Storage tank safety pressure relief methods and systems

• US 4,723,573 A
• Filed: 12/19/1985
• Issued: 02/09/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Original Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company (ConocoPhillips)
• Inventors: Burnett, Don E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US06/810,768
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 137/571, 137/572, 137/557, 137/587, 62/54, 220/85 VR, 220/85 VS, 200/81 R
• US Class Current: 137/587
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/123 for gas bottles, cylinders or reservoirs for tank vehicles or for railway tank wagons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/013 Carbone dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/014 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/032 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/021 Avoiding over pressurising
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/032 by recovery
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86187 Plural tanks or compartments connected for serial flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86324 Tank with gas vent and inlet or outlet

Abstract

An improved safety pressure relief system for volatile liquid storage tanks is provided. A pressure relief valve is connected to the storage tank so that when the pressure within the storage tank reaches a predetermined high level, vapors are vented therefrom by way of the outlet of the relief valve. A container for containing pressurized vapors having an inlet and a closed outlet is provided, and conduit means are connected between the relief valve outlet and the inlet of the container for conducting vapors vented by the relief valve to within the container. Means for indicating the presence of vapors within the container are attached thereto.

Claims

1. In a safety pressure relief system for a LPG storage tank mounted on a vehicle wherein a pressure relief valve for automatically venting vapors from said storage tank to the atmosphere when overpressure conditions in said tank occur is connected to said tank, the improvement which comprises:

a container mounted on said vehicle for containing pressurized LPG vapors, said container having an inlet and a closed outlet;

conduit means connected between said relief valve and said inlet of said container for conducting vapors automatically vented by said relief valve to within said container; and

means for indicating the presence of vapors within said container attached thereto whereby remedial steps can be taken to prevent further venting of said vapors by said relief valve and said vapors present within said container can be removed therefrom through said closed outlet thereof to a location separate from said container and said storage tank.

2. The safety pressure relief system of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating the presence of vapors within said container comprises a pressure gauge.

3. The safety pressure relief system of claim 1 wherein said means for indicating the presence of vapors within said container comprises a pressure transducer operably connected to an alarm.

4. The safety pressure relief system of claim 3 wherein said alarm is positioned in said vehicle to attract the attention of the operator thereof.

5. The safety pressure relief system of claim 1 which is further characterized to include a second pressure relief valve connected to said container.

6. In a safety pressure relief system for a LPG storage tank mounted on a vehicle wherein a pressure relief valve for automatically venting vapors from said storage tank to the atmosphere when overpressure conditions in the tank occur is connected to the tank, the improvement which comprises:

a container disposed within said storage tank mounted on said vehicle for containing pressurized LPG vapors, said container having an inlet and a closed outlet;

conduit means connected between said relief valve and said inlet of said container for conducting vapors automatically vented by said relief valve to within said container; and

means for indicating the presence of vapors within said container attached thereto whereby remedial steps can be taken to prevent further venting of said vapors by said relief valve and said vapors present within said container can be removed therefrom through said closed outlet thereof to a location separate from said container and said storage tank.

7. In a method of continuously preventing overpressure conditions from occuring in a volatile liquid storage tank whereby vapors are vented from the storage tank by a pressure relief valve when the pressure therewithin reaches a predetermined level, the improvement which comprises:

providing a container having a closed valve for containing pressurized vapors;

conducting vapors from said pressure relief valve to said container when said vapors are vented by said relief valve;

indicating the presence of vapors in said container when such vapors are contained therein;

preventing further venting of said vapors from said storage tank by said relief valve;

removing said vapors from said container when said vapors are present therein to a location separate from said container and said storage tank by opening said closed valve.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said further venting of said vapors is prevented by cooling said storage tank.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said further venting of said vapors is prevented by manually venting vapors from said storage tank.