Teledyne FLIR's (Korea Country Manager Lee Hae-dong) thermal imaging solutions are playing a major role in safety inspections at the SK Energy Ulsan Complex.

FLIR announced that SK Energy Ulsan Complex (hereinafter 'Ulsan CLX') has adopted and is operating FLIR's various gas imaging (OGI) and thermal imaging equipment for safety inspections and checks of its facilities.

This includes specialized cameras such as the FLIR GF320 and GF346 gas imaging cameras and the FLIR GF309 furnace camera, as well as general industrial thermal imaging cameras such as the FLIR T640 and E60.

Ulsan CLX is a key facility of SK Energy with a crude oil refining capacity of 840,000 barrels per day. Due to the nature of petrochemical plants, which handle various flammable and toxic substances, safety inspections and management of facilities are of paramount importance. This is because if these substances leak, not only is there a risk of fire, but the economic losses would also be enormous if the process had to be halted for repairs. In particular, leaks of colorless and odorless toxic gases can pose a fatal threat to worker safety.

The factory has 46,250 km of pipe facilities connected across a site three times the size of Yeouido, which is the length of the Earth's circumference. Although inspection teams routinely and regularly perform safety inspections and maintenance work, checking the condition of facilities of this scale solely by visual inspection is not only limited and inefficient but also exposes workers to danger.

Lee Bo-rim, Deputy General Manager of the Inspection Team at SK Energy Ulsan CLX, stated, “FLIR’s gas imaging cameras, furnace cameras, and thermal imaging cameras not only enhance the efficiency of facility safety inspections but also help protect workers and facilities from hazards that cannot be identified with the naked eye.”

The inspection team is currently operating a variety of FLIR equipment tailored to specific applications. The FLIR GF320 is primarily used to check for leaks of hazardous gases, such as hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), at valve connections and other locations. Since its initial introduction in 2012, satisfaction with its functionality and performance has been high, leading to a recent increase in the number of units in the inventory to double digits. The FLIR GF346 OGI camera is mainly used to check for carbon monoxide leaks in carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion emission treatment facilities, while the FLIR GF309 furnace camera is utilized for monitoring various furnaces, heaters, and boilers to verify facility conditions by penetrating flames exceeding 700°C. In addition, FLIR T640 and E60 thermal imaging cameras are widely used for routine inspections of horizontal and vertical piping sections due to their portability and convenience.

Lee Hae-dong, Country Manager of Teledyne FLIR Korea, said, “We are pleased that FLIR’s gas imaging and thermal imaging technologies can contribute to protecting facilities and ensuring worker safety at SK Energy Ulsan CLX. In particular, we find it very meaningful that the additional equipment was introduced thanks to the customer’s trust in FLIR’s innovative technologies and solutions,” adding, “FLIR will continue to do its best to provide solutions and support to protect customers’ property and safety from invisible threats.”