Method and apparatus for determining a fluid contaminant

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, wherein said contaminant is oil and said uncontaminated stream is water.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2, wherein said float-actuated means is a pneumatic control valve and includes an alarm to indicate when the level of the fluid in said inlet leg is different from said discharge level.

Claim 5

In combination with a structure located over or near a body of water, said structure including a deck upon which a contaminated fluid may gather, said contaminant having a different density than water, the combination of a U-tube having an inlet leg and an outlet leg, means for connecting drainage from said deck to said inlet leg in order to permit equilibrium conditions, said outlet leg having a predetermined discharge level whereby said contaminant will change the level of said inlet leg fluid under said equilibrium conditions, and means for determining when the level of the fluid in said inlet leg differs from said discharge level.

Claim 6

In combination with a structure located over or near a body of water, said structure including a deck upon which a contaminated fluid may gather, said contaminant having a different density than water, the combination of a U-tube having an inlet leg and an outlet leg, means for connecting drainage from said deck to said inlet leg in order to permit equilibrium conditions, said outlet leg having a predetermined discharge level whereby said contaminant will change the level of said inlet leg fluid under said equilibrium conditions, and means for determining when the level of the fluid in said inlet leg differs from said discharge level.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said level-determining means comprises float means for monitoring the level of the fluid in said inlet leg, and means actuated by said float means for determining when said inlet leg fluid level varies.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 5, wherein said float-actuated means comprises pneumatic valve means, and the combination further comprises pneumatic alarm means connected to said valve means.

Claim 9

In combination with petroleum product operations having a platform structure located over or near a body of water, said structure including a deck upon which oil may gather, and a drain for carrying off fluids from said deck, the combination of an elongated cylindrical container having a closed bottom and forming the inlet leg of a U-tube, a conduit within said container extending down near the bottom of and open for fluid connection with the fluid in said container, said conduit passing through a side wall of said container with a fluid-tight joint and forming the outlet leg of said U-tube, means for connecting said drain to said elongated container above said outlet joint, a float located in said container on the surface of the fluid in said inlet leg, a pneumatic valve, an alarm actuated by pneumatic Control, means for supplying pneumatic pressure to said valve and connecting said alarm to said valve, and means for connecting said float to said valve for actuating same to cause actuation of said alarm whenever the steady-state fluid level in said container rises above the steady-state level from said outlet leg which indicates the presence of oil in the fluid draining from said deck.

Claim 10

In combination with petroleum product operations having a platform structure located over or near a body of water, said structure including a deck upon which oil may gather, and a drain for carrying off fluids from said deck, the combination of an elongated cylindrical container having a closed bottom and forming the inlet leg of a U-tube, a conduit within said container extending down near the bottom of and open for fluid connection with the fluid in said container, said conduit passing through a side wall of said container with a fluid-tight joint and forming the outlet leg of said U-tube, means for connecting said drain to said elongated container above said outlet joint, a float located in said container on the surface of the fluid in said inlet leg, a pneumatic valve, an alarm actuated by pneumatic Control, means for supplying pneumatic pressure to said valve and connecting said alarm to said valve, and means for connecting said float to said valve for actuating same to cause actuation of said alarm whenever the steady-state fluid level in said container rises above the steady-state level from said outlet leg which indicates the presence of oil in the fluid draining from said deck.