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• 13406 NE 177th Pl •
Woodinville, WA 98072
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Mass Measurement Gauging for LPG and
Vented ASTs — A common
thread
Whether you are looking to install
highly accurate gauging with new tanks or are adding/upgrading gauging with
existing tanks, Liquid Mass Measurement Gauging from Fueling Technologies should
warrant your serious consideration. The 99.5% documented accuracy is a feature
that in itself provides you management data that you can trust. Remember, the
information you get from our gauging is not affected by temperature, density of
specific gravity.
But consider, too, the savings in efficiency. You can safely operate to a lower re-order point, assisting with your cash flow and saving in transportation expense. You avoid wasting employees' valuable time, eliminating the need to have someone go out and read mechanical (and susceptible to error rates of up to 7%) gauges or take manual stick (or 'sounding') readings.
There is also the benefit of wireless communication between the tank and the FTI Master Control Unit. Simply put, it means you do not need to dig trenches or run conduit and wiring from the tank to the receiving unit. And remember up to 30 tanks on a site can be accommodated by a single receiving unit.
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The challenge:
Something better than +/- 5% Volatility, change of phase issues and thermal expansion make accurate gauging of LPG difficult. That's why gauging product based on weight is the key to obtaining the most accurate information. Weight is not affected by temperature, gravity or pressure. In the case of LPG tanks, the governing regulation most frequently referenced is NFPA 58. That document states the maximum quantity of propane placed in a container is expressed as a percent of the water capacity of the tank. Normal industry standard when filling by volume is around 80%. Keep in mind that any mechanical gauging means is susceptible to a 5 to 8% swing in accuracy (remember tapping on the gas gauge of your car in the old days?). NFPA 58 allows filling to 90% of capacity when using weight of product as the determining factor. As the table at left shows, on a 30,000 gallon tank you've gained close to 4500 gallons of product — without the expense of adding a tank. Imagine the 'found' capacity on a multiple tank site! Remember, too, that FTI's Mass Measurement gauge is accounting for product in the tank's vapor space. You are getting a full accounting of all stored product. Make us prove it. Click here for documentation from one of our satisfied customers! Fueling Technologies fully supports our customers. This includes pre- and post-installation support from trained and certified technicians. And your FTI Mass Measurement gauge, with it's patented technology, is both UL and FCC listed. Some would-be competitors are not. |
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Mass Measurement for vented ASTs The most difficult tank to measure inventory in is the AST. This is because the tank is in the open air (not insulated by the earth), and during daylight hours is exposed to the heat of the sun on one side of the tank. This warms the tank and product in the tank on one side. Warm fuel (like warm air) rises, and cool product sinks - due to thermal expansion and contraction. This constant convection means the product temperature is not homogeneous and the volume changes significantly from the day’s high to the day’s low temperatures. Equating the stored product in your tank to money in the bank, isn't having an accurate accounting of your inventory essential? Especially when knowing to within .5% accuracy means you can comfortably use your inventory data to better utilize scheduling and resources. Aboveground vented storage tanks require a 3" opening on the top of the tank. A 2" opening can be 'belled' up to 3". FTI's standard probes are designed for standard hydrocarbon products. Probes for chemical or other specialty applications are quoted on an 'as needed basis).
The Mass Measurement Gauge
also can be used on 'floating roof' tanks. |
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