Urea Stripper Tube Leakage

Abstract

This article entails the chronic problem of Fertilizer Industry regarding leakage in Urea Stripper. A critical leak incident that occurred in one of the most critical piece of equipment (stripper) in Urea plant resulted to emergency shutdown and losses in production and how the situation can be analyzed to prevent re-occurrence of similar incidents in chemical Industry.On dated 19/01/2018 at 05.30 hrs. Suddenly 31 stream urea stripper got heavy leakage and carbamate came out through pressure safety valve in shell side of heat exchanger (stripper). A rupture in old plug of the tube of a high pressure caused leakage of high pressure urea solution and ammonium carbamate to the atmosphere which results to emergency shutdown and losses in production for three days. Leakage was so big that Shell became pressurized up to PSV setting value i.e. 26.0 bar. Immediately shut down was taken to control the situation. The intent of this article is to highlight the issues faced in identification of Urea Stripper leakage during plant operation and rectification of the problems.