Classification: General Business Use

Tank Gauging
Systems

Overview of Tank Gauging Technologies

By: Mohamed Yehia
Classification: General Business Use

Tank Gauging Transmitters

Overview
• A range of analog and digital tank gauge transmitters are
available that mount directly to mechanical tank gauges. Level
measurement data is encoded by the transmitter and output via
industry standard communications to the control room.
• Some transmitters also offer spot temperature measurement
integration that can be used for inventory control applications.
When a tank gauge transmitter is used, communications and
power are required at the gauge head. Varec transmitters do not
require an adaptor flange. When connecting third party
equipment, a specific adaptor flange, depending on the
transmitter, is often required.
• Simplify the process of negator motor replacement and improve
the performance of your mechanical tank gauge with a
removable Negator Cassette with the negator motor enclosed.
Classification: General Business Use

• In a volume-based system, level is measured.

There are two types of
• In a mass-based system, the measurement of the hydrostatic pressure
measurement methods of the liquid column is used.
are used for tank • The user’s choice should, therefore, be based on how product
gauging: inventory is calculated and accounted via volume or weight.
• Both methods provide a direct measurement of one factor in the
Volume-based inventory equation, level or pressure. However, bulk storage tanks
tend to have large diameters, store products with varying densities
or that can stratify, and require consideration for high tank levels and
overfill protection. A small change in level can make a big difference in
Mass-based. accountable volumes (level x diameter), while stratification can lead
to level changes that are undetectable by mass-based systems.
Vendors, therefore, recommends level (volume) based measurement
systems.
Classification: General Business Use

Float & Tape Tank Gauging

• Changes in the liquid level inside the tank raise or lower a

large stainless-steel float. The float is attached to a
powerful negator spring via a perforated tape. The
negator spring provides constant tension, which balances
the float on the liquid level. The perforated tape engages
pins on a sprocket wheel that, in turn, drives the counter
assembly.
• When a gauge board is used to display level in a float &
tape system, the negator spring is replaced by a counter-
weight system. The liquid level in feet and inches or
meters and decimeters is displayed on the gauge counter
or indicated on a gauge board. This simple design and
operation allows the gauge to perform with negligible
maintenance throughout its working life
Classification: General Business Use

Hydrostatic Tank Gauging

• Hydrostatic tank gauging utilizes up to three pressure
sensors and one or more temperature elements. The
hydrostatic pressure (liquid head) is measured; as the
height increases the pressure increases as well. If a single
pressure sensor is used, a manual density measurement is
required for an inventory calculation. A second pressure
sensor is used to enable automatic density calculations
• A third pressure sensor is generally used to measure vapor
pressure and increase the overall accuracy of the system.
Combined with the tank strapping table, this technique
provides an excellent method to measure mass, but liquid
level, volume and density are only indirectly inferred. A
0.02% full scale accuracy, which is dependent on the
pressure sensors installed, is normally desired to provide
reasonable inventory management
Classification: General Business Use

Radar Tank Gauging

• Radar tank gauges are “downward-looking” measuring
system installed on the tank roof. Operating on the time-
of-flight method, they measure the distance from the
reference point (process connection) to the product
surface. Radar impulses (FMCW principle) are emitted by
an antenna, reflected off the product surface and
received again by the radar system. The distance to the
product surface is proportional to the travel time of the
impulse
• Due to the nature of the microwave, radar tank gauges
need to be equipped with functions to suppress
interference echoes (e.g. from edges and weld seams) in
the tank so they are not interpreted as level
measurement. Radar technology is suitable for measuring
a wide range of petroleum products.
Classification: General Business Use

Servo Tank Gauging

• Servo tank gauges operate on the principle of displacement
measurement. A small displacer on a measuring wire is
unwound from a drum and accurately positioned in the
liquid medium using a servo motor. The weight of the
displacer is precisely balanced against a magnetic coupling
and the wire drum. When the displacer is lowered and
touches the liquid, the weight of the displacer is reduced
because of the buoyant force of the liquid.
• As a result, the torque in the magnetic coupling is changed
and this change is measured by 5 sets of Hall sensors. The
signal, an indication of the position of the displacer, is sent
to the motor control circuit. As the liquid level rises and falls,
the position of the displacer is automatically adjusted by the
drive motor. This system provides an outstanding accuracy of
+/- 0.7 mm. Servo gauges are ideally suited for light and
middle distillates of petroleum.
Classification: General Business Use

Hybrid Tank Gauging

• Hybrid tank gauging combines an accurate level gauge,

temperature sensor(s) and pressure transmitter(s). By
utilizing the best of both level-based and mass-based
systems, hybrid tank gauging obtains level, temperature
compensated volumes, mass and density measurements.
Classification: General Business Use

Thank You for your Attention

Happy to hear from you

Mohamed Yehia