Automatic liquid tank jacket testing apparatus

A testing apparatus for a tank and a jacket having an internal wall shared with the tank and an external wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller with digital data processors,
• a supply system for delivering liquid at pressure above atmospheric to the jacket,
• wherein the controller is configured to perform a first test by:
• delivering liquid into the jacket at pressure above atmospheric,
• determining when the tank pressure is higher than a jacket start pressure, and then monitoring a parameter of the jacket to detect if there is a leak from the tank into the jacket,
• wherein the parameter is jacket pressure, the apparatus comprises a jacket pressure sensor and the controller is configured to perform steps of:
• after said delivering of liquid into the jacket, sealing the jacket, determining the jacket start pressure, said pressure being lower than the tank pressure,
• over a testing time period detecting if there is a change in pressure in the jacket which exceeds a tolerance level, and
• identifying that there is a potential leak in the jacket internal wall if there is an excessive jacket pressure change.

A testing apparatus for a tank and a jacket having an internal wall shared with the tank and an external wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a controller with digital data processors,
• a supply system for delivering liquid at pressure above atmospheric to the jacket,
• wherein the controller is configured to perform a first test by:
• delivering liquid into the jacket at pressure above atmospheric,
• determining when the tank pressure is higher than a jacket start pressure, and then monitoring a parameter of the jacket to detect if there is a leak from the tank into the jacket,
• wherein the controller is configured to implement a second test by causing the supply system to deliver liquid into the jacket at an elevated pressure above atmospheric, to seal the jacket by for example closing a jacket venting valve, and determining if the pressure in the jacket drops over a time period, and generating an alert of a possible jacket external wall leak if there is a pressure drop in the jacket above a tolerance level.

A production plant comprising at least one tank, a supply to the tank, and a testing apparatus linked with said tank or tanks, said testing apparatus comprising:

• a controller with digital data processors,
• a supply system for delivering liquid at pressure above atmospheric to a jacket,
• wherein the controller is configured to perform a first test by:
• delivering liquid into the jacket at pressure above atmospheric,
• determining when the tank pressure is higher than a jacket start pressure, and monitoring a parameter of the jacket to detect if there is a leak from the tank into the jacket,
• wherein the controller is configured to determine when the tank is filled to a level above the tank jacket height for said step of determining when the tank pressure is higher than a jacket pressure.