Storage tank leak detection system for petroleum products

• US 20040144163A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leroy Edward Laverman, Mark Lenard Kram
• Original Assignee: Leroy Edward Laverman, Mark Lenard Kram
• Inventors: Laverman, Leroy Edward, Kram, Mark Lenard
• Application Number:
  US10/702,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040144163A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/40.7
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/64 Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters

Abstract

A system for detecting leaks of petroleum based products in containers includes a sensor package comprising an LED and an optical photo-detector. The emitter transmits an excitation signal with an excitation wavelength, and the detector is tuned to the emission wavelengths of the petroleum based liquid in a space where detection is sought. An alarm system coupled to the detector may be used for notifying users in case of a leak.

Claims

1. A method of detecting the presence of a petroleum based liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the appropriate excitation and emission wavelengths of said petroleum based liquid;

locating an optical sensor tuned to the excitation and emission wavelengths in a space where detection is sought;

coupling the sensor to an alarm system; and

notifying a user when the optical sensor detects a possible release.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is a light emitting diode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is an organic light emitting diode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical sensor is a silicon photo-detector.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the excitation and emission wavelengths are determined from the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid is determined from a spectral library.

7. A system of detecting the presence of a petroleum based liquid, the system comprising:

an excitation source for transmitting an excitation signal with an excitation wavelength;

a detector tuned to the emission wavelengths of said petroleum based liquid in a space where detection is sought; and

an alarm system coupled to the detector.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the excitation source includes a light emitting diode.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the excitation source includes an organic light emitting diode.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the detector is an optical sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the optical sensor includes a silicon photo-detector.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the excitation and emission wavelengths are determined from the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid is determined from a spectral library.

14. The system of claim 7 further including means for notifying when the detector detects a presence of said petroleum based liquid.

15. The system of claim 7 further including a first band-pass filter for preventing a low energy scattered light signal to be delivered to the detector.

16. The system of claim 7 further including a second band-pass filter for removing the excitation signal.

17. A method of detecting the presence of a petroleum based liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

determining an excitation wavelength and emission wavelength of said petroleum based liquid;

transmitting an excitation signal from an emitter;

detecting the emission wavelength of the petroleum based liquid using a photo-detector, wherein the photo-detector is tuned to the emission wavelength of said petroleum based liquid, coupling the photo-detector to an alarm system; and

notifying a user when the photo-detector detects a presence of said petroleum based liquid.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the emitter includes a light emitting diode.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the emitter includes an organic light emitting diode.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the excitation and emission wavelengths are determined from the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the fluorescence properties of the petroleum based liquid is determined from a spectral library.

22. The method of claim 17 further including the step of band-pass filtering for preventing a low energy scattered light signal to be delivered to the detector.

23. The method of claim 17 further including the step of band-pass filtering for removing the excitation signal.

24. The method of claim 17 further including the step of modulating the excitation signal for increasing the sensitivity during the detection step.