FEATURE FLOW, LEVEL & CONTROL
ON THE ROAD to fuel recovery
option. Energy would therefore have to be supplied via battery banks connected to arrays of solar panels. This would ensure that uninterrupted operation was maintained without the risk of system downtime. By amassing the data from each
solar-powered measurement unit, the system would be able cover the facilities across the country, enabling continuous monitoring of its fuel stock in real time. The level sensor apparatus inside the storage tank at every site would be connected by a secure Internet feed to a cloud-based Web portal. However, the sensor solution had to be reliable and repeatable, and it would need to be ATEX compliant as it would be situated in hazardous, potentially explosive environments.
I
n the UK alone, it is estimated that motorists incorrectly fueling their vehicles results in the generation of approximately 7.5 million litres of contaminated fuel each year. This fuel, along with that claimed back from other places, can be processed and then resold. With its 20 sites nationwide, Refuels,
which is involved in activities concerning the collection and repurposing of fuel, deals with several millions litres of fuel every year. This comes from places such as workshops, garages, car dealerships, end-of-life vehicle centres and road side assistance units, as well as mobile fuel evacuation operators. Looking to upgrade its operational
support capabilities, the company worked with software solutions provider InfoSoft NI to set about deploying a fully automated asset management system that would enable greater visibility of the company’s fuel inventory. There would be a steady stream of detailed information on the volume of fuel being stored at each site, and the quantities being offloaded at a particular time and by whom. All users would need to be authenticated, via a transponder tag, before being able to deposit fuel into one of the company’s tanks. The system would also flag if any of the tanks were reaching full capacity. As the storage tanks at Refuels’ decanting depots are generally in remote locations, connection to the power grid would not, in many cases, be a viable
18 OCTOBER 2015 | INSTRUMENTATION
LIQUID LEVEL MEASUREMENT To meet the demands, the company selected the Level Plus Model MG liquid level transmitter from MTS Sensors. This high precision, high accuracy, instrument is optimized for bulk liquid storage implementations and is simple to incorporate into storage vessels of all shapes and sizes. The transmitter also has the benefit of being able to provide volume and temperature measurement too. Its accuracy means inventory and billing records are precise so that each disposal is only charged for the precise volume of reclaimed fuel. The system is kept to a minimal structure with the ability of the MG to output gross and net volume directly from the level transmitter. Additional features include a Modbus RTU interface over RS485 that is capable of integrating with most control systems; ±1mm inherent accuracy for level measurement; and ±0.1˚C temperature accuracy. It is also available with different hazardous area approvals including ATEX, FM, CSA, KC, INMETRO, CCoE and IECEx. Furthermore, it features 3-in-1 measurement of the product level, interface and temperature
An asset management solution featuring real time liquid level
transmitters is enabling a UK based
mixed fuel recovery firm to gauge the status of its fuel resources nationwide. Lee Aitken, MTS Sensors, explains
measurement from a single process opening. This streamlined approach means multiple items of instrumentation are no longer needed. In addition, its built-in volume calculation function means the quantity of liquid present can be ascertained rapidly without the need for complex algorithms. In this application it was possible to ascertain the contents of 15,000 litre tanks to within a margin of two litres.
Left: The Level Plus Model MG liquid level transmitter in an above ground storage tank
GAUGING FUEL RESOURCES MTS Sensors’ proprietary Temposonics technology enables the high levels of performance. This is an advanced form of magnetrostrictive technology that provides a high precision measurement solution in challenging environments. Temposonics based sensing devices enable position to be accurately determined through the momentary interaction between two magnetic fields. One of these fields is generated by a movable permanent magnet housed in a float that passes along the outside of the level transmitter, the other is generated by a current pulse being applied along a ferromagnetic waveguide that runs parallel to the direction in which the permanent magnet travels. When these two magnetic fields interact with one another a sonic torsion pulse is created. This passes through the waveguide and is detected by the sensing element. By precise measurement of the time period between the current pulse being applied
and the torsion
pulse being received, it is possible to derive
Temposonics
magnetostrictive sensing technology has been used in the device
an exact value of the distance to the movable magnet. As the output from sensors employing this technology corresponds to an absolute position rather than a relative value, it is possible for recalibration work to be avoided. Following the introduction of
the solution, Refuels is able to meticulously gauge the ongoing status of its fuel resources.
MTS Sensors
www.mtssensors.com
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