QUICKLY LOCATE THE SMALLEST LEAKS AND CONTROL JETTY COOL-DOWN AND BASE SLAB HEATING
Maximize safety and minimize risks at facilities managing LNG and other liquified gases (LPG, Ammonium, Hydrogen etc.) with leading-edge technology
Due to the extreme temperatures needed to keep gas in its liquid state, small leaks can have devastating consequences. With Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS), the temperature information is analyzed in real time with just a single passive fiber optic cable. This enables efficient leakage detection while lowering cost of ownership and providing gapless temperature monitoring of the critical assets of an entire plant, such as pipes, tank annulus, impounding basins or jetties.
DISTRIBUTED TEMPERATURE SENSING (DTS)
DTS technology is recommended for spillage detection in liquefied natural gas facilities in section 13.4 of EN 1473:2007-06. With optical fibers used for sensing, our system is non-corrosive and intrinsically safe in explosive atmospheres. It accurately measures the temperature over multiple kilometers every minute and is also suitable for the operation under extreme conditions. With this real-time information, automatic countermeasures can be taken in the case of an emergency such as automatic system shut down, which minimizes environmental and economic consequences.
Leak Detection
A leak of a pipe or tank leads to very low temperatures that are precisely detected and located within a few meters with the fiber optic sensor cable that is installed along the pipe, in the tank annulus or around impoundment basins. Various alarm thresholds can be individually set in different alarm zones offering pre- and main alarms. AP Sensing’s smart alarm features cover maximum, minimum and three gradient alarms to ensure best performance. Our DTS solution offers the lowest false alarm rate in the industry; alarms are transmitted to the DCS system through standard protocols like Modbus TCP and/or hard-wired relay contacts.
Temperature Monitoring
Additionally, optimized control of cool-down operations, e.g., for load and unload procedures, are easily enabled with the continuous thermal information provided by the DTS system. With the high coverage of several kilometers per measurement unit, full temperature monitoring makes it possible to pinpoint the exact locations of any thermal anomalies. This feature is helpful for the control of base slab heating systems – not only to identify hot spots, but also to reduce overall energy consumption and the amount of blow-off gas.
AP Sensing’s DTS solutions are compliant to various regulations around the world. The operator receives all critical information, such as temperature, even for inaccessible locations inside the tank. Our system is certified for highly explosive atmospheres (ATEX /IECEx), and according IEC 61508 SIL2. It is virtually maintenance-free and suitable for remote areas which are difficult to access. This ease-of-use comes with highly reliable performance, a low-power laser for safe use and a long product life (MTBF > 33 years). Part of our offering includes sensor cables that fit to the needs of the application: robustness and a wide temperature measurement range (-196 °C to 300 °C).
SMARTVISION
Our sophisticated SmartVision software features asset visualization and alarm management with a central database plus reporting and analysis capabilities. Intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) software provides an overview of all critical assets and points of interest. Critical data is visualized, and the operator can identify the exact alarm trigger spot. Pinpointing multiple events simultaneously, the operator is enabled to react quickly and initiate appropriate countermeasures before severe damage and down-times occur. SmartVision provides easy integration with other monitoring solutions, such as CCTV, DAS, DTS and other sensor solutions via Modbus and SCADA.
AP Sensing is your long-term partner and offers world-class support for the design, installation and commissioning and project management phases. This includes through-life and hotline support, maintenance and training.
OUR KEY FEATURES FOR LNG MONITORING
Why you should choose AP Sensing!
Feature | Benefit |
---|---|
Fiber-optic distributed optical sensing technology | …accurate, continuous and continual leak detection and temperature measurement. |
Robust passive sensor cables with specially coated fibers | …safe operation and quick detection; suitable for cryogenic temperatures. |
SIL and ATEX-approved safety solution | ...form an integral part of plant's DCS systems. |
Accurate temperature measurement in a wide measurement range | …precise cool-down monitoring and energy saving control of base slab heating systems. |
Comprehensive software solutions | ...SmartVision for asset visualization, alarming, analyzing reporting and integration. |
(copy 11)
APPLICATIONS
Fiber optic distributed optical sensing is uniquely suited to a variety of monitoring tasks within an LNG facility, including:
- Impounding basins
- Cool-down monitoring on the jetty
- Leakage detection in liquefaction and process areas
- Leakage monitoring in the tank annulus
- Monitoring of the spill containment area
- Base slab monitoring
- Monitoring of LNG terminals (for re-gasification or transportation)
- Monitoring of containments, foundations, pumps and piping
Quotes
Digitization is the driver for quality, capacity and efficient railway operation for DB Netz AG. Fiber Optic Sensing is an outstanding technology that enables the improval of infrastructure capabilities at lightspeed compared to other solutions using existing cable infrastructure. AP Sensing is taking FOS-based railway monitoring to the next level with their true phase-based system and the extensive use of AI. We’re happy to work in collaboration with AP Sensing’s responsive and innovative team, helping us to get projects moving and getting FOS integrated in the daily railway operation.
AP Sensing's support team has been a fantastic resource for us over the years. They have helped us with system development and implementation planning, and they are always quick to respond to our technical queries with competent advice and helpful tips.
When I think of AP Sensing the first thing I think of is reliability. We completely trust and rely on their performance specifications and I know that their technical support team is dedicated and passionate about solving any problems that might come up.
Knowing the technology and market, it is evident to me that AP Sensing is the forerunner in distributed optical sensing. Their solutions reflect a combination of experience and creativity. Experience comes from their HP/Agilent heritage, the leader in test and measurement equipment, with decades of experience in developing and manufacturing extremely reliable and high quality products. The creativity comes from their passion and commitment to solving real customer problems.
When you do business with AP Sensing you get the feeling that you are working together as partners, because they listen to you and understand the challenges of your day-to-day operations. Communication with AP Sensing is always professional and it's obvious that they have the experience and the technical know-how to answer our queries.
AP Sensing's DTS is simply the best fit. We apply it together with ConveySafe in our coal power plants to protect our conveyors. The systems are rugged and completely reliable, need very little power, and can be seamlessly integrated into customer SCADA environments. Best of all, you don't just buy a box from them and that's it -- their post-sales support is outstanding.
The SIL-2 (Safety Integrity Level) rating that AP Sensing has achieved on its DTS gives us the confidence that their solution is going to work as planned, day in and day out, in high-risk environments. Our LNG terminal operators sleep better at night knowing that our assets are protected and security standards are met.
My AP Sensing regional customer support is fantastic: competent, thorough and quick to get back to me. They have been a key player in our complex pipeline projects over the years, and they truly offer through-life product support, from installation and commissioning to training.
GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM AP SENSING
The newest technology developments, events, and success stories
Do you have a question about our fiber optic sensing solutions? Please call or mail our multilingual, experienced team:
+49 (0)7031 309 6610info@apsensing.com
Sign up for the newsletter
Need a password for the Customer Portal?
Herrenberger Str. 130, 71034 Böblingen, Germany