Laser "Guards" the Station: Guoke Hanhai Equips Hefei Chaohu LNG Refueling Station with "Safety Eyes"

Laser "Guards" the Station – Guoke Hanhai Laser Technology has built a "spark-free, high-precision" system centered on passive laser monitoring technology for Hefei Chaohu LNG Refueling Station.

At the bustling Sinopec Hefei Chaohu LNG Refueling Station, every LNG refueling operation is crucial to the efficiency and safety of energy supply. As a key node for clean energy transportation, the station's gas storage tanks and gas transmission pipelines face potential risks of methane leakage at all times. Centered on passive laser monitoring technology, Guoke Hanhai Laser Technology has tailored a "spark-free, high-precision" safety protection system for this refueling station, ensuring every refueling process proceeds safely under technological guardianship.

01. Project Background: Why Laser Upgrade?

With the surge in the number of LNG refueling stations, safety monitoring standards are constantly improving. GB/T50493-2019 clearly requires precise monitoring of methane leakage, while traditional active detectors are gradually "inadequate" – they not only have high maintenance costs and delayed responses but may also become safety hazards due to sparks and other risks.

As an important regional energy supply point, Sinopec Hefei Chaohu LNG Refueling Station prioritizes methane leakage monitoring in key areas such as gas storage tanks, transmission pipelines, and refueling machines for safety management. Traditional equipment is susceptible to interference in complex electromagnetic environments, with frequent false alarms burdening staff. Sensors requiring regular calibration further increase maintenance costs and the risk of missed detections. Therefore, Guoke Hanhai's wall-mounted passive laser monitoring system became the preferred upgrade solution.

02. Technical Solution: How to Achieve All-Round Protection?

Tailored to the station's layout, Guoke Hanhai deployed a wall-mounted passive laser monitoring system equipped with 6 optical sensing terminals, covering all risk points like "invisible sentinels":

Gas storage tank area: 1 optical sensing terminal installed at the front, rear, and outer side of each storage tank, closely monitoring leakage-prone parts such as valves and interfaces of cryogenic storage tanks;

Trench and pipelines: 2 terminals installed in underground trenches to monitor potential leakage of buried pipelines and prevent gas accumulation in confined spaces;

Above refueling machines: 1 terminal real-time monitors gas concentration during refueling operations to ensure safe vehicle refueling.

These optical sensing terminals require no power supply and transmit laser signals via optical fibers, essentially eliminating the risk of explosions caused by electric sparks – this is the core advantage of "passive intrinsic safety." The main unit is wall-mounted on the operation platform of the business hall, displaying real-time monitoring data from each terminal. Once ppm-level micro-leakage is detected, an alarm is triggered within 10 seconds.

03. Technical Highlights: Why Laser is the Ideal Choice?

The system's "outstanding features" lie in every technical detail:

Exceptional precision: Captures methane concentration changes at the ppm level, ensuring even the smallest leaks cannot escape its "sight";

Zero interference, no false alarms: Stable laser wavelength, unaffected by humidity, dust, or electromagnetic signals, maintaining "clarity" in the complex environment of the refueling station;

Maintenance-free, long service life: High stability of optical components, no calibration required after installation and commissioning, with a service life of over 10 years, significantly reducing operation and maintenance costs;

Easy installation: Optical sensing terminals adopt bracket-mounted installation with no hot work required. Optical fibers laid for buried pipelines avoid electromagnetic interference and do not affect the normal operation of the refueling station.

During project acceptance, the system's response speed to simulated leaks and concentration detection accuracy exceeded expectations, fully meeting Sinopec's safety management standards.

04. Value Upgrade: From Passive Response to Active Prevention

This passive laser monitoring system has brought comprehensive safety upgrades to Chaohu Refueling Station:

Leap in safety level: Passive design eliminates electrical hazards from the source, making the flammable and explosive environment safer;

Improved management efficiency: Real-time data centralized display and millisecond-level alarms for abnormalities reduce the need for frequent patrols, allowing staff to focus more on services;

Significant cost advantages: Maintenance-free and long-life characteristics reduce long-term operating costs by over 60%;

Compliance guarantee: Fully meets GB/T50493-2019 standards, providing solid support for the station's safety rating.

05. Future Outlook: Equip Every Refueling Station with Laser Protection

The project practice at Sinopec Hefei Chaohu LNG Refueling Station has provided a replicable "laser monitoring model" for the industry. Guoke Hanhai's passive laser technology is not only applicable to refueling stations but also can be promoted to urban gas pipelines, chemical parks, and other scenarios.

In the future, we will continue to deepen cooperation with enterprises such as Sinopec, meeting the monitoring needs of different scenarios through customized solutions. We aim to make "passive, precise, maintenance-free" laser monitoring technology a safety standard for more energy nodes.

Because we believe that the ultimate goal of technology is "invisible guardianship" – ensuring every energy supply is safe and every station is protected. This is the "safety commitment" that Guoke Hanhai writes with laser technology.