Gaseous fuel storage system
A gaseous fuel storage system includes: one or more storage tanks, each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each tank having a connection fitting; a piping and valving assembly coupled to the connection fitting, wherein each of the one or more tanks is coupled to an outlet line through a remote shut off valve; a first cabinet surrounding the piping and valving assembly and a portion of the first end of the storage tanks; a detector disposed in the first cabinet which operable to detect the presence of hydrogen gas and generate a signal representative of a hydrogen gas concentration; and an electronic controller operably connected to the sensor apparatus and to the remote shut off valve, wherein the electronic controller is programmed to close all of the remote shut off valves in response to detection of a first predetermined concentration of hydrogen.
1 . A gaseous fuel storage system, comprising:
one or more storage tanks, each of the one or more storage tanks having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the one or more storage tanks having a connection fitting, wherein each storage tank is oriented horizontally;
wherein the first end of the one or more storage tanks is mounted to a first support bracket which is in turn mounted to a slab positioned on a ground level;
wherein the second end of each of the one or more storage tanks is mounted to a second support bracket which is in turn mounted to the slab;
a piping and valving assembly coupled to the connection fitting, including one or more remote shut off valves, wherein each of the one or more tanks is coupled to an outlet line through one of the one or more remote shut off valves;
a first cabinet surrounding the piping and valving assembly and a portion of the first end of each of the one or more storage tanks, wherein collectively, the first support bracket and the first cabinet define an enclosed space;
a second cabinet surrounding a portion of the second end of each of the one or more storage tanks, wherein collectively, the second support bracket and the second cabinet define an enclosed space;
a sensor apparatus including a detector disposed in the first cabinet which is operable to detect presence of hydrogen gas and generate a signal representative of a concentration of the hydrogen gas; and
an electronic controller operably connected to the sensor apparatus and to the one or more remote shut off valves, wherein the electronic controller is programmed to close the one or more remote shut off valves in response to detection of a first predetermined concentration of the hydrogen gas.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cabinet includes a ventilation fan configured to purge the hydrogen gas from the interior of the first cabinet and exhaust the hydrogen gas through an exhaust pipe.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the electronic controller is programmed to start the ventilation fan in response to detection of a second predetermined concentration of the hydrogen gas in the first cabinet, thereby reducing the hydrogen gas concentration.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a heat detector is disposed in the first cabinet which is operable to sense ambient temperature and generate a signal representative thereof.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the electronic controller is programmed to close the one or more remote shut off valves in response to detection of the ambient temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor apparatus includes a flame detector disposed in the first cabinet which is operable to detect presence of a flame based on radiant energy emissions, and to generate a signal representative of the presence of the flame.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the electronic controller is programmed to close the one or more remote shut off valves in response to detection of the presence of the flame.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cabinet is a box structure including an access door.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first cabinet is made from a non-combustible material and joints between cabinet components, gaps, pipe penetrations, and access openings thereof are sealed with fire-resistant materials.