Automatic oil leak detection system for an underground tank

Abstract

This paper describes an automatic oil leak detection system which can detect accidental oil leaks at an early stage by continuously and remotely monitoring the underground tank that stores oil for standby engine generators. The engine generator is a regular power supply of an emergency backup power supply for telecommunication facilities. The system is made up of a liquid level meter, an oil leak detection sensor and measurement/monitoring equipment for measuring the amount of oil and monitoring the leak. The liquid level meter measures the amount of oil stored in the tank. Oil leaks from the tank are automatically detected by the oil leak detection sensor. The measurement/monitoring equipment displays the amount of oil on a LCD, and regularly as well as upon demand forwards this information to the remote monitoring center. Moreover, this equipment displays the warnings on both the LCD and a LED, and forwards warnings such as oil leaks to the remote monitoring center. The introduction of this system will help detect accidental oil leaks at an early stage. This system is expected to reduce or eliminate the need for maintenance checks, greatly reducing working hours and expenditures required for the maintenance of the underground tanks.