LNG LEAK DETECTION BY INFRARED THERMAL CAMERA INSTALLATION AT FOS-CAVAOU TERMINAL

摘要

The 2001 Toulouse accident consequence has lead to toughen the French regulatory frame for industrial risk management. Nowadays, two independent safety barriers are required to suppress the worst scenarios that are taken into account by the urban planning program. Consequently, the Fos Cavaou terminal is to implement a second safety barrier for LNG leak detection. The Fos Cavaou terminal already uses linear and punctual LNG leak detection systems. Other standard systems available on the market had been reviewed but their implementation had an impact on the Terminal's day to day operation and on its maintenance. The selected solution as second safety barrier is a zone monitoring system, making possible the detection of a major LNG leak by thermal difference identification between the ambient conditions and the cold liquid or gas release. In case of leak, infrared thermal imaging cameras linked with a central system and a dedicated software will launch a number of automatic trips. Hence, any failing equipment/segment will be identified and isolated from the rest of the plant. Infrared thermal imaging cameras are to be implemented along the major LNG lines of the plant. Compared to punctual detection systems, Infrared Thermal Imaging Camera allows to monitor long piping segments, at a lower cost. The cameras will not interfere with day to day operation and maintenance and they can be installed on any kind of piping support (racks or pipeways). To avoid noisy and false alarms, experiments and field operation feedback is needed to feed the specifications for infrared thermal imaging cameras installation and configuration.