Refineries, Processing facilities and LNG Plant

In areas where flammable gases and/dust are present, Fiber Optic Distributed sensing provides continuous temperature monitoring. This can provide:

- Fire detection (UL approved Linear Heat Detection)
- Condition monitoring
- Leak detection

The inert sensing cable is capable of withstanding high and low temperatures. It is lightweight, flexible and can be deployed in cable ducts, floor and ceiling voids, tunnels and other often unseen or remote plant areas.

Where is the temperature changing?
How hot is it?
Is there a fire? Is there a leak?
What are the temperature trends at any identified point?
What is the history of temperature events?

Refineries and Hydrocarbon Processing facilities

Temperature tells us so much. It provides an indication that things are going well, or not. Knowing the temperature is changing warns us that things may need investigating. Fiber Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing provides continuous monitoring, detecting and locating temperature events of a few degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius, to within a foot or so, as they happen.

The inert sensing cable, immune to electromagnetic interference, dust and flammable gases, can be installed in ‘hard to reach’ or unseen places, such as ceiling and floor voids, ducts, cable trays and tunnels. It can also be applied directly to surfaces to detect temperatures events, on e.g. refractory lined vessels or insulated pipes.

Distances from hundreds of yards to 24 miles (40 km) can be monitored from a single interrogator, so the interrogator (and other hardware) can be placed in a control or instrument room, away from hazardous areas.

A range of hardware and software options provides project and budget specific solutions. Alarms can be set using different thresholds by zones, minimizing the risk of nuisance alarms in environments with dynamic temperature ranges.

Reports and analysis are available to track temperature events. Standard protocols are used for integration with other control and alarming systems.

LNG Plant

For both import and export terminals, fiber optic distributed sensing is widely used, thanks to its unique properties. The inert fiber optic cable acts as a sensor all along its length and transmits the temperature measurements and their location back to the interrogator in seconds.

Storage tanks:

The sensing cable is placed in the:

Insulation space to detect leaks from the inner tank.
Underfloor heating ducts to ensure the floor heating is working correctly to prevent frost heave.

Pipelines:

The sensing cable can be incorporated within the insulation or attached to the outside of the pipes to detect temperature changes and leaks.

Plant wide:

To monitor for temperature changes, e.g. in the containment area, which may result from a gas escape or water ingress.

Communication

Standard protocols provide integration with other control and alarming systems. Temperature and alarms can be visualised on a graphical user interface, available (with different user security levels) anywhere within a given network.

Approvals

UL 521, ULC S530 spacing up to 50 ft

ATEX certified

prEN 54-22 Class A1N