Electricity + Control October 2018

PRESSURE + LEVEL MEASUREMENT + INSTRUMENTATION

A wireless solution for tank level monitoring Information provided by RET Automation Controls

Storage tanks can be found in a wide variety of locations and environments, from indoor or outdoor installations to above or below ground.

Take Note!

1. An ultrasonic sensor is a great choice for applica- tions where a non-con- tact solution is needed. 2. The sensors are immune to target colour, reflectiv- ity, or transparency and are unaffected by light conditions. 3. Ultrasonic sensors ca- pable of a proportional analogue output enable greater measurement accuracy. 1

P roperly monitoring and managing levels in- side these tanks can help improve efficien- cy and increase productivity and profitabili- ty. This article aims to highlight the advantages of wireless tank level monitoring. Choosing a tank level monitoring solution There are a number of methods and tools that can be used to measure tank level. From visual inspections to floats to ultrasonic sensors, there are many technologies to choose from that vary in terms of accuracy, reliability, and costs. Visual inspections and measuring sticks may be relatively inexpensive, but they are labour-in- tensive and prone to error because they rely on manual reporting methods. More accurate tools, like floats and submersible pressure transducers, are not dependent on human labour to measure levels, which can simplify processes and minimise the risk of error. However, in some applications, a non-contact solution is preferable in order to avoid contaminating the contents of the tank. In addi- tion, prolonged contact with tank contents, for ex- ample in the case of viscous or caustic liquids, can degrade the performance and accuracy of these measurement tools. An ultrasonic sensor is a great choice for appli- cations where a non-contact solution is needed. These sensors use sound waves to detect objects, so they do not need to come into contact with the materials they are measuring. They are immune to target colour, reflectivity, or transparency and are unaffected by light conditions. Ultrasonic sensors capable of a proportional analogue output enable

greater measurement accuracy and are a pre- ferred choice for these applications.

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Advantages of a wireless network Wireless tank level monitoring can be a cost-ef- fective solution and provide the real-time data and versatility to help businesses keep pace with change in the industry. Implementing a tank mon- itoring system that utilises ultrasonic sensors in a wireless network has many advantages. Wireless systems can be setup quickly, cost-effectively, and without large commitments of human labour or changes to infrastructure. They are capable of monitoring many containers and can adapt to meet changing needs and scale to accommodate new containers. The following are three of the biggest advantages of wireless tank monitoring systems. Save time and money on installation Compared to wired technologies, connecting lev- el measurement tools in a wireless network is far more cost-effective. The infrastructure changes required in a wireless system are minimal, and a wireless system is far easier to implement com- pared to a wired system. In a basic setup, a wireless node is connected to a measuring device, like a wireless ultrasonic sensor, and installed on the container. Each node in the network is bound to a wireless gateway or controller with an integrated gateway. Next, a site survey is conducted to verify the connection be- tween the deployed nodes and the gateway. The system is then configured, and inspection parameters and alarm thresholds are set. A sys-

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36 Electricity + Control

OCTOBER 2018