METHODS AND SENSOR SYSTEMS FOR SENSING HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FLUIDS BASED ON FLUORESCENCE DETECTION

摘要

Sensors are disclosed for detection of fluorescence as a mesure of gasoline or oil leakage. The sensors can be of simple construction and can be buried around the perimeter of a gas station or storage tank. The sensors are based on the principle that gasoline and oils contain additives which can be excited to fluoresce by an inexpensive laser diode, and the fluorescence can be readily detected by a photodetector if the leak has its source in the tank or line, and remain unchanged, if the signal is from a spurious, external source, such as a surface spill which percolates down into the ground or, more commonly, if the ground is already contaminated with fuels from previous leaks or leakage from adjacent sites.