SENSOR DISCRIMINATIVO A FIBRA ÓPTICA PARA DETECÇÃO DE VAZAMENTO EM TANQUES JAQUETADOS / OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR DISCRIMINATOR FOR JACKETED TANKS LEAKAGE DETECTION

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2003

RESUMO

Soil contamination due to leakage of hydrocarbon fuels from tanks in service stations is an environmental risk associated with the distribution segment of the petroleum industry. Such risk is closely related to ageing tanks and piping systems, as well as to the lack of quality assurance practices in service stations. This problem is being reduced during the last two decades, mainly due to use of modern equipment that must adhere to more rigid environmental legislation. In this thesis, an optical fiber sensor, able to discriminate different liquids, has been developed as a part of a leakage detection system employed to monitor jacketed tanks used to store alcohol or hydrocarbon or fuels. Leakage detection in this type of storage tanks plays an important role to minimize problems due to soil contamination and is now required according to new environmental legislation. If fuel leaks through the carbon steel wall of jacketed tanks it will be contained, within an interstitial space, by the outer, fiber reinforced, polymeric wall of the tank. Presence of fluid in the interstitial space is monitored by the optical fiber sensor, which sends a warning to the service station operator, which immediately has to start maintenance procedures. The capability of discriminating different fuels will allow the operator to quickly identify from which tank compartment the leakage has originated, or, if water coming from the soil has been detected, that the outer wall of the tank has been damaged and needs to be repaired.

ASSUNTO(S)

jacketed tanks petro station refraction index tanque jaquetado interstitial monitored posto de servico monitoramento intersticial sensor a fibra optica indice de refracao optical fiber sensor

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