Enhanced vapor containment and monitoring
AssigneeArid Technologies
InventorTedmund P. Tiberi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for ensuring effective and efficient vehicle vapor recovery performance, storage tank system integrity relative to both vapor and liquid containment and for reducing the probability that inaccurate information causes companies to undertake unnecessary, expensive and wasteful loss investigations at gasoline dispensing facilities. A fuel storage and delivery system is transformed from an “open system” communicating directly with the environment to a “closed system” which ensures capture, containment and accurate accounting of both hydrocarbon vapors and liquid phase product.
Claims16
A data monitoring system for monitoring vapor recovery and containment in a liquid fuel dispensing facility, the facility including at least one liquid fuel fixed roof storage tank and at least one liquid fuel fixed roof receiving tank and at least one fuel transfer interface coupled to at least one liquid fuel storage tank and receiving tank, the system, comprising:
- a data processing unit configured to receive, transmit and perform mathematical operations on information relating to said fuel dispensing facility;
- a plurality of sensor elements electronically coupled to said data processing unit to provide data relating to said fuel dispensing facility;
- and
- a control unit, the control unit coupled to said data processing unit and to a communication link of said fuel dispensing facility, the control unit facilitating modification of said fuel transfer interface in response to data provided by said data processing unit.
A method for conducting a vapor containment test, comprising:
- identifying the start of an idle dispensing period, when no liquid is transferred from a storage tank to a receiving tank;
- monitoring to confirm that idle period continues;
- measuring pressure in the ullage space to be less than or equal to a prescribed minimum pressure;
- selectively adjusting the pressure in the ullage to a pre-set lower level when actual ullage pressure exceeds the minimum pressure desired;
- monitoring the variation of pressure during the idle period;
- determining the end of the idle period;
- and
- determining acceptability of vapor containment in the ullage space of the facility based on the pressure versus time profile measured, to test vapor containment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.