IL296474A - Improved double-walled piping system - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVED DOUBLE-WALLED PIPING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to double-walled piping systems for the transportation of toxic and hazardous fluids and/or gases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Over the years, the transport of toxic and hazardous gases, such as hydrogen, ammonia, fluorine, chlorine, oxygen, silane, phosphine, arsine, plus various mixed gases, via piping systems, has presented a serious problem for engineers, contractors and others who use or effect transportation of these gases. When piping systems are used to transport such gases or fluids from one point to another there always exists the possibility of a leak occurring in joints of the piping system.

Detecting and repairing the leak in the prior art piping systems is time consuming and seldom effective. In many cases a complete replacement of the piping system is required. Thus, it would be advantageous to have a piping system with a minimal number of joints and therefore less prone to leaking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aforementioned summary of preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention is merely illustrative of the inventive concepts presented herein and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner.

An embodiment of a double-walled piping system of the invention comprises a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, a scrubber having an attached liquid ejector, said liquid ejector is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe, a control unit electrically connected to the scrubber and configured to control the operation of the scrubber, gas sensors connected to the control unit and located along and attached to the sidewall of the containment pipe, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leak from the metal seamless carrier pipe to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe.

Another embodiment of a double-walled piping system of the invention comprises a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe, ejectors attached to the containment pipe and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, wherein said ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to a scrubber, a control unit electrically connected to the ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the ejectors and the scrubber, pressure (vacuum) sensors connected electrically to the control unit and located along and attached to the sidewall of the containment pipe, said pressure (vacuum) sensors are designed to monitor a vacuum level in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe.

Yet another embodiment of a double-walled piping system of the invention comprises a first piping having a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, the second piping section comprising a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum insulated from the containment, a scrubber having an associated or integrated liquid ejector, said ejector is designed to draw fluids and/or gases from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the first piping section, during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping section, ejectors attached to the containment pipe of the second piping section and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the second piping section, wherein said ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to the scrubber, a control unit electrically connected to the ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the ejectors and the scrubber, gas sensors connected electrically to the control unit and located along and attached to the sidewall of the containment pipe of the first piping section, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leak from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping section to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping section and the containment pipe of the first piping section, vacuum sensors connected electrically to the control unit and located along and attached to the sidewall of the containment pipe of the second piping section, said vacuum sensors are designed to monitor vacuum level in an interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe of the second piping section and the containment pipe of the second piping section.

Yet another embodiment of a double-walled piping system of the invention comprises a normally open piping attached by an inlet to a source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to a fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally open piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; a normally closed piping attached by an inlet to the source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to the fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally closed piping comprising: metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; a scrubber having an integrated liquid ejector, said liquid ejector is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipes and the containment pipes during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipes; gas sensors located along and attached to the sidewalls of the containment pipes, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipes to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipes and the containment pipe; a control unit electrically connected to the gas sensors and to the scrubber and configured to control the operation of the scrubber, and wherein said control unit is further configured to close the normally open piping and open the normally closed piping upon receiving a signal from the gas sensors, said signal being indicative of a leaking in the normally open piping.

Yet another embodiment of a double-walled piping system of the invention comprises a double-walled piping system comprises a normally open piping attached by an inlet to a source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to a fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally open piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe; a normally closed piping attached by an inlet to the source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to the fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally closed piping comprising: metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe; gas ejectors attached to the containment pipes and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, wherein said ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to a scrubber; vacuum sensors located along and attached to the sidewalls of the containment pipes, said vacuum sensors are configured to monitor the vacuum level in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; a control unit electrically connected to the vacuum sensors, to the gas ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the gas ejectors and the scrubber, and wherein said control unit is further configured to close the normally open piping and open the normally closed piping upon receiving a signal from the vacuum sensors, said signal being indicative of a leaking in the normally open piping.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of detecting a leaking fluid in a non- hermetic double-walled piping system, the method comprises: in a control unit, receiving signals from leakage sensors of the non-hermetic double-walled piping system, said signals being an indicative of a leaking fluid from the carrier pipe of the non-hermetic double-walled piping system; shutting off the flow of a hazardous or toxic fluid in the carrier pipe; running a scrubber and a liquid ejector to draw the leaking fluid into the scrubber; initiating a flow of nitrogen gas into the carrier pipe; scanning for a leak with an ultrasonic detector the segment of the carrier pipe located between the first two triggered leak sensors.

Yet additional aspect of the invention is a method of detecting a leaking fluid or gas in a hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system comprising: receiving in a control unit signals from vacuum sensors of the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system, said signals being indicative of a leaking fluid into the interstitial space between the carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system; shutting off the flow of a hazardous or toxic fluid in the carrier pipe; initiating a flow of nitrogen gas into the carrier pipe; scanning the carrier pipe or the containment pipe for a leak with an ultrasonic detector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a non-hermetic double-walled piping system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a combined vacuum-insulated and non-hermetic double-walled piping system according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a non-hermetic double-walled piping system with a redundancy according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system with a redundancy according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a combined vacuum-insulated and non-hermetic double-walled piping system with a redundancy according to an embodiment of the invention.

The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented for the purpose of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. From the description taken together with the drawings it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Moreover, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention hereof.

The present invention is a double-walled piping system for transporting toxic and/or hazardous fluids (gases or volatile liquids). It has been found by the inventor that the most suitable piping (i.e. piping with a minimum number of joints and welds) for a double-walled piping system of the present invention is a piping having a seamless carrier pipe made of metal (due to a higher corrosion resistivity of metals in comparison to other materials).

The double-walled piping system of the present invention comprise a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe which carriers a hazardous or toxic fluid. The metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe is located inside a containment pipe preferably made of a polymer. The double-walled piping system further contains a plurality of leak sensors (gas sensors or pressure (vacuum) sensors) located along the length of the containment pipe and attached to it.

An embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. A non-hermetic double-walled piping system 100 comprises a metal (copper) or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 110 located inside a containment pipe 120 made of polymer (PVC) or any other suitable material. The double-walled piping system 100 further contains a plurality of leak sensors (gas sensors) 160 located along the length and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe 120.

The gas sensors 160 are designed to detect a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 110 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 110 and the containment pipe 120. The containment pipe 120 further comprises unsealed ends that enable circulation of air in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 110 and the containment pipe 120.

The doubled-wall piping system 100 further comprises a scrubber 130 with an integrated or associated liquid ejector 133 (an ejector in which the working fluid is liquid). The scrubber 130 is connected to a sidewall of the containment pipe 120 via an electric valve 132 and a scrubber pipe 131. The integrated or associated liquid ejector 133 is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 110 and the containment pipe 120 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 110.

The doubled-wall piping system 100 also includes a control unit 140 with an internal gas analyzer to which gas sensors 160 are electrically connected. In a case of leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 110 the gas sensors 160 are triggered and the control unit 140 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 110. The control unit 140 also activates the liquid ejector 133 that draws the leaking fluid into the scrubber 130. A neutralized fluid leaves the scrubber 130 through an exit 136. After that a nitrogen gas is flood through the seamless carrier pipe 110 and the location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 110 is determined by using an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine a segment of the seamless carrier pipe 110 bound by the first two gas sensors 160 that were triggered by the leaking fluid.

Another embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 2. A hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system 2 comprises a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 210 located inside a containment pipe 220 made of polymer or any other suitable material, wherein said seamless carrier pipe 210 is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe 220. The vacuum in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 210 and the containment pipe 220 is created by gas ejectors 250 (gas ejectors are ejectors in which the working fluid is gas) which are connected via an electric valve 222 and a ball valve 223 to a sidewall of the containment pipe 220 and are located along the length of the containment pipe 220.

The double-walled piping system 200 further contains a plurality of pressure (vacuum) sensors 260 attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe 220. Moreover, the pressure (vacuum) sensors 220 are located along the length of the containment pipe 220.

The pressure (vacuum) sensors 260 are designed to detect a pressure change due to a leaking from the seamless carrier pipe 210 or from outside of the containment pipe 220 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 210 and the containment pipe 220.

The doubled-wall piping system 200 further comprises a scrubber 230 connected to an outlet of the gas ejectors 250. The gas ejectors 250 are also designed to remove fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 210 and the containment pipe 220 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 210.

The doubled-wall piping system 200 also includes a control unit 240 to which pressure (vacuum) sensors 260 are electrically connected. A leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 210 or from outside of the containment pipe 220 decreases the vacuum level inside the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 210 and the containment pipe 220, thus triggering the pressure (vacuum) sensors 260. Upon fluid receiving a vacuum breach signal from the pressure (vacuum) sensors 2 control unit 240 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 210.

The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 210 or in the containment pipe 220 is established by employing an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine the pipes 210, 220.

Yet another embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3. A double-walled piping system 300 comprises a non-hermetic double-walled piping 400 having an inlet 401 and outlet 402 and a hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping 500 having an inlet 501 and outlet 502. The non-hermetic double-walled piping 400 and the hermetic vacuum-insulated double- walled piping 500 are connected by their inlets 401, 501 to a source 301 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets 402, 502 to a fluid receiving element 310 (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The non-hermetic double-walled piping 400 comprises a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 410 located inside a containment pipe 420 made of polymer.

The double-walled piping system 300 further comprises a plurality of gas sensors 460 located along the length and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe 420.

The gas sensors 460 are designed to detect a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 410 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 410 and the containment pipe 420. The containment pipe 420 further comprises unsealed ends that enable circulation of air in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 410 and the containment pipe 420.

The doubled-wall piping system 300 further comprises a scrubber 320 with an integrated or associated liquid ejector 433. The scrubber 320 is connected to a sidewall of the containment pipe 420 via an electric valve 432 and a scrubber pipe 431. The liquid ejector 433 is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 410 and the containment pipe 420 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 410.

The doubled-wall piping system 300 also includes a control unit 330 with a gas analyzer 331 to which the gas sensors 460 are connected. In a case of leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 410 the gas sensors 460 are triggered and the control unit 330 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 410. The control unit 330 also activates the liquid ejector 433 that draws the leaking fluid into the scrubber 320. A neutralized fluid leaves the scrubber 320 through an exit 436. The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 410 is determined by using an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine a segment of the seamless carrier pipe 410 bound by the first two gas sensors 460 that were triggered by the leaking fluid.

A hermetic or vacuum-insulated double-walled piping 500 comprises a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 510 located inside a containment pipe 520 made of polymer, wherein said seamless carrier pipe 510 is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe 520. The vacuum in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 510 and the containment pipe 520 is created by an at least one gas ejector 550 which is connected via an electric valve 522 and a ball valve 523 to a sidewall of the containment pipe 520.

The double-walled piping system 300 further comprises one or more pressure(vacuum) sensors 560 attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe 520.

Moreover, the pressure(vacuum) sensors 560 are located along the length of the containment pipe 520.

The pressure(vacuum) sensors 560 are designed to detect a pressure/vacuum change due to leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 510 or from outside of the containment pipe 520 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 5 and the containment pipe 520.

The scrubber 320 of the doubled-wall piping system 300 is also connected to an outlet of the gas ejectors 550 via a suitable piping. The gas ejectors 550 are designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 510 and the containment pipe 520 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 510.

The pressure(vacuum) sensors 560 are also connected to the control unit 330 of the doubled-wall piping system 300. A leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 510 or from outside of the containment pipe 520 decreases the vacuum level inside the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 510 and the containment pipe 520, thus triggering the pressure(vacuum) sensors 560. Upon fluid receiving a vacuum breach signal from the pressure(vacuum) sensors 560 control unit 330 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 510.

The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 510 or the containment pipe 5 is established by employing an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine the pipes 510, 520.

Yet another embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 4. A double-walled piping system 1000 comprises a non-hermetic double-walled normally open piping 1001 and a non-hermetic double-walled normally closed piping 1002 which is a duplicate of the piping 1001 and serves as a redundant piping.

The non-hermetic double-walled normally open piping 1001 and the non-hermetic double-walled normally closed piping 1002 are connected by their inlets 1003, 10 to a source 1200 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets 1005, 1006 to a fluid receiving element (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The non-hermetic double-walled normally open piping 1001 comprises a metal (copper) or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 1110 located inside a containment pipe 1120 made of polymer (PVC) or any other suitable material. The non-hermetic double-walled normally closed piping 1002 comprises a metal (copper) or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 1111 located inside a containment pipe 1121 made of polymer (PVC) or any other suitable material. The double-walled piping system 1000 further contains a plurality of leak sensors (gas sensors) 1160 located along the length and attached to sidewalls of the containment pipes 1120, 1121.

The gas sensors 1160 are designed to detect a leakage from the seamless carrier pipes 1110, 1111 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 11 and the containment pipe 1120, and to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 1111 and the containment pipe 1121. The containment pipes 1120, 11 further comprise unsealed ends that enable a circulation of air in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 1110 and the containment pipe 1120, and in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 1111 and the containment pipe 1121.

The doubled-wall piping system 1000 further comprises a scrubber 1130 with an integrated or associated liquid ejector 1133. The scrubber 1130 is connected to the sidewalls of the containment pipes 1120, 1121 via electric valves 1132 and a scrubber pipe 1131. The integrated or associated liquid ejector 1133 is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 1110 and the containment pipe 1120 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 1110, and from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 1111 and the containment pipe 1121 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 1111.

The doubled-wall piping system 1000 also includes a control unit 1140 with an internal gas analyzer to which gas sensors 1160 are electrically connected. In a case of a leakage in the piping 1001, the gas sensors 1160 of the piping 1001 are triggered and the control unit 1140 closes the piping 1001 and switches the fluid flow from a now closed piping 1001 to a now open piping 1002. The control unit 1140 also activates the liquid ejector 1133 that draws the leaking fluid from the piping 1001 into the scrubber 1130. A neutralized fluid leaves the scrubber 11 through an exit 1136. After that a nitrogen gas is flood through the piping 1001 and the location of a leak is determined by using an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine a segment of the piping 1001 bound by the first two gas sensors 1160 that were triggered by the leaking fluid.

Yet another embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 5.

A double-walled piping system 2000 comprises a hermetic vacuum-insulated double- walled normally open piping 2001 and hermetic double-walled normally closed piping 2002 which is a duplicate of the piping 2001 and serves as a redundant piping.

The hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally open piping 2001 and the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally closed piping 2002 are connected by their inlets 2003, 2004 to a source 2200 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets 2005, 2006 to a fluid receiving element 2300 (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally open piping 2001 comprises a metal (copper) or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 2210 located inside a containment pipe 2220 made of polymer (PVC) or any other suitable material, wherein said seamless carrier pipe 2210 is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe 2220. The hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally closed piping 2002 comprises a metal (copper) or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 2211 located inside a containment pipe 2221 made of polymer (PVC) or any other suitable material, wherein said seamless carrier pipe 2211 is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe 2221. The vacuum in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 2210 and the containment pipe 2220 is created by gas ejectors 22 which are connected via an electric valve 2222 and a ball valve 2223 to a sidewall of the containment pipe 2220 and are located along the length of the containment pipe 2220. The vacuum in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 22 and the containment pipe 2221 is created by gas ejectors 2251 which are connected via an electric valve 2224 and a ball valve 2225 to a sidewall of the containment pipe 2221 and are located along the length of the containment pipe 2221.

The double-walled piping system 2000 further contains a plurality of pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260, 2261 attached to the sidewalls of the containment pipes 2220, 2221. Moreover, the pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260, 2261 are located along the length of the containment pipes 2220, 2221.

The pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260, 2261 are designed to detect a pressure change due to a leakage from the seamless carrier pipes 2210, 2211 or from outside of the containment pipe 2220 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 2210 and the containment pipe 2220, or from outside of the containment pipe 22 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 2211 and the containment pipe 2221.

The doubled-wall piping system 2000 further comprises a scrubber 2230 connected to outlets of the gas ejectors 2250, 2251. The gas ejectors 2250 are designed to remove fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 22 and the containment pipe 2220 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 2210. The gas ejectors 2251 are designed to remove fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 2211 and the containment pipe 2221 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 2211.

The doubled-wall piping system 2000 also includes a control unit 2240 to which pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260, 2261 are electrically connected. A leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 2210 or from outside to the containment pipe 2220 of piping 2001 decreases the vacuum level inside the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 2210 and the containment pipe 2220 of piping 2001, thus triggering the pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260. Upon fluid receiving a vacuum breach signal from the pressure (vacuum) sensors 2260 of piping 2001 control unit 2240 stops the fluid flow to the piping 2001 and switches the fluid flow from a now closed piping 2001 to a now open redundant piping 2002.

The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 2210 or in the containment pipe 2220 is established by employing an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine the pipes 2210, 2220.

Yet another embodiment of the double-walled piping system of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 6.

A double-walled piping system 3000 comprises a non-hermetic double-walled normally open piping 3401 having an inlet 3403 and an outlet 3404, a redundant non-hermetic double-walled normally closed piping 3402 (having an inlet 3405 and an outlet 3406) which is a duplicate of the piping 3401.

A hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally open piping 3501 having an inlet 3503 and an outlet 3504 and a redundant hermetic vacuum-insulated double- walled normally closed piping 3502 (having an inlet 3505 and an outlet 3506) which is a duplicate of the piping 3501.

The non-hermetic double-walled piping 3401, 3402 and the hermetic vacuum- insulated double-walled piping 3501, 3502 are connected by their inlets 3403, 3405, 3503, 3505 to a source 3311 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets 3404, 3406, 3504, 3506 to a fluid receiving element 3310 (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The non-hermetic double-walled piping 400 and the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping 500 are connected by their inlets 401, 501 to a source 301 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets 402, 502 to a fluid receiving element 310 (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally open piping 2001 and the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled normally closed piping 2002 are connected by their inlets to a source 2200 of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by their outlets to a fluid receiving element 2300 (such as manifold or distribution box) designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid.

The non-hermetic double-walled piping 3401, 3402 may comprise a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 3410 located inside a containment pipe 3420 made of polymer.

The non-hermetic double-walled piping 3401, 3402 further comprise a plurality of gas sensors 3460 located along the length and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe 3420.

The gas sensors 3460 are designed to detect a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 3410 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3410 and the containment pipe 3420. The containment pipe 3420 further comprises unsealed ends that enable circulation of air in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3410 and the containment pipe 3420.

The doubled-wall piping system 3000 further comprises a scrubber 3320 connected to a sidewall of the containment pipe 3420 via an electric valve 3432, a scrubber pipe 3431 and a liquid ejector 3433. The liquid ejector 3433 is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3410 and the containment pipe 3420 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 3410.

The doubled-wall piping system 3000 also includes a control unit 3330 with one or more gas analyzers 3331 to which the gas sensors 3460 are connected. In a case of leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 3410 of the piping 3401 the gas sensors 34 of the piping 3401 are triggered and the control unit 3330 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 3410 of the piping 3401 and turns on a flow through a redundant piping 3402. The control unit 3330 also activates the liquid ejector 34 that draws the leaking fluid into the scrubber 3320. A neutralized fluid leaves the scrubber 3320 through an exit 3436. The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 3410 of piping 3401 is determined by using an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine a segment of the seamless carrier pipe 3410 bound by the first two gas sensors 3460 that were triggered by the leaking fluid.

The hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping 3501, 3502 comprises a metal or metal alloy seamless carrier pipe 3510 located inside a containment pipe 3520 made of polymer, wherein said seamless carrier pipe 3510 is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe 3520. The vacuum in the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3510 and the containment pipe 3520 is created by gas ejectors 3550 which are connected via an electric valve 3522 and a ball valve 3523 to a sidewall of the containment pipe 3520.

The hermetic vacuum insulated double-walled piping 3501, 3502 further comprises pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560 attached to a sidewall of the containment pipes 3520. Moreover, the pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560 are located along the length of the containment pipes 3520.

The pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560 are designed to detect a pressure(vacuum) change due to a leaking from the seamless carrier pipe 3510 or from outside of the containment pipe 3520 to the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3510 and the containment pipe 3520.

The scrubber 3320 of the doubled-wall piping system 3000 is also connected to an outlet of the gas ejectors 3550 via a suitable piping. The gas ejectors 3550 are designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3510 and the containment pipe 3520 during a leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 3510.

The pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560 are also connected to the control unit 3330 of the doubled-wall piping system 3000. A leakage from the seamless carrier pipe 35 or from outside of the containment pipe 3520 decreases the vacuum level inside the interstitial space between the seamless carrier pipe 3510 and the containment pipe 3520, thus triggering the pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560. Upon fluid receiving a vacuum breach signal from the pressure(vacuum) sensors 3560 of the piping 35 control unit 3330 stops the fluid flow to the seamless carrier pipe 3510 of the piping 3501 and turns on a flow through the piping 3502.

The location of a leak in the seamless carrier pipe 3510 or the containment pipe 3520 is established by employing an ultrasonic leak detector to scan or examine the pipes 3510, 3520.

While this disclosure has been described as having a preferred design, the present embodiments can be further modified within the scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the embodiments using their general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

ABSTRACT A double-walled piping system comprising a first piping section having a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, a second piping section attached to the same fluid source as the first piping section, the second piping section having a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe made of polymer, said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum insulated from the containment pipe, a scrubber having an integrated liquid ejector, said ejector is designed to draw fluids and/or gases from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the first piping section, during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping section, gas ejectors attached to the containment pipe of the second piping section and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the second piping section, wherein said ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to the scrubber, a control unit electrically connected to the ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the ejectors and the scrubber, gas sensors connected to the control unit and located along and attached to the sidewall of the containment pipe of the first piping section, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leak from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping section to the

Claims (9)

1. A double-walled piping system comprising: a. a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in an interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; b. a scrubber having an integrated liquid ejector, said ejector is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe; c. a control unit electrically connected to the scrubber and to the integrated liquid ejector and configured to control the operation of the scrubber and the integrated liquid ejector; d. gas sensors electrically connected to the control unit and located along and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe.

2. A double-walled piping system comprising: a. a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe; b. gas ejectors attached to the containment pipe and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, wherein said gas ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to a scrubber; c. a control unit electrically connected to the gas ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the gas ejectors and the scrubber; d. vacuum sensors electrically connected to the control unit and located along and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe, said vacuum sensors are configured to monitor a vacuum level in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe.

3. A double-walled piping system comprising: a. a first piping attached by an inlet to a source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to a fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, said first piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in an interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; b. a second piping attached by an inlet to the source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to the fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, said second piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum insulated from the containment pipe; c. a scrubber having an integrated liquid ejector, said integrated liquid ejector is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the first piping during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping; d. gas ejectors attached to the containment pipe of the second piping and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the second piping, wherein said gas ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to the scrubber; e. a control unit electrically connected to the gas ejector, to the liquid ejector and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the gas ejectors, liquid ejector and the scrubber; f. gas sensors electrically connected to the control unit and located along and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe of the first piping, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe of the first piping and the containment pipe of the first piping; g. vacuum sensors electrically connected to the control unit and located along and attached to a sidewall of the containment pipe of the second piping, said vacuum sensors are designed to monitor a vacuum level in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe of the second piping and the containment pipe of the second piping.

4. A double-walled piping system comprising: a. a normally open piping attached by an inlet to a source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to a fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally open piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; b. a normally closed piping attached by an inlet to the source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to the fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally closed piping comprising: metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said containment pipe is not hermitically sealed, thus enabling a flow of air in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; c. a scrubber having an integrated liquid ejector, said liquid ejector is designed to draw fluids from the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipes and the containment pipes during a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipes; d. gas sensors located along and attached to the sidewalls of the containment pipes, said gas sensors are designed to detect a leakage from the metal seamless carrier pipes to the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipes and the containment pipe; e. a control unit electrically connected to the gas sensors and to the scrubber and configured to control the operation of the scrubber, and wherein said control unit is further configured to close the normally open piping and open the normally closed piping upon receiving a signal from the gas sensors, said signal being indicative of a leaking in the normally open piping.

5. A double-walled piping system comprising: a. a normally open piping attached by an inlet to a source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to a fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally open piping comprising: a metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum-insulated from the containment pipe; b. a normally closed piping attached by an inlet to the source of a toxic or hazardous fluid, and by an outlet to the fluid receiving element designed to receive said toxic or hazardous fluid, the normally closed piping comprising: metal seamless carrier pipe located inside a containment pipe, wherein said metal seamless carrier pipe is vacuum- insulated from the containment pipe; c. gas ejectors attached to the containment pipes and configured to maintain vacuum in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe, wherein said ejectors are connected by their outlet, via piping, to a scrubber; d. vacuum sensors located along and attached to the sidewalls of the containment pipes, said vacuum sensors are configured to monitor the vacuum level in the interstitial space between the metal seamless carrier pipe and the containment pipe; e. a control unit electrically connected to the vacuum sensors, to the gas ejectors and to the scrubber, and configured to control the operation of the gas ejectors and the scrubber, and wherein said control unit is further configured to close the normally open piping and open the normally closed piping upon receiving a signal from the vacuum sensors, said signal being indicative of a leaking in the normally open piping.

6. A double-walled piping system comprising the double-walled piping systems of claim 4 and claim 5, having a common source, fluid receiving element, scrubber and a control unit.

7. The double-walled piping system of any one of the previous claims, wherein said seamless carrier pipe is made of copper or copper alloy and the containment pipe is made of PVC.

8. A method of detecting a leaking fluid in a non-hermetic double-walled piping system comprising: a. in a control unit, receiving signals from leakage sensors of the non- hermetic double-walled piping system, said signals being an indicative of a leaking fluid from the carrier pipe of the non-hermetic double- walled piping system; b. shutting off the flow of a hazardous or toxic fluid in the carrier pipe; c. running a scrubber and a liquid ejector to draw the leaking fluid into the scrubber; d. initiating a flow of nitrogen gas into the carrier pipe; e. scanning for a leak with an ultrasonic detector the segment of the carrier pipe located between the first two triggered leak sensors.

9. A method of detecting a leaking fluid or gas in a hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system comprising: a. receiving in a control unit signals from vacuum sensors of the hermetic vacuum-insulated double-walled piping system, said signals being indicative of a leaking fluid into the interstitial space between the carrier pipe and the containment pipe of the hermetic vacuum-insulated double- walled piping system; b. shutting off the flow of a hazardous or toxic fluid in the carrier pipe; c. initiating a flow of nitrogen gas into the carrier pipe; d. scanning the carrier pipe or the containment pipe for a leak with an ultrasonic detector.