Liquefied gas storage installation

Abstract

An installation comprises a vault 4 housing a liquefied storage tank 2 , a chamber 14 within the vault 4 accessible to personnel, a liquefied gas inlet pipeline leading to the gas storage tank 2 , a liquefied gas supply pipeline 22 extending from the storage tank 2 through a vaporiser 37 out of the vault 4 and at least one first cabinet 34, 36, 38 through which the liquefied gas supply pipeline 22 passes. The first cabinets 34, 36, 38 are located in the chamber and house items of equipment in the liquefied gas supply pipeline 22 which have an associated risk of leakage. There is also at least one first extractor fan communicating with the first cabinets 34, 36, 38 and means separate from the first extractor fan for changing the atmosphere in the chamber.

1 . An installation comprising a vault housing a liquefied gas storage tank, a chamber within the vault accessible to personnel, a liquefied gas inlet pipeline leading to the gas storage tank, a liquefied gas supply pipeline extending from the storage tank through a vaporiser out of the vault, at least one first cabinet through which the liquefied gas supply pipeline passes, the first cabinet being located in the chamber and housing items of equipment in the liquefied gas supply pipeline which have an associated risk of leakage, at least one first extractor fan communicating with the first cabinet, and means separate from the first extractor fan for changing the atmosphere in the chamber.  
   
   
       2 . The installation according to  claim 1 , in which the liquefied gas storage tank is adapted to store a combustible liquefied gas.  
   
   
       3 . The installation according to  claim 1 , in which the said cabinet has associated therewith a sensor able to detect leakage of the gas and to generate a signal related to a condition of the atmosphere therein, the sensor being operatively associated with a second extractor fan communicating with the interior of the cabinet so as to increase the rate at which air is extracted therefrom.  
   
   
       4 . The installation according to  claim 1 , additionally including at least one further cabinet, the further cabinet being located in the chamber and housing items of equipment associated with the gas storage tank that have a risk of leakage associated therewith, the interior of the further cabinet communicating with the first extractor fan.  
   
   
       5 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the vault includes a bulkhead making a gas-tight engagement with the storage tank and defining one wall of the chamber, most of the storage tank being located within the vault but outside the chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The installation according to  claim 1 , including a liquefied gas pump in the liquefied gas supply pipeline, the liquefied gas pump also communicating with a source of purge gas stored above ground.  
   
   
       7 . The installation according to  claim 6 , in which the pump is located in one of the first cabinets.  
   
   
       8 . The installation according to  claim 1 , in which the liquefied gas supply pipeline has associated therewith at least one vent pipeline having a valve disposed therein, the vent pipeline communicating with a stack above ground.  
   
   
       9 . The installation according to  claim 1 , in which the liquefied gas vaporiser is located in one of the first cabinets.  
   
   
       10 . The installation according to  claim 1 , the chamber having at least one fan associated therewith as said means for changing the atmosphere therein.  
   
   
       11 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquefied gas supply pipeline has a plurality of isolation valves located therein, each valve being automatically operable on an unsafe condition being detected in the chamber or one of the first cabinets.  
   
   
       12 . A vehicle refuelling station including an installation according to  claim 1.