The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is a cornerstone of the global energy market, providing a clean, efficient, and versatile fuel source. As these facilities often lie in seismically active regions, understanding and mitigating the risks posed by earthquakes is crucial for ensuring the safety, integrity, and operational continuity of LNG operations. This blog explores the critical role of seismic monitoring in LNG facilities, focusing on the use of free-field seismic stations and the instrumentation of LNG tanks.

The Importance of Seismic Monitoring in LNG Facilities

LNG facilities encompass liquefaction plants, storage tanks, and regasification terminals, each presenting unique challenges when faced with seismic activity. The catastrophic potential of an earthquake event—ranging from structural damage to catastrophic failure—underscores the need for comprehensive seismic monitoring systems. These systems are designed not only to safeguard the infrastructure and personnel but also to protect the surrounding communities and the environment.

Free-Field Seismic Stations: The First Line of Defense

Free-field seismic stations play a pivotal role in the seismic monitoring framework of LNG facilities. Positioned strategically around the facility, these stations provide real-time data on ground motion and seismic events. By capturing the amplitude, frequency, and duration of seismic waves, these stations offer invaluable insights into the seismic threat landscape, allowing for the timely activation of safety protocols and mitigation measures.

Key Functions of Free-Field Seismic Stations:

• Early Warning: By detecting seismic waves in real-time, these stations can trigger early warning systems, providing crucial minutes for shutting down operations, thus mitigating risk to both the facility and its personnel.
• Seismic Hazard Assessment: Continuous monitoring aids in the assessment of seismic hazards, informing both the design of new infrastructure and the retrofitting of existing structures.
• Data Collection for Engineering Analysis: The data collected serves as a foundational element for engineering analyses, guiding the development of more resilient LNG facility designs.

Instrumentation of LNG Tanks: Enhancing Resilience

The instrumentation of LNG tanks is another critical aspect of a comprehensive seismic monitoring strategy. These instruments, including accelerometers and strain gauges, are installed directly on or within the LNG tanks. They monitor the tanks’ responses to seismic events, providing data that is vital for assessing the structural health and integrity of these critical components.

Benefits of LNG Tank Instrumentation:

• Structural Health Monitoring: Instrumentation allows for the continuous monitoring of the structural health of LNG tanks, identifying potential issues before they lead to failure.
• Performance-Based Design Verification: The data collected can verify the effectiveness of seismic design principles, ensuring that the tanks perform as expected during seismic events.
• Emergency Response and Recovery: In the event of an earthquake, real-time data from tank instrumentation can inform emergency response efforts, facilitating a quicker recovery and return to operation.

Conclusion

The integration of free-field seismic stations and the instrumentation of LNG tanks represents a holistic approach to seismic monitoring in LNG facilities. This dual-layered strategy not only enhances the safety and resilience of LNG infrastructure but also contributes to the sustainability of LNG as a key component of the global energy mix. By investing in advanced seismic monitoring technologies, the LNG industry can navigate the challenges posed by seismic activity, ensuring that it continues to deliver energy safely and reliably to the world.

To learn more about how QuakeLogic can help your LNG facilities to be compatible with regulations and standards by installing seismic sensors and providing earthquake early warning and structural health monitoring, contact us at sales@quakelogic.net and visit us at https://www.quakelogic.net/_lng-facilities-monitoring/lng-monitoring.

Blast Vibration Monitoring

Blast vibration monitoring is crucial in industries like mining, construction, and demolition, where explosives are used. It’s important to monitor and control the vibrations caused by blasts to prevent damage to nearby structures and to ensure the safety and comfort of people in the vicinity. The minimum trigger level for blast vibration monitoring can vary depending on several factors, including local regulations, the type of structures near the blasting site, and the project’s specific conditions.

1. Regulatory Guidelines: Different countries and regions have guidelines for acceptable vibration levels. For example, in the United States, the Bureau of Mines recommends a peak particle velocity (PPV) of 0.5 inches per second for residential structures, but local regulations may set stricter limits.
2. Type of Structures: Older buildings, historic structures, or buildings with pre-existing damage may require lower vibration limits to prevent further damage.
3. Distance from Blast: The acceptable vibration level might also depend on the distance of the structure from the blast site. Closer structures may have lower trigger levels.

Infrasound Sensitivity for Long Periods

Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies below the lower limit of human audibility (below about 20 Hz). Monitoring infrasound is important for detecting natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides, and tornadoes, and for assessing the impact of human-made sources like wind turbines and industrial activities.

1. Human Sensitivity: While infrasound below the threshold of hearing is not audible, exposure to high levels of infrasound over long periods can potentially have health impacts, including stress, sleep disturbance, and other physical symptoms.
2. Monitoring Thresholds: The sensitivity of infrasound monitoring equipment is designed to detect very low frequencies at minimal levels. Modern infrasound sensors can detect pressure changes less than a Pascal, which allows for the monitoring of both natural and anthropogenic infrasound sources over great distances.
3. Environmental Impact Studies: For assessing the impact of infrasound on humans and wildlife, long-term monitoring is often required. The sensitivity and trigger levels for such monitoring depend on the objectives of the study and the baseline levels of infrasound in the environment.

Both blast vibration monitoring and infrasound sensitivity assessments require a careful approach that considers the specific context of each situation, including regulatory requirements, environmental conditions, and the potential for adverse effects on humans and structures. Continuous monitoring and adherence to established guidelines are key to managing the impacts effectively.

QuakeLogic leads the way in providing state-of-the-art infrasound sensors, dataloggers, and software solutions designed for real-time data analysis. These tools are crucial for professionals seeking to monitor and analyze infrasound with precision and efficiency. To explore the full range of our infrasound monitoring products and understand the powerful capabilities of our software, we invite you to visit our specialized webpage at QuakeLogic Infrasound Sensors.

If you have specific questions or need guidance to select the perfect infrasound monitoring setup for your project, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our expert sales team via email at sales@quakelogic.net. Our dedicated team is committed to providing personalized consultation to ensure that you find solutions that precisely match your monitoring objectives. Reach out today to learn how our technology can elevate your infrasound monitoring capabilities.

In the realm of shake tables, used predominantly for vibration testing and simulations, two main types of electric motors come into play: servo motors and linear motors. A servo motor is a rotary actuator that allows for precise control of angular position, velocity, and acceleration. It consists of a suitable motor coupled to a sensor for position feedback. Servo motors are well-suited to a wide range of automation applications.

On the other hand, linear motors stand out due to their ability to directly convert electrical energy into linear motion without requiring any intermediate conversion from rotational motion. This direct-drive mechanism results in a plethora of advantages, particularly for shake tables which demand high fidelity and precision.

Linear motors are heralded as the most advanced technology in shake table systems due to their exceptional performance characteristics:

1. Unmatched Acceleration and Velocity: With their direct-drive design, linear motors achieve unparalleled acceleration and velocity, surpassing that of servo motors. This capability is crucial for tests necessitating rapid motion or high-frequency vibrations.
2. Minimal Maintenance Demands: The design of linear motors inherently involves fewer moving components compared to servo motors, translating to reduced maintenance needs and an extended operational lifespan.
3. Quieter, Smoother Operation: Linear motors operate with significantly less noise and vibration. This is especially advantageous for tests where external noise or vibration could contaminate results.
4. Supreme Precision and Accuracy: The precision control afforded by linear motors is essential for high-precision testing scenarios, offering superior repeatability and accuracy over servo motors.
5. Enhanced Energy Efficiency: By eliminating the need for gearboxes and other mechanical components, linear motors are not only less complex but also more energy-efficient, reducing energy loss during operation.

Despite these advantages, there are considerations to keep in mind when opting for linear motors, such as initial costs, installation complexity, and the typically lower torque capabilities relative to servo motors. However, when advanced technology and performance are paramount, the investment in linear motors can be justified.

At the forefront of this technological revolution is QuakeLogic, which proudly offers state-of-the-art ironcore shake tables powered by linear motors. These tables represent the zenith of testing precision and reliability. A testament to their superiority, QuakeLogic’s latest installation at CALTECH underscores the confidence that leading research institutions place in linear motor technology for their complex and critical testing needs.

For detailed information on the iron-core shake table equipped with linear motors, please click HERE.

Reach us at sales@quakelogic.net for questions or queries.