The acoustic noise environment associated with leak detection in aboveground storage tanks

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Materials Evaluation; (United States)

OSTI ID:6929460

Eckert, E G; Fierro, M R; Maresca, Jr, J W ^[1]

---

1. Vista Research, Inc., Mountain View, CA (United States)

Experiments were conducted on operational, non-leaking aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) in order to assess the effect of noise on the application of acoustic leak detection methods to float-roof ASTs. The results indicate that improper data collection and signal processing of several types of impulsive acoustic noise may increase the probability of false alarm. Impulsive noise originating from the AST shell was observed to propagate both as compressional waves through the product and as high-velocity shear waves through the tank shell. Time series of the acoustic signals were required in order to identify the propagation mode and source location of impulsive noise. Multipath propagation (both shear waves and reflection of compressional waves) is identified as a mechanisms through which localized sources of impulsive acoustic noise may be mapped into the AST floor by the detection system.

• OSTI ID: 6929460
• Journal Information: Materials Evaluation; (United States), Journal Name: Materials Evaluation; (United States) Vol. 52:8; ISSN MAEVAD; ISSN 0025-5327
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420205* -- Engineering-- Transport & Storage Facilities-- (1980-)
420500 -- Engineering-- Materials Testing
ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CONTAINERS
DATA
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA PROCESSING
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLOATING ROOF TANKS
INFORMATION
LEAK TESTING
MATERIALS TESTING
MATHEMATICS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
PROCESSING
STORAGE FACILITIES
TANKS
TESTING
TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS