TANK GAUGING
Mohammed Siraj
Inspection Engineer ‖ Risk Based Inspection ‖ Asset Integrity ‖ CSWIP 3.1 ‖ API570 ‖ API653 ‖ API 510 ‖ ISO 9001 Lead Auditor ‖RT UT MT PT ‖
WHAT IS TANK GAUGING?
Tank gauging is the measurement of liquids in large storage tanks with the purpose of quantifying the volume and mass of the product in the tanks.
Storage tanks can contain large volumes of liquid product representing a significant value. The accuracy performance of a tank gauging system is of high importance when assessing the tank content at any given time
The concept of tank gauging involves much more than just the precision instruments on the tank. Tank gauging requires reliable data communication over large field bus networks, often both wired and wireless. The communication solutions often need an arrangement for redundancy in the field buses, the data concentrators, the network components, and the network servers. Tank gauging systems must also be able to calculate product volumes and mass according to the industry standards. The tank gauging software/information system must perform many different functions spanning from operator interface, batch handling, reporting, alarm functions, connectivity to host systems and much more. It is a system engineering science across many areas of technology.
The information from a tank gauging system is used for many different purposes. The most common are:
1.Oil movement and operations
2. Inventory control
3 Custody transfer
4. Loss control and mass balance
5. Volume reconciliation
6. Overfill prevention
In addition to manual hand gauging using a tape measure, various automatic tank gauges have developed over time. Most mechanical devices are in contact with the liquid. Modern electronic tank gauges are non-contacting and have no moving parts.
1. HAND GAUGING
2. FLOAT GAUGES
3. SERVO GAUGES
4. RADAR GAUGES
Engineer’s Guide to Tank Gauging, 2017 Edition: Emerson