Safety Shut Off & Alarming at Fuel Depot

Bürkert's hazardous area approved electrically actuated ball valves are providing the safe shut off of heating oil and diesel fuels at multiple depots operated by a large  fuel distributor. The valves are employed by UK based flow and level measuring specialist, Severn Instruments, as part of the company's tank overfill protection alarm system (TOPAS). This is critical to safe and efficient fuel depot operation, with fuel spillage potentially hazardous and costing $2,500 per litre to clean up.

Severn Instruments had a contract from a fuel distributor to install its overfill system in depots and has so far installed the system at 25 depots, with more to come.

The tanks fitted with the overfill protection system range from 50,000-litres 1,000,000 litres plus.  With such large volumes, depot operators must be careful of overfilling tanks during deliveries. To avoid overfill, drivers delivering fuel to a depot connect their hose to the appropriate tank; eg delivering Kerosene (heating oil), white or red diesel. The driver presses a button on a central control panel to test the tank alarm system. Alarming is set at 97% of volume, 2% above normal gauging level of 95%. If the alarm sounds, then the gauging system is operative and the filling cycle begins. However, if filling exceeds 95% level, the alarm system sounds and switches Bürkert's electrically actuated ball valves to close in a timed sequence of less than 30-seconds, allowing time for the pump to stop and thereby preventing any fuel spilling over the top of the tank.

The valve as used is suitable for use with aggressive media (eg fuel oils, diesel) and  with IP67 ingress protection is suitable for arduous conditions.  Rated for use in explosive environments, the valve integrates a small electrical rotary actuator with adjustable limit switches and a manual override, a visual indicator into a single compact, and robust assembly that is easy to install in restricted spaces.