Gas tight arrangement for sampling and measurement of ballast water from hazardous and non-hazardous areas

Abstract

Gas tight cabinet for sampling of ballast water, that has the ability to securely and according to international regulations cover / manage samples from sampling points located in both hazardous and non-hazardous areas of the vessels, one at a time, following the appropriate procedure and valve opening / closing sequence during ballasting and de-ballasting operations of a ballast water treatment system. The referenced cabinet consists of the gas tight metallic cabinet (12), the total residual oxidants sensors (1)(2), the manual (ball) valves (13)(14)(15)(16)(17), the non return valves (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(41), the solenoid valves (26)(27)(28)(29), the gas detector (8) and level sensors (5)(6)(7). It also includes a diaphragm air pump (3), the gravity drain tank(4) for the total residual oxidants sensors (1)(2), the door limit switches (9)(10), a fan (11), as well as piping and related accessories.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] GAS TIGHT ARRANGEMENT FOR SAMPLING AND MEASUREMENT OF BALLAST WATER FROM HAZARDOUS AND NON-HAZARDOUS AREAS

[0003] The present invention relates to a gas tight arrangement used for the measure- ment of concentration of Total Residual Oxidants factors during ballasting and de- ballasting vessel process, used in vessels where the Ballast Water Treatment System is located at areas characterized as hazardous, and allows the sampling / measurement from non-hazardous and hazardous areas. The arrangement incorporates Total Resid- ual Oxidants sensors (TRO1, TRO2) (1 ,2), instruments, components and piping, so as to be able to receive sampling of ballast water for measurement taken from non-haz- ardous and hazardous area using only this invention, while at the same time to be able to ensure the safety conditions provided by the existing regulations, making it inno- vative since transfer of samples from hazardous to non-hazardous is not permitted.

[0004] Up to now the ballast water management systems, in order to be able to have sampling from hazardous and non-hazardous areas, use several separate Total Resid- ual Oxidants sensors for the non- hazardous and the hazardous area of the vessel, since according to regulations sampling form hazardous areas can not enter safe area. That means that the quantity of the Total Residual Oxidants sensors is quite large, which affects:

[0005] The complexity of the engineering study and installation, as the above men- tioned sensors should be installed also in hazardous and non-hazardous area, as a re- sult of which the required installation space is increased and on the other hand the routing of piping is more so as to cany out sampling.

[0006] The complexity of the electrical study and installation for the connection of the individual sensors with the control panel.

[0007] The complexity of the control logic software for the ballast water management system.

[0008] The total cost of the whole sy stem as a consequence of all the above mentioned, is significantly increased. Instruments suitable for use in hazardous areas, should have the required certi- fication, making them more expensive and complex.

[0009] The innovation of the gas tight measuring device i s that with the use of two total residual oxidant sensors (I) (2) that are not certified for use in hazardous areas of a vessel, it has the ability to cover / manage marine ballast samples driven from non- hazardous as well as hazardous areas of the vessel, without the requirement to install an additional number of sensors per different area.

[0010] The use of this gas tight arrangement for sampling of total residual oxidants, significantly reduces the cost of the system and its installation, as it specifies the use of two total residual oxidant sensors (1) and (2) suitable for use in non-hazardous area that are relatively cheaper than the ex-certified ones.

[0011] At the same time, the engineering study for the installation of the ballast water management system is facilitated, since the placement of multiple sensors in different areas and the extra routing of piping for the transfer of liquids are avoided.

[0012] The arrangement of the innovation and its operation is described in the figures below.

[0013] Figure 1 depicts the piping and instrument / component diagram as well as all necessary and / or optional connections, so that the gas tight measuring arrangement can accept a sample either for hazardous or non-hazardous area depending on the function it covers.

[0014] Figure 2 depicts the instrument / component and piping arrangement on the in- ternal of the gas tight cabinet.

[0015] Figure 3 presents in detail (Detail A) the arrangement of instruments / compo- nents and piping of the Total Residual Oxidants (TRO 2) (2) sensor, on the interior of the gas tight cabinet.

[0016] Figure 4 presents in detail (Detail B) the arrangement of instruments / compo- nents and piping of the Total Residual Oxidants (TRO 1) (1) sensor, on the interior of the gas tight cabinet. The gas tight arrangement for measurement includes all necessary components to perform safe sampling from hazardous and non-hazardous areas, serving them one at a time: • The metallic Gas Tight Cabinet ( 1.2) • The Total Residual Oxidants sensors (TRO1 , TRO2) ( I ) (2) • A Diaphragm Air Pump (DAP) (DAP) (3)

[0017] • The gravity drain tank for the total residual oxidants sensors (TGDT) (4) • Two flow level sensors for the TRO gravity drain tank (LSH -TGDT-1, LSH- TGDT-2) (5)(6) • Level Sensor for the metallic cabinet (LS) (7) • Gas detector (GO) (8) • Door limit switches (DLS1, DLS2) (9)(10) • Fan (FAN) (11 ) • Manual (Ball) valves (BV1, BV2, BV 3, BV4, BV5) (13)(14)( 15)(16)(17) • Non-retum valves ( NRV1, NRV2, NRV3, NRV4, NRV5. NRV6. NRV7)

[0018] (20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(41) • Solenoid valves (SV1, S V2, SV2, SV4) (26)(27)(28)(29) • Reverse flow switch (35)

[0019] • Pipes / tubing and related accessories

[0020] The gas tight measuring device is placed as close as possible to the watertight bulk- head (40) that separates the hazardous and non-hazardous areas of the vessel

[0021] Using the gas tight measuring device the following six operations can be per- formed in ballast water treatment systems: 1 . Sampling from non-hazardous area during ballasting operation through the cor- responding piping (38) using only one measuring sensor (1 ).

[0022] 2. Sampling from non-hazardous area during ballasting operation through the cor- responding piping (38) and (39) using both measuring sensors (1) and (2).

[0023] 3- Sampling from non-hazardous area during de-ballasting operation through the corresponding piping (38) and (39) using both measuring sensors (1) and (2).

[0024] 4. Sampling from hazardous area during ballasting operation through the corre- sponding piping (36) using only one measuring sensor (1). 5. Sampling from non-hazardous area during ballasting operation through the cor- responding piping (36) and (37) using both measuring sensors (1) and (2).

[0025] 6, Sampling from non-hazardous area during de-ballasting operation through the corresponding piping (36) and (37) using both measuring sensors ( 1) and (2).

[0026] During all the operations, all manual ball valves (BVl, BV2, BV3, BV4, BV10, BV11 ) ( 13)(14)(15)(16)(18)(19) inside and outside the gas tight cabinet should be in open position, except for the manual ball valve (BV5) (17) and the non-return valve (SDNR4) (33), located outside the container.

[0027] To ensure the proper functioning of the ballast water treatment system using the gas-tight cabinet, any anomalies in the system such as gas detection and liquid leakage detection at the lower part of the cabinet will be reported with audio and visual alarms in a monitored control station.

Claims

CLAIMS1. The gas- tight arrangement consists of a gas tight cabinet ( 12) capabl e of isolating the components inside of it, from the installed area and preventing the escape of gases or other dangerous substances to the installation area.

2. The gas-tight arrangement has a hazardous gas detector (8) located at the highest possible point inside the gas tight cabinet (12).

3. The gas-tight arrangement has door limit switches (9) and (10).

4. The gas-tight arrangement has a fan (11 ) for forced air circulation with fresh air intake and ventilation from and to the atmosphere respectively.

5. The gas-tight arrangement has a gravity drain tank for the total residual oxidants sensors TGDT (4) with venting device to the atmosphere.

6. The gas tight arrangement has a reverse flow switch (35).

7. The gas tight arrangement has non return valves (20) (22) (24) and a solenoid valve(28) in a proper arrangement connected to the sensor TRO1 (1)8. The gas tight arrangement has non return valves (21 ) (23) (25) and a solenoid valve(29) in a proper arrangement connected to the sensor TRO2 (2)9. The gas tight arrangement has solenoid valves (26) Kαi (27) placed on the inner wall of the gas tight cabinet (12) to isolate the hazardous area.10.The gas tight arrangement has solenoid valves (30) (31) and (32) outside the gas tight cabinet (12), mounted on the watertight bulkhead (40).11 .The gas tight arrangement, has manual sampling point (18) and (19) outside the gas tight cabinet.

12. The gas tight arrangement has a liquid level sensor (7) at the lowest level of the gas tight cabinet (17) to detect any liquid accumulation due to leakage.

13. The gas tight arrangement according to claim 2 will stop its operation automati- cally in the event that the hazardous gas sensor (8) detects high concentration of hazardous gases within the gas tight cabinet (12).

14. The gas tight arrangement according to claim 3 will stop its operation automati- cally in the event that the doors of tire gas tight cabinet (12) opens during the op- eration of the device.

15. The gas tight arrangement according to claim 2 will stop its operation automati- cally in the event that the level liquid sensor (7) detects a high level of liquid inside the gas tight cabinet (12).The gas tight arrangement according to claims 9 and 10 will maintain the solenoid valves (26) (27) (30) (31 ) and (32) closed during the sampling process from the non-hazardous area.

17. The gas tight arrangement according to claim 10 will automatically close the valves (30) (31 ) and (32) in the event of any dangerous situation as defined by the international regulations.

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