Technology & Services
TS Tanksystem – Solutions Provider for Por table Level Gauging,
Sampling and Temperature Measurements of Liquids
a report by
TS Tanksystem
Manual tank gauging is often the only method
accepted for custody transfer of bulk liquids and is
also used for the calibration of automatic gauges.
Early concerns that portable electronic gauges could
not meet the accuracy standard have now been
overcome, and at least one such model offers the
required level of accuracy.
The importance of accurate tank gauging and
temperature measurement within the petroleum
industry cannot be overemphasised. As crude oil and
petroleum products have relatively high thermal
expansion coefficients, any error in temperature
measurement will result in a significant error in the
standard volume or mass-based measurement of stock
or transfer quantities. In general terms, a 1°C error in
the temperature of most petroleum products will
equate to an error of approximately 0.1% in the
standard volume calculation. The error becomes
more significant as the hydrocarbon density
decreases, so a 1°C error can equate to a volumetric
error of approximately 0.3% for liquefied petroleum
gas. It is therefore important that the greatest care is
taken in the selection and calibration of temperature
measuring equipment and that measurement
procedures follow best oil industry practice.
Traditional methods for gauging and oil-water
interface detection with dip tape and water finding
paste are labour-intensive and difficult to achieve
accurately. Methods taking temperature
measurements using mercury-in-glass thermometers
in cup-cases or tank samples are also labour-intensive
and far from the effective temperature inside the tanks
if layered profile of the content is effective. Research
has shown that they are prone to many sources of
error. Conclusively, the benefits of the use of a
portable electronic gauging unit over the more
traditional dip tape and cup-case thermometer or tank
sampling-based methods greatly improves the
accuracy of the measurements and is also time-saving.
Manual gauging is not usually associated with
advanced technology, but recent developments by
one manufacturer working in this sector have taken
the concept onto a different plane. When they hear
the word ‘manual’ in relation to tank gauging, most
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people would picture a traditional tape and bob
assembly. ‘Automatic’ equipment would suggest
more sophisticated technology linked via remote
control system to a computer. The reality is more
complex, however. State-of-the-art manual
electronic gauges are highly accurate portable
measuring instruments incorporating microprocessor
control and reliable electronic sensors. The latest
examples in the field, such as those recently
introduced by Swiss manufacturer TS Tanksystem,
even use wireless digital signal transmission
technology between the unit and the sensor head.
Moreover, unlike automatic systems, portable
gauging units are designed to be used on many
different tanks and can be calibrated in a laboratory
independent of the tank geometry. In recent years,
there has been growing concern over the release of
volatile organic compound (VOC) vapours with
regard to both air pollution and occupational
exposure. New vapour control systems that require
closed operation to avoid VOC emissions have been
developed, and gauge manufacturers have responded
by introducing gas-tight gauges that allow gauging to
be carried out without releasing any vapours.
Portable electronic tapes such as Tanksystem’s
Hermetic UTI 2000 model are designed to offer fast,
accurate and reliable gauging.
A single penetration of the tank can establish ullage,
oil/water interface level and product temperature.
The accuracy of these measurements is important not
only to ensure proper inventory control and guard
against short delivery of expensive product, but also
in respect of quality assurance standards such as
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Standard 9000. It must therefore be possible to verify
and recalibrate the gauging and, when used during
custody transfer operations, the unit must be
certified, where appropriate, by the relevant
authorities and fulfil standards such as those laid
down by the American Petroleum Institute (API)
and the UK’s Institute of Petroleum (IP).
Reliable and Accurate
Portable electronic gauges are often used to
measure hazardous liquid cargoes, not only on tank 1
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Figure 1: Principle of Installation
ships, but also on tank barges and land-based
storage tanks. They can be exposed to an extremely
harsh environment, and design considerations have
to include a number of safety factors. If the
instrument is to be used in classified areas, it will
have to be intrinsically safe and approved by the
relevant testing authorities. When used to gauge
products that give off vapours, it must be possible
to make a gas-tight connection. When used to
gauge corrosive chemicals, the sensing head and
gaskets need to be designed with this in mind, and
Viton, for example, would not be a suitable gasket
material in many cases. The earliest manual
electronic gauges were designed to operate under
open conditions, and their materials of
construction limited their use to non-corrosive
liquids. Today, though, gas-tight instruments with
gaskets manufactured from chemically resistant
polymers, notably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
or perfluoroelastomer (FFKM), can be employed
with a wider range of products, while avoiding any
vapour release.
Traditional electronic gauges use special tapes with
conductive wires on either side for power and signal
transmission between the sensing head and the unit.
An insulated coating covers the entire tape, which
2 must be capable of surviving immersion in aggressive
chemicals. This arrangement is complex, and
replacement of the tape is a costly affair. Tanksystem
has avoided this problem by using an uncoated
stainless steel tape that is not affected by corrosive
products and offers a higher degree of accuracy than
coated tapes. The sensing head and the instrument
communicate via a wireless digital signal, which is
not affected by physical damage to the tape.
Design and Measurements
The Hermetic UTI 2000 unit is designed to operate
on top of closed petroleum and chemical tanks.
Connected to a vapour control valve fixed and
installed, the unit avoids any gas release during
operation and keeps the user safe at all times. The unit
enables four measurements in one single operation:
• ullage;
• temperature;
• oil-water interface; and
• innage, reference height (electronic).
High Repeatability
Practical ullaging and reference height measurements
over 30m made using the Hermetic UTI 2000 are
within ± 1.5mm. Results over 30m with paste
frequently exceed this figure, particularly if the
measurements are made by different operators. The
use of the portable electronic unit is accurate
independently of the experience of the operator.
New Temperature Standards
Great care is required in the selection and calibration
of temperature-measuring equipment and the
procedures used to determine representative average
temperature data for bulk petroleum quantities.
This has been recognised by the recent publication of
new or revised standards, the international ISO 4268
standard (2000) and the API Manual of Petroleum
Measurement Standards (MPMS), Chapter 7 (2001).
The ISO 4268 standard is also recognised by the UK
Institute of Petroleum.
Research has shown that the traditional methods for
taking temperature measurements with mercury-in-
glass thermometers in cup-cases or tank samples are
prone to many sources of error. In addition, the
relatively low acquisition cost of the traditional
methods is quickly balanced by the higher labour
costs involved with these methods.
ISO 4268 states that the preferred method is to use a
certified portable electronic thermometer (PET), as
research has demonstrated the benefits of greatly
improved accuracy and time-saving. There are,
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however, some points to take into consideration
when choosing a PET.
Electrical Safety
In the petroleum industry, a PET must be certified as
suitable for use in the hazardous areas containing
flammable liquids and vapours where it will be used.
Most PETs used for crude oil and petroleum
products are intrinsically safe, with a valid certificate
from a recognised independent authority such as
BASEEFA, FM, UL, PTB, etc.
In addition, the PET should be electrically grounded
(earthed) via the gauge-hatch or vapour-lock valve
that is used to insert the temperature sensor into the
tank contents.
Range, Accuracy and Resolution
The temperature range of the PET clearly needs to
cover the minimum and maximum expected
operating temperatures, and the accuracy must
comply with the specifications in the standards.
ISO 4268 requires an accuracy of ±0.2°C between
-10°C and +35°C, ± 0.3°C for ranges of -25°C to
-10°C and +35°C to +100°C.
The API MPMS, Chapter 7 requires an accuracy of
±0.1°C between 0°C and +100°C, ± 0.3°C over
+100°C or ±0.2°F between 0°F and +200°F,
± 0.5°F over +200°F.
Both standards ask for 0.1°C/F resolution.
To be able to achieve such tight accuracy
specifications, in particular, meeting the API’s
0.1°C/F requirement, the PET should display a
resolution of 0.01°, because just the rounding up or
down procedure itself, around the closest 0.1°, can
generate errors in reading up to 0.05°.
It must be emphasised that the certified reference
thermometer(s) used for calibrating the PET should
be able to guarantee an accuracy of 0.03°C/0.05°F
or better and have a resolution of 0.01°C/0.02°F or
better over the full range of calibration temperatures.
The HERMetic Onecal PET gives the user the
ability to select the resolution they need, either
0.1°C/F or 0.01°C/F. Its accuracy of
±0.1°C/±0.2°F is better than the ISO specification
and meets API standards for the main operational
range of -30°C/-22°F to +100°C/+212°F. For the
range extremes of -40°C/-40°F to -30°C/-22°F and
+100°C/+212°F to +163°C/+325°F, the Onecal
accuracy of ±0.15°C/±0.3°F is also better than the
API requirements.
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TS Tanksystem
Figure 2: Portable Digital Thermometer
Ambient Temperature Drift
In most cases, a PET will be checked or calibrated at
room temperature ambient conditions, i.e. around
+20°C/+68°F, although they can work in a wide
range of operational ambient temperatures. From
areas such as Alaska to equatorial climates, these
conditions can vary over a range of around
+100°C/+180°F. This difference can result in
another form of drift error.
Due to the new concept named ‘SCS Surroundings
Compensation System®’, the Onecal PET from
Tanksystem incorporates an internal reference that is
constant and does not depend on the ambient
temperature over a wide operational range, i.e.
between -20°C/-4°F and +60°C/+96°F. This
means that the accuracy of the measurements made
with the Onecal PET is unaffected by the ambient
temperature, and this error is avoided.
Recalibration When Exchanging the
PET Cable
All inspectors who are used to working with PETs
know that the main item that is liable to be damaged
under intensive usage is the cable between the sensor
probe and the display unit. There are unfortunately
many potential ways in which a cable may be damaged
when unwinding or winding it into or out of a tank.
A traditional PET needs to be recalibrated each time
the cable is renewed, as the intrinsic resistance of the
cable is incorporated in the temperature
measurement sequence and any change in its value
can affect the accuracy of reading unless the unit is
properly recalibrated.
Due to the new concept named ‘CRC Cable
Resistance Compensation®’, the Onecal PET
measures the actual resistance of the cable every time
the PET is used and compensates for any change to
eliminate this source of error. Changing the cable
does not require a recalibration in a laboratory. 3
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Recalibration when Changing the sensor, a simple ice point check is all that is required
Temperature Probe to adjust the offset of the sensor and achieve
measurement accuracy within the ISO and API-
Most PETs require a new calibration if the specified tolerances. ■
temperature sensor probe is changed. In other words,
the calibration is valid only with a specific probe and a Contact Information
specific electronic circuit. Changing the temperature
probe necessitates checking and recalibrating the PET TS Tanksystem
over its full range, generally at a minimum of five Bulle
points covering the working range. Switzerland
A Odermatt
The Onecal PET from TS Tanksystem SA uses Pt- Sales Manager
1000 resistors that are rigorously selected to stay in a Tel: +4126 9191500
very narrow temperature response band. In addition, Fax: +4126 9191505
the Pt-1000 temperature/resistance curve is e-Mail: info@tanksystem.com
permanently stored in a microprocessor and cannot Web: http://www.tanksystem.com
be modified by the user. After assembling the new

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