JPH04236900A - Leakage inspection method for liquid goods - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform inspection of leakage of liquid goods, such as petroleum, gas, a drug, through underground embedded equipment (tank and a piping) regardless of the use and the non-use of a tank and to automatically produce a stock managing table for inspection of leakage. CONSTITUTION:A flow meter 3 and a level gauge 6 are mounted on a storage tank C. The flow meter 3 counts a using amount of the tank C at each unit flow rate, and the using amount data is recorded at intervals of a given time or at each given count. The level gauge 6 outputs a detecting signal responding to a liquid level in the tank C. The liquid level data is recorded togetherwith the using amount data, a remaining amount of the tank calculated from the using amount data is compared with an actual measuring remaining amount of the liquid level data, and leakage through underground storage facilities is inspected by means of the comparing value. Meanwhile, by automatically transmitting the data to the management center of a sale shop through a telephone circuit, a data processing device A automatically produces a stock managing table.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to underground storage tanks for liquid products such as oil, gas, and chemicals, and to leakage checking methods for storage equipment such as buried piping attached to the tanks.

0002

[Technical background] Regarding underground tanks and underground piping attached to tanks that store liquid hazardous substances such as oil, gas, and chemicals, there is a duty to periodically conduct leakage inspections and record the results.

[0003] For this reason, in the past, the use of tanks was stopped at least once a year to inspect the tanks and piping for damage and corrosion. Measures the remaining amount in the tank when there is no
The measured values are recorded in an inventory control table, leaks are checked based on the differences in the data, and the leakage detection pipes around the tank are checked once a week. Inspecting.

[0004] However, the former type of inspection requires stopping the use of the tank, which may hinder business operations. In addition, inspections are extensive and costly. Furthermore, if leakage occurs between inspections, there is a risk that the product may continue to leak for a long period of time. On the other hand, although the latter type of inspection does not have the same problems as mentioned above, it is time-consuming to check the remaining amount using a measuring rod or liquid level gauge at a set time every day and to create an inventory control table. In addition, for example, in a factory that operates 24 hours a day, the factory is always in operation, regardless of whether it is the beginning or the end of the day, and a tank is used, so the liquid level constantly changes, and there are problems such as the inability to perform inspections.

By the way, it is conceivable to use the liquid product sales management method shown in FIG. 3 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-95696. This management method uses flowmeters that emit unit pulses for each unit flow rate to measure the usage of multiple consumer tanks.
This count is automatically transmitted to the seller's management center via telephone line L at a predetermined time or every predetermined count number. The data received by the receiver 4 is stored in the arithmetic processing unit 1, and based on this data, the amount of storage tank usage for each customer is automatically calculated to facilitate inventory management of liquid products. This is what I did.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In this management method, the usage amount measured by the flow meter is immediately displayed as a list, and it does not require any effort. Further, even when the tank is in use, the current remaining amount in the tank can be calculated from this value and the remaining amount in the tank before use. In other words, if the remaining amount in the tank can be actually measured at the time of measurement using the flowmeter, leakage can be checked at any time depending on whether the actual measurement value and the calculated value match.

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to automatically measure the remaining amount in a tank using the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned publication.

[0008]

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve the above problem, the usage amount of liquid product storage tanks such as oil, gas, chemicals, etc. is counted by a flow meter that emits a unit pulse for each unit flow rate, and this count number is is recorded every predetermined time or every predetermined count, and the detection value output from a liquid level meter whose detection output changes according to the liquid level in the tank is recorded, and the remaining amount of the tank calculated from the flowmeter data is calculated. The system compares the amount remaining in the tank actually measured by a liquid level gauge, and uses the comparison value to check for leakage of the product in the storage tank.

[0009] It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the flow rate count value and liquid level detection value described above are automatically transmitted to a data processing device in a management center of the seller via a telephone line.

0010

[Operation] In the leakage inspection method constructed as described above, the measured value of the liquid level as well as the consumption amount in the storage tank are automatically recorded. If the comparison value between the remaining amount of the tank calculated based on this usage amount and the remaining amount of the tank calculated from the liquid level actually measured by the liquid level meter differs by more than the required amount, it is assumed that a leak has occurred. .

[0011] The above-mentioned required amount is an allowable measurement error amount caused by errors in the measuring equipment itself, errors during measurement, errors in temperature changes, etc.

[0012] Furthermore, in the case where the above data is automatically transmitted to the management center via a telephone line, the data processing device automatically creates an inventory management table for leakage inspection.

[0013]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1, in this leakage inspection method, a data processing device A of a management center of a seller (dealer) and a terminal device B of each consumer (hereinafter referred to as a user) are connected to a general subscriber telephone line L. Use a telemeter system connected to

The data processing device A includes an arithmetic processing device 1 such as a workstation, an output device 2 such as a printer, and an output device 2 such as a printer.
An external storage device 5 such as an optical disk or a hard disk device and a communication modem device 4 are connected. On the other hand, the terminal device B has a flow meter 3 and a liquid level gauge 6 connected to a control device 7, and as shown in FIG.
It consists of a modem device 4, an A-D converter 11, a memory device 12, a display device 15, etc., which are connected to the computer. Sends and receives data to and from device 1.

A liquid level gauge 6 is connected to the A/D converter 11 via a current-voltage conversion network 14. This liquid level gauge 6
is a float meter, and the float moves up and down following the liquid level in tank C, and outputs an electric signal (detection signal) corresponding to the liquid level. Therefore, the processor 10 A-
The detection signal converted into a digital value by the D converter 11 is converted to calculate the remaining amount in the tank C. Note that an ultrasonic level meter may be used as the liquid level gauge 6.

Further, a flow meter 3 that generates a unit pulse for each unit flow rate is connected to the processor 10, and a built-in counter that counts the generated pulses calculates the flow rate flowing through the oil pipe P as shown in FIG. Detect and count. Unit flow rate is 0.01 liter, 0.1 liter,
It may be set to 1 liter or the like as appropriate, and the change is made by changing the settings of the data processing device A in the management center. The data measurement cycle of the liquid level gauge 6 is set in synchronization with the flowmeter measurement cycle, and both data are once stored in the memory device 12. At the set time, the modem device 4 makes a call and sends a user address code. At the same time, a telephone call is made to the data processing device A of the management center. These notifications based on the set time include regular notifications at predetermined time intervals, quantitative notifications at each predetermined count of the flow meter 3, quantitative notifications at each predetermined usage amount due to a drop in the detection signal of the liquid level gauge 6, and external event input. For example, there are notifications from the external contact input 13, notifications from a manual switch, and notifications from the time of recovery from a power outage. These reporting conditions are all set to each terminal B from the data processing device A of the management center, and the reporting conditions are updated at the time of reporting. Furthermore, the memory device 12 of this control device 7
Optionally, the data stored in the controller 7, e.g.
It can also be read out at any time by a display device 15 such as a liquid crystal display device or a small printer. Therefore, the user can also enter this data into a table to create an inventory management table.

Furthermore, a fire sensor 8 and other abnormality detection sensors 9 are connected to the control device 7, and any abnormality in the tank C detected by each sensor 8, 9 is immediately reported to the control center, and the data processing Device A notifies the administrator by an abnormality message, alarm lamp, buzzer, etc., and urges the administrator to take appropriate measures. On the other hand, terminal device B also displays display device 1.
5, an abnormality is displayed and a warning is issued to the user.

This embodiment is configured as described above, and first, reporting conditions are set in each user's terminal device B from the management center. With this setting, each terminal device 7 automatically calls the management center at the set time, that is, when the reporting conditions are met, and when the data processing device A is connected, the usage amount stored up to that point Send data and liquid level data. Data processing device A calculates the consumption amount inside the tank, the remaining amount of tank C, etc. from these data. Furthermore, the data processing device A creates an inventory management table from the data on the amount of replenishment to each tank C that has been input separately. Therefore, based on this table, it is determined whether the difference between the remaining amount of tank C actually measured by the liquid level gauge 6 and the replenishment amount and usage amount is within the required amount, and a leakage check of tank C is performed. Further, this management table is printed out in the form of reports such as daily reports, monthly reports, and annual reports. This is transmitted to each user by facsimile or the like and kept as a record sheet.

[0019]

[Effects] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to record the amount of water used in the tank as well as the actually measured liquid level, and compare the detected values to easily check for leaks in the tank. Inspections can be performed at any time regardless of whether the tank is in use or not.

[0020] Furthermore, in a system in which these data are automatically transmitted to the seller's management center via telephone line, inventory management tables for tanks of a plurality of consumers can be automatically created.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

[Figure 1] Block diagram of the embodiment

[Figure 2] Partial detail diagram of the same as above

[Figure 3] Block diagram of conventional example

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Flowmeter 6 Liquid level gauge A. Data processing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] [Claim 1] The usage amount of a storage tank for liquid products such as oil, gas, and chemicals is counted by a flow meter that emits a unit pulse for each unit flow rate, and this count is recorded at a predetermined time period or at a predetermined count interval. , the detection signal output from the liquid level meter that detects the liquid level in the tank is recorded, and the remaining amount in the tank calculated from the flow meter data is compared with the remaining amount in the tank actually measured by the liquid level meter. A leakage inspection method for liquid products, characterized in that leakage inspection of the product in the storage tank can be performed using the comparative values. 2. Leakage inspection of liquid products, characterized in that the flow rate count value and liquid level detection value according to claim 1 are automatically transmitted to a data processing device of a seller's management center via a telephone line. Method.