Wireless Functionality for Tank Gauging Systems

A hefty 70% reduction of installation cost for high precision Rosemount tank gauging is now made possible through the launch of Smart Wireless field communication.
The Rosemount TankRadar Rex and Pro tank gauging system from Emerson (Sweden) now includes Emerson Smart Wireless functionality. High precision tank gauging with better inventory and loss control can be made available anywhere on the plant at a much smaller cost than before.

Many tank storage facilities that would benefit from modern, non-contact gauging have obsolete or non-existing signal wiring from the tank storage area. Retrofit of the gauging system in such plants is normally expensive and time consuming as the distance between storage tanks and the control room can be more than one kilometer requiring extensive trenching and cabling.
As a result of budget restrictions, some plants therefore continue to experience maintenance problems by keeping low performing mechanical tank gauges. Now, with innovative Emerson Smart Wireless technology, installation of a new radar based Rex and Pro systems can be done without any new long distance signal wiring. This will radically reduce material and labor cost as well as engineering and project execution time.

“The first installations of wireless tank gauging are already done and operate successfully on three sites.” says Technical Product Manager Mikael Inglund. “All those tanks had power cabling available but no proper signal wiring so the customers saw really great cost saving by not having to do any new cabling work.” By connecting the Smart Wireless THUM adapter to the radar gauge on the tank top complete tank inventory data can be sent to the control room via wireless HART communication.
The self organizing mesh network ensures uninterrupted data communication also in an environment with large mechanical obstacles such as storage tanks. Every THUM adapter serves as a network connector and backup so there is no single point of failure. All data transfer is protected by 128-bit encryption for best-in-class-security.

Data are received by the Smart Wireless Gateway in the control room area and fed into the inventory management software package or DCS system. In addition to level data, all relevant data from multi point temperature transmitters, pressure sensors and water bottom level sensors are transmitted.

Wireless tank gauging also means that precise inventory data for remotely located tanks that was previously out of reach can be made available. For those plants already using Emerson’s Smart Wireless, installation of the first gauging units will be even more easy as they can use mesh nodes from other Emerson equipment.