Abstract: A method for improved handling of a blended fuel includes obtaining a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; cooling the same until the sample separates into phases; and determining a risk that the fuel in the storage tank will separate based on the cooling step. An apparatus for assessing the risk of phase separation of a blended fuel includes a test cavity for holding a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; a heat transfer device for cooling the sample in the test cavity; and at least one sensor for indicating when the sample in the test cavity has separated into phases.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position and to maintain the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a first mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position. The apparatus may further include a second mechanism separate from the first mechanism for maintaining the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The first mechanism may operate on the principle of buoyancy and the second mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position and to maintain the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism.

Abstract: A method for improved handling of a blended fuel includes obtaining a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; cooling the same until the sample separates into phases; and determining a risk that the fuel in the storage tank will separate based on the cooling step. An apparatus for assessing the risk of phase separation of a blended fuel includes a test cavity for holding a sample of the blended fuel from a storage tank; a heat transfer device for cooling the sample in the test cavity; and at least one sensor for indicating when the sample in the test cavity has separated into phases.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a first mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position. The apparatus may further include a second mechanism separate from the first mechanism for maintaining the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The first mechanism may operate on the principle of buoyancy and the second mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism.

Abstract: A sensing device arrangement for a fuel storage system is provided having at least one storage tank, a plurality of sensing devices positioned in or around the at least one storage tank, and a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of sensing devices. The controller is configured to communicate with each sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices on a single bi-directional data line. A sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices is activated by the controller. Data is acquired by the sensing device and transmitted to the controller over the data line. The controller instructs the sensing device to change to a low power state. The controller receives electrical characteristics from the plurality of sensing devices recognized on the data line and calculates a characteristic of the sensing device arrangement. The controller verifies compliance with an intrinsic safety barrier.

Abstract: A sensing device arrangement for a fuel storage system is provided having at least one storage tank, a plurality of sensing devices positioned in or around the at least one storage tank, and a controller in electrical communication with the plurality of sensing devices. The controller is configured to communicate with each sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices on a single bi-directional data line. A sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices is activated by the controller. Data is acquired by the sensing device and transmitted to the controller over the data line. The controller instructs the sensing device to change to a low power state. The controller receives electrical characteristics from the plurality of sensing devices recognized on the data line and calculates a characteristic of the sensing device arrangement. The controller verifies compliance with an intrinsic safety barrier.

Abstract: A leak detector for detecting volumetric changes in a liquid volume includes a biased piston disposed in a housing and a liquid passage extending from the liquid volume to an expansible chamber defined by the housing and piston. The leak detector further includes a magnetostrictive sensor including a magnetostrictive waveguide, a magnet operably coupled to the piston and moveable therewith and pulsing and detection devices for detecting the position of the magnet along the magnetostrictive waveguide. A method of using the detector includes exposing the expansible chamber to liquid from the liquid volume and sensing the changes in the liquid volume magnetostrictively by causing relative movement between the waveguide and the magnet to obtain data representative of piston movement which is responsive to volumetric changes in the liquid volume.