System, Apparatus and Method for Monitoring Accumulation of Fluids in a Containment Tank

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring accumulation of fluids in a containment tank is provided. The system may be operable to and method may function to prevent (i) fluids destined for an underground storage tank (“UST”) from entering into, diffusing into and/or contaminating the ground soil due to, for example, spillage or overflow of a fill pipe of the UST when filing or otherwise servicing the UST, and/or (ii) fluids present in the ground soil from entering into and/or contaminating fluids stored in the underground storage tank. The system may include a first containment chamber that defines a given volume; a second containment chamber that may be positioned substantially within the given volume; an accumulation zone defined by a volume between the first and second containment chambers; and a monitoring device for detecting accumulation of fluids in the accumulation zone.

1 . A system comprising:
 a first containment chamber defining a given volume;   a second containment chamber positioned substantially within the given volume defined by the first containment chamber;   a zone defined by a volume between the first containment chamber and the second containment chamber; and   a monitoring device for detecting a presence of at least one fluid within the zone.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill pipe passing through the first containment chamber, the zone, and the second containment chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second containment chamber comprises an open top surface. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a removable cover positioned over the open top surface of the second containment chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one of a resistance sensor or an optical sensor. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises a self-contained power device for operating the monitoring device. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the self-contained power device include at least one battery. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring device comprises an alert for indicating detection of at least one of a presence of at least one fluid in the zone, a power status of the monitoring device, and a diagnostic of the monitoring device. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one indicator for the alert, and wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a liquid-crystal display, a light-emitting diode, a lamp and an audible tone generator. 
   
   
       10 . A system comprising:
 a double-walled containment chamber having an inner wall, an outer wall and a substantially open top surface;   a fill pipe having a fill end accessible via the open top surface of the double-walled containment chamber, extending to an underground storage tank, and passing through the double-walled containment chamber;   a zone defined by a volume between the inner wall and outer wall; and   a monitoring device for a presence of at least one fluid within the zone.   
   
   
       11 . The containment tank of  claim 10 , further comprising a removable cover positioned over the open top surface of the double-walled containment chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The containment tank of  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one of a resistance sensor or an optical sensor. 
   
   
       13 . The containment tank of  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device comprises a self-contained power device for operating the monitoring device. 
   
   
       14 . The containment tank of  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring device comprises an alert for indicating a detection of at least one of a presence of at least one fluid within the zone, a power status, and a diagnostic of the monitoring device. 
   
   
       15 . The containment tank of  claim 14 , wherein the monitoring device comprises at least one indicator for the alert, and wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a liquid-crystal display, a light-emitting diode, a lamp and an audible tone generator. 
   
   
       16 . A method comprising:
 measuring, at a monitoring device having at least one sensor inside a containment tank, at least a sensor condition in view of a predetermined threshold, wherein the containment tank comprises a first and second containment chambers, wherein the first containment chamber defines a given volume, wherein the second containment chamber is positioned substantially within the given volume, and wherein the at least one sensor condition is indicative of a presence of at least one fluid within a zone defined by a volume between first and second containment chambers; and   triggering, at the monitoring device, an alarm when at least the sensor condition satisfies the predetermined threshold.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 measuring a condition of the monitoring device in view of a predetermined threshold; and   triggering an alarm if at least the condition of the monitoring device satisfies the threshold.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the monitoring device comprises a self-contained power device for operating the monitoring device. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the condition of the monitoring device comprises: at least one condition associated with the self-contained power device, diagnostic information and positioning of the monitoring device. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein triggering an alarm comprises: triggering the alarm at an end of a predetermined time period. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the predetermined time period is about 24 hours. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sensor condition comprises a condition associated with one of at least a resistance sensor, optical sensor and thermal sensor. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the sensor condition comprises data obtained from at least one of the resistance sensor, optical sensor and thermal sensor. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the alarm comprises a notification of a detection of at least one of a presence of at least one fluid in the zone, a power status of the monitoring device, and a diagnostic of the monitoring device. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the alarm causes activation and deactivation of at least one indicator for the alert, and wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a liquid-crystal display, a light-emitting diode, a lamp and an audible tone generator. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the alarm causes deactivation of at least one indicator for the alert, and wherein the indicator comprises at least one of a liquid-crystal display, a light-emitting diode, a lamp and an audible tone generator.