TANK GAUGING

Enraf Gauge
Ultrasonic Gauging
Inner Gauging
Outer Gauging
Tank Gauging Readings
Tank Gauging Accuracy

© Cegelec 2007
 Lesson Objectives

At the end of this Lesson You will be Able to:

 Describe the Enraf gauging system

 Describe an ultrasonic gauging system
 Describe an inner gauging operation
 Describe an outer gauging operation
 Describe the form of the readings from tank gauging
 Describe the issue of tank gauging accuracy

© Cegelec 2007
 Defining Tank Gauging

Tank gauging is the generic

name for static quantity
assessment of liquids (product)
in bulk storage tanks.

Tank gauging is essential for the

assessment of tank contents, tank
inventory control and tank farm
management. Level uncertainties of
only 1 mm in a 10 meter tall, 50.000 m3
tank, already equals 5 m3, clearly
indicating that accurate measurement
is the prime requisite for good
inventory management, however it is
still only one of the many aspects
involved in tank gauging.

© Cegelec 2007
 Manual Tank Gauging
Manual tank gauging is
still widely applied as the
normal technique for
level measurement in
non-pressurized and
vapour tight tanks. It is
highly accurate provided
the correct procedures
are carefully observed.

Closed gauging is the process of taking measurements within a tank using

closed gauging devices under closed system conditions. A closed system
exists when the operations do not permit the direct exposure and/or release
of any tank contents to atmosphere. Restricted gauging is the process of
taking measurements within a tank using a restricted gauging device that is
operated via a vapour lock valve. Restricted equipment is designed to
substantially reduce or minimize the vapour losses that would occur during
open gauging.

© Cegelec 2007
 Portable Electronic Gauging Devices (PEGD)
Portable electronic gauging devices are
multi-functional in that they may measure
other functions such as the level of any
oil/water interface, temperature, in
addition to measuring ullage.

Portable liquid level gauge designed to

be operated under open conditions on
petroleum and chemical tanks where
open gauging is permitted. The sensor is
calibrated once at the factory and does
not require subsequent calibration. The
temperature probe is a RTD element.

© Cegelec 2007
 Restricted Gauging

This device is a portable liquid

level gauge designed for
restricted gauging of petroleum
products.
The gauge has to be connected
to a vapour control valve fixed
on the tank.
© Cegelec 2007
 Ultrasonic Tank Gauging
It has built-in linearization software to calculate the level versus shape and
provide a direct output of volume, which makes them very suitable for:

• Level measurement during processing and storage of liquids

• Sumps and wastewater tanks
• Level indication in Silo’s and Hoppers
• Over conveyors for low cost non contact flow measurement and detection

A top-of-tank mounted transducer

directs waves downward in bursts
onto the surface of the material whose
level is to be measured. Echoes of
these waves return to the transducer,
which performs calculations to
convert the distance of wave travel
into a measure of level in the tank.

© Cegelec 2007
 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

© Cegelec 2007
 Servo Tank Gauging

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

Servo tank gauging system is based 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
© Cegelec 2007
 Radar Tank Gauging
Radar Tank Gauges are a "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 are emitted by an antenna,
reflected off the product surface and
received again by the radar system

The Radar Tank Gauges (RTG’s)

are used for continuous, non-
contact level measurement of bulk
liquids. The measurement is not
affected by changing media,
temperature changes, gas blankets
or vapors.

© Cegelec 2007
Radar Tank Gauging System Overview

© Cegelec 2007
 Lesson Objectives

You should now be Able to:

 Describe the Enraf gauging system

 Describe an ultrasonic gauging system
 Describe an inner gauging operation
 Describe an outer gauging operation
 Describe the form of the readings from tank gauging
 Describe the issue of tank gauging accuracy

© Cegelec 2007