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Development of Security System for Lng Tank Truck

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Development of Security System for Lng Tank Truck DEVELOPMENT OF SECURITY SYSTEM FOR LNG TANK TRUCK Hiromitsu Itou, Research and Development Institute, Saibu Gas Co., Ltd. Toshiaki Inaba, Production and Pipeline Planning Dept., Saibu Gas Co., Ltd. 1. COMPANY PROFILE Based in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, We, Saibu Gas Co.,Ltd., supply city gas to 1,114,568 houses in 12 cities and 18 towns in three northern prefectures in Kyushu Island; Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Nagasaki Prefectures. (as of March 31st, 2002) As for materials of city gas, we have been shifting from petroleum/LPG to LNG for these years. In fact, we have completed the shift in Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City Areas and in Kumamto Area, and now we are making the shift in Nagasaki Area. With this shift in the city gas materials, our Fukuoka LNG terminal (located in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Pref.) started to accept LNG since October of 1993. Our Nagasaki Works newly built (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Pref.) will start to accept LNG in 2003. LNG is imported from Malaysia by two vessels: “AMAN BINTULU” and “AMAN HAKATA” (capacity: 19,000m3 each). The following plants are responsible for production of our city gas; Fukuoka LNG terminal (located in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Pref.), Kitakyushu Works (located in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Pref.), Kumamoto Works (located in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Pref.), New Nagasaki Works (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Pref.), Nagasaki Works (Nishi-Sonogi gun, Nagasaki Pref.) , Sasebo Works (Sasebo City, Nagasaki Pref.) and Shimabara Works (Shimabara City, Nagasaki Pref.). Fukuoka LNG terminal and Kitakyushu Works are linked with each other by pipeline, while other works are independent. 2. LNG TRANSPORT BY TANK TRUCKS LNG accepted by our Fukuoka LNG terminal from Malaysia is evaporated at the Works, and is supplied as city gas. It is also distribute by our tank trucks to our Kumamoto Works, Sasebo Works, and neighboring city gas companies and shipyards (for fusing etc.). The annual LNG transportation amount is about 63,000 ton and the total number of distribution by the tank trucks comes to about 6,900 (FY 2003). These data show that the terminal is one of the biggest LNG distribution centers in Japan. In order to maintain and enhance a high level of security on our tank trucks transporting a great deal of LNG, we Saibu Gas Co., Ltd., established a Tank Truck Control Room in the premises of Fukuoka LNG terminal. The Room aims to unify a range of operations related to security controls on the tank trucks and to reinforce the disaster preventing action systems which would be needed in case of occurrence of an accident or disaster. As one of the security controlling actions, we have developed a system for tank trucks. This new system aims to reduce the driver’s obligation to report an accident when it happens, and to improve security by automatically reporting an accident when a driver cannot report because of his injury. The new system enables the Room to receive prompt and accurate information on a tank truck’s travelling conditions (its location, its condition; travelling or stopping, etc.) and its abnormality such as (collision, sudden stop, liquid leakage, etc.) when it happens. Coupled with reporting an accident or abnormality through the conventional tool, that is mobile phone, the use of the new system is designed to improve the security control on tank trucks. The requirements of the new system are that the Tank Truck Management Room shall be able to receive and grasp the real-time travelling conditions of tank trucks and the occurrence of any abnormalities via the system and that the Room shall be able to provide prompt and accurate information on an accident or abnormality to related in-house sections and other municipal agencies (such as local police agency, fire-fighting agency, highway cooperation and others) when it occurs. Three companies have been committed to the development of the new system: Japan Radio Co.,Ltd., Saibugas Information System Co.,Ltd., and Saibu Gas Co.,Ltd. Type of Tank Trucks Loading Capacity Amount of Tank Trucks 6.16 t 1 unit Single-Truck Vehicle 6.3 t 2 units 6.74 t 1 unit 9.8 t 6 units Semi-Trailer 10.5 t 10 units Table 1. Specifications of LNG Tank Trucks 3. OUTLINE OF THE SYSTEM LNG Tank Truck Security System is composed of a base station system and a vehicle-loading system. Both systems are linked by mobile packet communication service system named “DoPa” provided by NTT-DOCOMO Co., Ltd. LNG Tank Truck Security System grasps the following information on the travelling conditions and abnormalities of a tank truck. Fig. 1 shows the outline of the system. 3.1 Travelling conditions of a tank truck (1) Travelling Location and Other Conditions GPS (Global Positioning System) loaded on a tank truck informs us where the tank truck is runnig. The informed location is displayed on a map in the base station by calling (pouring function) from the base station or from vehicle-loading system(contention function). The System also can display whether a tank truck is moving or stopping by judging the travelling speed which is calculated by informed location in a specified period. (2) Travelling Status If a driver presses a function button on the display actuator installed on the dashboard, standard information ( such as Departure, Arrival, Arrival Prediction and Spare Information) is delivered to the base station system. 3.2 Reporting of abnormalities of a tank truck (1) Occurrence of High Gravity caused by Collision or Sudden Stop The tri-axial acceleration sensor installed on a tank truck monitors the forward and backward, side to side and vertical movement and vibration of the vehicle, and detects abnormal conditions caused by collision or sudden stop. If it happens, the system reports such conditions automatically to the base station system. (2) Abnormal Pressure of a Tank A temperature sensor installed on the automatic safety valve outlet detects a fall of temperature of the pipe which means the safety valve caused release the NG to reduce the in-tank pressure when it rise up abnormally, and the report of this abnormality is submitted to the base station system automatically. (3) LNG Leakage LNG is loaded to or unloaded from the tank of a tank truck through the operation room of the rear section. A temperature sensor installed on the floor of the operation room detects a fall of floor temperature cause by LNG leakage from connection parts of the flanges or pipes, and automatically reports this abnormality to the base station system. (4) Emergency Report If a driver presses the emergency button on the display actuator installed on the dashboard, the system automatically reports an abnormality to the base station system. GPS Satellite DoPa Communication Network of NTT DOCOMO NTT Special Line Vehicle-Loading System Base Station System LNG tank truck GPS Display Actuator Tri-Axial Acceleration Sensor Temperature Sensor Tank Truck Management Room Pressure Sensor Fig. 1. Diagram of the System 4. VEHICLE-LOADING SYSTEM 4.1 Composition of vehicle-loading system Vehicle-loading system is composed of the following unites (see Table 2 and Fig.2) The system works to grasp how tank trucks are running and whether it’s conditions are normal or not. Unit Names Q’ty GPS Terminal Unit 1 unit GPS Antenna 1 unit Tri-Axial Acceleration Sensor 1 unit Temperature Sensor 2 units Temperature Sensor Converter 2 units Display Actuator 1 unit Sensor Box 1 unit Communication Terminal Unit(Mobile Ark) 1 unit Antenna for Mobile Ark 1 unit Power Source Box 1 unit Table 2. List of Vehicle-Loading Units Antenna for Mobile Ark Communication Terminal Unit Power Cable GPS Antenna (Mobile Ark) Power Source Box RS-232C Power Cable GPS Terminal Unit Power Cable + RS-232C TTL Power Cable Display Actuator Sensor Box ×2 Tri-Axial Acceleration Sensor Temperature Sensor Converter ×2 Temperature Sensor Fig. 2. Diagram of Vehicle-Loading Units No. Items Specifications 1 Outer Dimensions 70 (W) x 70 (H) x 170(D) mm 2 Weight 1,000 g ( only the main body) 3 Power Source Voltage DC 24 V (10V～32V) 4 Consumption Current Max. 200 mA 100 m (2DRMS) 5 GPS Accuracy [in case that SA*1 is utilized] 6 Data Transmission Rate 9,600 bps 7 Serial Communication Rate Max. 38,400 bps 8 Radiation Noise Based on VCCI*2 9 Transmission Noise Based on VCCI 10 Temperature for storage －25 ℃ ～ ＋ 85 ℃ Flat Patch Antenna 11 GPS Antenna (Cable 5m with magnet) Table 3. Specifications of GPS Terminal Unit *1 SA: Selective Availability Navigation Message Operation by Pentagon *2 VCCI: Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment (This organization aims to prevent radio wave interference voluntarily in cooperation with related industries.) 4.2 Characteristics of vehicle-loading system 4.2.1 Function blocks of vehicle-loading system Fig. 3 shows the function blocks of vehicle-loading system. Base Station System Vehicle-Loading System Mobile Ark Control on communication with base station Display GPS Communication Terminal Unit Display Actuator Input by button key Setting of Normal Range Abnormal Data Sensor Box Sensor Input by sensor Fig. 3. Chart of Function Blocks of Vehicle-Loading System 4.2.2 Functions of GPS terminal units (1) Communication Control Function The System makes data communication if the mobile packet communication terminal unit (Mobile Ark) is connected with GPS terminal unit. (2) Tank Truck’s Location Notification Function The System detects the current location of a tank truck. The current location of a tank truck is automatically displayed on the screen map in the base station when the travelling status is reported at every set time for contention, or the base station calls.
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