Gas blanketing management of low-pressure hydrocarbon tanks
AssigneeTerra Primoris Holdings, LLC
InventorsGregory E. Young, Zane A. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrocarbon tank system environment corrosion inhibitor includes use of inert gas, preferably Nitrogen, to blanket ullage and interstice through the tank system. Blanket gas is provided is controller into coupling to access ullages. Blanket gas is provided upon fueling events to stabilize the pressure in the system and prevent entry of atmospheric air and water (vapor). Blanket gas may be continuously run into the ullage and/or other spaces in tank system. A controlled system allows for monitoring of pressures in the tank, and thereby identifies pressure events and even leaks in system due to unusual events, or general loss of pressure.
Claims20
A method of detecting leaks in an underground fuel storage tank comprising the steps of:
- (a) pressurizing an ullage space of the storage tank to a predetermined pressure level;
- (b) testing the pressure in the ullage space of the storage tank;
- (c) dispensing fuel from the storage tank to drop the pressure within the storage tank;
- (d) monitoring the amount of fuel dispensed in said step of dispensing;
- (e) repressurizing the ullage space of the storage tank to said predetermined pressure level;
- (f) determining an amount of gas required to repressurize the ullage space;
- (g) calculating if the amount of gas required to pressurize the ullage space coincides with a predicted amount of gas based on the amount of fuel dispensed;
- and
- (h) alerting of a potential leak if the amount of gas determined to repressurize the ullage space exceeds the calculated amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.