FR2846956A1 - Safety area for fuel transfer has inflatable barrage and collector with filter system of rubber pellets obtained from used tyres or conveyor belts - Google Patents

Abstract

The fuel transfer safety area consists of a combination of an inflatable sealed barrage (1) completely surrounding the area and a collection assembly with a filtration system (2) containing rubber pellets obtained from used tyre or conveyor belts. The height of the barrage and surface of the safety area are designed so they can contain the whole of the contents of the tanker (8) involved. The collection assembly comprises a sump (9) in the centre of the area, connected by a pipe (14) to a sealed chamber (10) containing the filter, linked to an adjacent reservoir (11) with a pump (12).

Description

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  The present invention relates to a secure unloading area.

  It relates generally to transfer stations, from trucks or tank cars, of fluid and volatile products and

  in particular hydrocarbons such as liquid gases, petrol or crude oil.

  The transfer of hydrocarbons or other fluids

  similar is often the cause of more or less significant pollution due to leaks, errors in maneuvers or accidents that can sometimes cause the ground to flow most of the contents of a tank, which requires heavy interventions and risk of cause significant damage which can be very difficult to remedy.

  Existing transfer stations for trucks or tank cars generally have a drainage system connected directly to the sewers. In the event of a large spill, the pipes usually provided generally allow only a small proportion of the 20 products to pass, the rest spreading around without other obstacles than those due to

  structure of the land or neighboring buildings.

  The device according to the present invention aims to remedy this state of affairs. In fact, it not only makes it possible to recover all of the fluids that may accidentally escape during a transfer, but also

  also to ensure their filtration if necessary.

  It consists of the combination of a filtration system using pellets obtained by punching tires or strips of used conveyor belts 30, and an inflatable retractable watertight barrier surrounding

completely the unloading area.

  In the appended schematic drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example of one of the embodiments of the subject of the invention: -2

  Figure 1 is a vertical section of the entire installation and Figure 2 is a horizontal section showing the connection of two elements of the inflatable dam.

  The device, Figures 1 and 2, consists of a retractable watertight barrier 1 and a fluid collection assembly equipped with a filter 2 based on

rubber pads.

  The watertight barrier 1 consists of rectilinear elements formed 1 0 each of an elongated inflatable casing 3 housed in a gutter 4 buried in the ground and normally closed by an articulated metal plate 5 determined to rise up and maintain itself in a position substantially vertical during inflation of the envelope 3 so as to serve as a support for the latter on the side opposite to that

o the fluid pressure is exerted.

  The connection of two contiguous dam elements is ensured by low walls 6 surrounding the junction and ensuring the tightness of the assembly (Figure 2). This technique makes it possible to achieve, with a reasonable investment, a dam that can reach a significant length and completely surround the unloading area 7 receiving the tank trucks 8 or tank wagons.

  the content of which must be transferred. This dam can be set up, possibly automatically, very quickly and without the intervention of labor.

  The height of the dam 1 and the area of the unloading area 7 are determined so as to obtain a volume sufficient to contain the entire contents of the tank.

  The fluid collection assembly is formed by a fluid collection pit 9 arranged in the center of the unloading area 7, a sealed tank 10 containing the filter 2 and a reservoir 11 for collecting the fluids to evacuate communi30 with the lower part of the sealed tank and comprising a pump

backflow 12.

  The filter 2 occupies the bottom of the sealed tank and is covered with allvenant 13.

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  The surface of the unloading area 6 is sloping from the dam 1 to the pit 9 in order to facilitate the flow of the fluids towards the latter.

  The bottom of the pit 9 is connected to the watertight tank 10 by a 5 discharge duct 14 leading to the upper part of the filter 2 and comprising at its upstream end a pneumatic shutter 15 making it possible to isolate the filtration circuit in the case thick and viscous products (tars, crude oil, ...), an orifice 16, connected to a pumping system (not shown), being provided in

  pit 9 for the extraction of these products.

  The filter 2 consists of rubber pellets held in a "gabion" cage and obtained using the technique which is the subject of international patent application NO PCT - FR 99/00 587, filed by the author of the present invention, which describes a machine for reducing tires and used rubber conveyors into pellets by means of a multiple punch press in which a feeding system passes the rubber band, or the tire

  open thanks to a cross section, to be able to lay it flat.

  The positioning of the various constituent elements gives the object 20 of the invention a maximum of useful effects which had not, to date, been obtained by

similar devices.

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Claims (5)

  1. Safe unloading area, intended for transfer stations, from trucks or tank wagons, of fluid and volatile products and in particular of hydrocarbons such as liquid gases, petrol or crude oil, characterized by the combination of a dam waterproof (1) retractable inflatable completely surrounding the unloading area (7) and a set of 10 fluids collection equipped with a filtration system (2) using pellets obtained by punching tires or conveyor belt strips in used rubber.   20. The unloading area according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the dam 1 and the area of the unloading area (7) are determined so as to obtain a volume sufficient to contain all of the   contents to be transferred from the tank truck (8) or the tank car.   30. Unloading area according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid collection assembly is   formed by a fluid collection pit (9) arranged in the center of the unloading area (7) whose surface is sloping from the watertight dam (1) to said pit, by a watertight tank (10 ) containing the filter (2) and a reservoir (11) for collecting the fluids to be evacuated, communicating with the lower part of said sealed tank, and comprising a discharge pump (12).   4. Decanting area according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom of the fluid collection pit (9) is connected to the sealed tank (10) by a discharge pipe (14) having at its upstream end a 30 pneumatic shutter (15) used to isolate the filtration circuit in the event of   thick and viscous products such as tar or crude oil. -5    . Decanting area according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the filter (2) occupies the bottom of the sealed tank   (10) and is covered with all-purpose (13).   60. Unloading area according to claims 4 and 5, characterized   by the fact that the evacuation duct (14) ends in the sealed tank (10) at the upper part of the filter (2).