METHOD FOR DETECTING LEAKS IN A PRESSURISED GAS TANK HEAD AND TANK HEAD FOR USE OF SUCH A METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a head (2) for a tank (1) used to store pressurised gas, comprising, in an integrated manner: at least two components (13.sub.1, 13.sub.2) for treating, distributing and/or shutting off the gas; an upstream connector (20) suitable for being removably attached in a boss (4) of the tank (1); and downstream outlet pipes (21.sub.1, 21.sub.2) suitable for connecting the head (2) to any system using said gas by means of the aforementioned components (13.sub.1, 13.sub.2). According to the invention, each component (13.sub.1, 13.sub.2) comprises at least two sealing devices (14.sub.1, 14.sub.2) defining an intermediate space therebetween, and at least one pipe (12), called tapping pipe, connects each of the intermediate spaces and a common space (8) into which ail the tapping pipes (12) emerge, with an orifice (15) providing a connection between the common space (8) and a gas-detection device (16).

Claims

1. Method for detecting leak in a pressurised gas tank head suitable for being directly and removably attached on such a tank and that is carried out by assembling, in an integrated manner: at least two components for treating, distributing and/or shutting off said gas; an upstream connector suitable for being removably attached in a boss of the tank and inside which is located and emerges at least one pipe for supplying the head of the tank from its gas storage chamber, and downstream outlet pipes suitable for connecting the tank head to any system using said gas through the said components, wherein each component have at least two sealing devices, one being upstream and the other being downstream, which define an intermediate space therebetween, and each of said intermediate spaces is connected to a common space, all the intermediate spaces communicate with the said same common space which initially contains no traces of the said gas, the common space communicates with a device for detecting the presence of the said gas, such as: the distribution of the gas by the said tank through the said tank head is put into operation, if the presence of a gas, which was not there at the start of the operation, is then detected by the detection device during the operation, it is deduced from this that at least one of the sealing devices of one of the said components leaks.

2. Method for detecting leak according to claim 1, wherein a gas different from that contained in the tank is placed in the common space and, if the presence of the gas contained in the tank is then detected therein, it is deduced therefrom that it is an upstream seal of one of the said components which is faulty.

3. Method for detecting leak according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the gas is detected in the common space by measuring the pressure in this space.

4. Method for detecting leak according to claim 3, wherein a vacuum is created in the common space and the intermediate spaces, and: if the pressure in this space becomes the external pressure around the tank head, it is a downstream seal which is faulty, but if, by contrast, this measured pressure becomes greater than the external pressure, it is an upstream seal which is faulty.

5. Method for detecting leak according to claim 3, wherein the common space is placed under an intermediate pressure between the external pressure and the minimum permissible pressure of the tank, and if the pressure measured in this common space drops, this is because a downstream seal is faulty, but if the measured pressure increases, it is an upstream seal which is faulty.

6. Method for detecting leak according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein if the pressure in the common space is greater than the external pressure at the tank head, the leaking gas escaping into the common space is evacuated to any secure zone.

7. Head of pressurized gas storage tank suitable for being directly and removably attached on such a tank and which comprises in an integrated manner: at least two components for treating, distributing and/or shutting off said gas, an upstream connector suitable for being removably attached in a boss of the tank and inside which is located and emerges at least one pipe for supplying the head of the tank, and downstream outlet pipes suitable for connecting the tank head to any system using the said gas, through said components, wherein: each component has at least two sealing devices, one being upstream and the other being downstream, which define an intermediate space therebetween, at least one pipe, called tapping pipe, connects each of the said intermediate spaces and a common space into which all the tapping pipes emerge, an orifice communicates the common space with a device for detecting the presence of gas.

8. Head of pressurized gas storage tank according to claim 7, wherein the device for detecting the presence of the gas is a pressure sensor.

9. Head of pressurized gas storage tank according to any one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the tank head has an evacuation orifice between the common space, into which all the tapping pipes emerge, and any pipe connecting the said head and any external secure zone.

10. Head of pressurized gas storage tank according to claim 9, wherein the evacuation orifice between the common space and any pipe connecting said head is the same orifice as the one communicating the common space with the device for detecting the presence of the gas.

11. Head of pressurized gas storage tank according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the common space, into which all of the tapping pipes emerge, is a circular groove made on the top of the tank head and closed on its upper face by a sealed cover.

12. Head of pressurized gas storage tank according to claim 11, wherein the cover is a metal part attached in a sealing manner on the top of the tank head and including at least one orifice communicating the common space with the device for detecting the presence of the gas, which is itself attached to the outlet of the said orifice.

Description

[0027] The description below and the attached figures represent an exemplary embodiment of the invention, but are in no way limiting: other embodiments are possible within the scope and extent of this invention as defined by the claims attached below.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a sectional axial view of an exemplary embodiment of a tank regulator head according to the invention.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a view from the above of the same tank head as in the FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the FIG. 1.

[0031] In the present description, the various components are positioned and qualified by the terms upstream and downstream taken in the direction of flow of the gas, thus from the chamber 3 of the storage tank 1 to the outside 10 of the tank head 2 according to the invention.

[0032] This head comprises, in an integrated and compact manner in the same body, which is substantially tubular, e.g. cylindrical with axis XX′, and made from compatible material that is gas-tight for gases, such as hydrogen: [0033] at least two components 13.sub.1, 13.sub.2 for the treating, distributing and/or shutting off this gas, such as a plug, a fitting, a thermal fuse, a sensor, a regulator part, etc. [0034] an upstream connector 20 suitable for being removably attached, such as by screwing 11, and sealed, using at least one O-ring type circular seal 6 positioned in a groove, in the orifice 5 of a boss 4 of the said tank 1 and inside which is located and emerges at least one gas supply pipe 9 for supplying gas from the storage chamber 3 of the tank, and [0035] downstream outlet pipes 21.sub.1, 21.sub.2 suitable for connecting the tank head 2 to any system using the said gas once it has passed through the said components 13.sub.1, 13.sub.2 from the at least one supply pipe 9, and according to the invention: [0036] each component 13.sub.1, 13.sub.2 has at least two sealing devices 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, (one being upstream 14.sub.1 and the other being downstream 14.sub.2), which define an intermediate space therebetween, [0037] at least one pipe 12, called tapping pipe, connects each of the said intermediate spaces and a common space 8 into which all the tapping pipes 12 emerge, [0038] an orifice 15 communicating the common space 8 with a device 16 for detecting the presence of gas, such as a pressure sensor, but this may be any detection means.

[0039] The principle of the operation of such a tank head is very well known to a person skilled in the art and will not be explained here, except of course as regards the subject matter of the invention.

[0040] Moreover, according to the present invention and in the case where the outside 10 surrounding the tank head 2 is a confined space as in an aeroplane or an underground construction machine, and where it would be dangerous to allow a gas such as hydrogen to leak, the tank head 2 has an evacuation orifice 15 between the common space 8, into which all the tapping pipes 12 emerge, and any pipe (not shown in the figures) connecting the said head 2 and any external secure zone, i.e. outside the atmosphere 10 surrounding the storage tank head, such as the cabin in the case of an aeroplane.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, this evacuation orifice 15 between the common space 8 and any pipe connecting said head 2 is the same orifice as the one, represented in FIG. 3, communicating the common space 9 with the device 16 for detecting the presence of the gas, which is represented here as a plug of this evacuation orifice 15.

[0042] In the embodiment of the attached figures, the common space 8, into which all of the tapping pipes 12 emerge, is a circular groove made on the top of the tank head 2 and closed on its upper face by a sealed cover 7.

[0043] This cover is represented in the FIGS. 1 and 3 as a rather thick part, which may be metal and which is attached, by any means such as four screws 18 shown only in the top view in FIG. 2, in a sealed manner, by means of a circular seal 17 surrounding the common groove 8 on the top of the tank head 2.

[0044] This cover 7 comprises at least the orifice 15 making the common space 8 communicate with the device 16 for detecting the presence of the gas which is itself attached, in a sealed manner by means of a seal 19, to the outlet of the said orifice 15 which in this case is specifically a bore made in the thickness of the cover 7.

[0045] This cover 7 could also be thinner, or even be a simple moulded plastic lid with, for example, a custom seal which will act as communication channels and common space 8 between the different orifices 12, 15; thus the cover might not withstand the pressure which could increase in the event of a leak in the common space 8, a relief valve could then be provided to evacuate the gas to the outside 10 or through an evacuation pipe to a secure zone as previously indicated.

[0046] In another embodiment, this cover 7 could even be made in the same body of the tank head 2 and would then, in this case, constitute only one part with the head body and without a seal: this could then be manufactured, for example: [0047] either directly by 3D printing with all the necessary internal pipes, [0048] or by producing the common space 8 and the tapping pipes 12 by bores which must then be partially plugged once they are all communicating together and leaving only one bore unclogged in order to constitute the orifice 15 communicating the common space 8 with the device 16 for detecting the presence of the gas.

[0049] Thus, whatever the embodiment of the said tank head 2 according to the invention, when the gas distribution is put into operation by the said tank 1 through this tank head 2, [0050] if the presence of a gas, which was not there at the start of the operation, is then detected by the detection device 16 during the operation, it is deduced from this that at least one of the sealing devices 14.sub.1 of one of the said components 13 leaks, [0051] in a particular embodiment, the presence of the gas in the common space 8 is detected by measuring the pressure in this space, [0052] then, if this pressure is greater than the external pressure 10 at the tank head, the leaking gas escaping into the common space 8, is evacuated 15 such as via a discharge relief valve when it is measured that the pressure in this space exceeds a given threshold, either to the outside 10 or, depending on the use, through an evacuation pipe to a security zone as previously indicated.

[0053] Moreover, depending on the pressure conditions, if it is desired to know whether it is upstream seal of one of the said components 13 which is faulty (which can be the most critical) and not a downstream seal, the doubt can be removed according to one of the following methods: [0054] either a vacuum is created in the common space 8 and the intermediate spaces and, if the pressure in this space becomes the external pressure 10 around the tank head 2 (such as the atmospheric pressure), it is a downstream seal which is faulty, but if, by contrast, this measured pressure becomes greater than the external pressure, it is an upstream seal which is faulty, [0055] or this common space 8 is placed under an intermediate pressure between the external pressure 10 and the minimum permissible pressure of the tank, and if the pressure measured in this common space 8 then reduces, it is a downstream seal which is faulty, but if the measured pressure increases, it is an upstream seal which is faulty, [0056] or it can be satisfactory to put into this common space 8 a different gas to that contained in the tank (and such as at a pressure equal to the external pressure 10 and in any case less than the one of the gas contained in the tank), and if the presence of the said gas contained in the tank is detected, such as by an increase in the pressure measured in this common space 8, it is deduced that it is an upstream seal of one of said components 13 which is faulty.