maintenance demands, and support critical operations across the facility.
Discover how Swagelok's global network of fluid system specialists helps customers optimize performance, protect assets, and improve reliability through solutions tailored to the unique needs of refinery and chemical plant environments.
Video Transcript
Fugitive emissions can be defined as the uncontrolled release of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, within your processing facility. Benzene, methane, and ethanol are some of the most common gases of concern.
Dynamic and static seals on valves, pumps, and flange connections are the most common sources of fugitive emissions.
Proactively reducing fugitive emissions at your facility promotes a safer work environment while improving your company’s environmental footprint and lowering costs.
Implementing a , or LDAR, program is the best way to monitor and fix leaks that lead to fugitive emissions. A robust LDAR program will institute a comprehensive plan whereby leaks are identified using EPA Method 21, or your local criteria, documented, and repaired within a defined time frame.
This method is intended to locate leaks only. It does not measure mass emission rate.
Many LDAR programs focus on valves, and for good reason: valves account for 62 percent of fugitive emissions. These emissions can be prevented by replacing leaking valves with certified low-E valves.
The EPA defines low-E valves in two ways. The first is that the valve comes with a written guarantee from the manufacturer that the valve will not leak above 100 parts per million for five years. The second is certification, or equivalent documentation, that the valve has been tested pursuant to generally accepted good engineering practices, in good faith, duplicating process conditions, and leaking at no greater than 100 parts per million.
Fortunately, there are industry-standard tests that can help determine if a valve is truly a low-E valve. Ideally, these tests should be conducted at a third-party laboratory and not by the valve manufacturer. Certification should then be available from the manufacturer as documentation, including a seal from the third-party lab, the testing location, and the results.
Selecting valves that come with one of these certifications is the best way to prevent fugitive emissions. Being proactive and specifying certified low-emissions valves during your system design helps prevent leakage and potential costly repairs and system downtime. It also helps you stay compliant with environmental best practices.
At Swagelok, we offer a wide range of low-E certified valves that have passed applicable low-emissions testing without any design modifications, and your local Swagelok Sales and Service Center can help you implement a successful LDAR program.
