Technology evening hosted by Endress and Hauser
All the Secunda SAIMC presentations will earn CPD points for ECSA registered persons and any enquiries can be directed to the branch chairman Mr Johan Maritz at johanmaritz260@gmail.com or 082 856 3865.
SECUNDA – SAIMC Secunda branch’s March technology evening was hosted by Endress and Hauser.
Mr Alwin Lutchman presented on automatic tank gauging.
Tank gauging is the generic name for the static quantity assessment of liquid products in bulk storage tanks.
Whatever method is used, a high degree of reliability and accuracy is of paramount importance when the data is used for inventory control or custody transfer purposes.
Two methods for accurate tank gauging as presented by Alwin, are servo gauges and radio detection and ranging (Radar) gauging.
Servo gauges:
Servo tank gauges operate 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.
The weight of the displacer is precisely balanced against a magnetic coupling and the wire drum.
When the displacer is lowered and touches the liquid, the weight of the displacer is reduced because of the buoyant force of the liquid.
As a result, the torque in the magnetic coupling is changed and this change is measured.
Radar gauging:
Radar gauging works on the principle of time of flight, meaning the time taken to send and receive a signal divided by two.
The time measured will represent a distance and that distance will be translated into the level of the tank.
If you have an expensive product, it is advisable to install an expensive gauging system that is very reliable and accurate, because this will give you a higher return on investment.
According to the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) R85 and the American Petroleum Institute (API), the accuracy of the instrument factory calibration should be about 1mm and the accuracy for the instrument after installation should be about 3mm, which give a total allowable fault tolerance of about 4mm when in service.
When it comes to tank gauging for product inventory, investing in an expensive level instrument that is designed according to OIML R85 and API will give you a very accurate measurement of inventory and inevitably ensure a higher return on investment.
All instrumentation and control-related mechanicians, technicians and/or engineers are welcome to attend the monthly technology events.
The planned dates for the rest of the year are: 6 April, 11 May, 1 June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September, 12 October and 2 November.
All the Secunda SAIMC presentations will earn CPD points for ECSA registered persons and any enquiries can be directed to the branch chairman, Mr Johan Maritz, at johanmaritz260@gmail.com or 082 856 3865.
