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User name Jack
Log entry time 18:27:12 on April 29, 2009
Entry number 269792
keyword=VDC gas system leak at the gas mixer
This afternoon I found a gas leak in the VDC gas mixing system in the Gas
Shed. The swagelok fitting on the output of the ethane rotameter, just
after the mass flow controller and before the small gas mixing tank, was
not tight. Gas was leaking out and ethanol was apparently being forced
out, also. I believe the leak caused the pressure to drop in the mixing
tank, when the mass flow controllers were off, creating back pressure on
the ethanol bubbler and forcing ethanol into the mixing tank and the
tubing to the mixing tank. This has probably been going on for quite a
while. Almost all the ethanol was gone from the system. I have been
smelling ethanol in the Gas Shed, but have been unable to find the source
till now. The gas mixture going to the VDCs has thus been of an uncertain
mixture. The fitting was tightened up and snoop showed no leakage. The
ethanol reservoirs were filled. Things seemed to be working ok.