The challenge of operating a successful tank farm is four-fold: providing maximum storage space at the lowest costs with the highest safety standards and having the most accurate tank inventory data on hand. In an effort to overcome the shortcomings of existing tank gauging methods – the technology required to perform precise tank inventories – Endress+Hauser developed its Tankvision system.
Tankvision in a nutshell
Tankvision is a dedicated tank inventory system with unique features that is operated from a standard Web browser and does not require proprietary software or licensing. The technology is based on a distributed architecture on a local area network (LAN) allowing access from any PC within the network. Due to its modular structure it can be adjusted to any application: it can be applied on small tank farms with only a couple of tanks and also at large refineries with hundreds of tanks.
Island View Storage chooses Tankvision
The surprising affordability of this high-tech tank gauging solution was one of the deciding factors in Endress+Hauser South Africa’s newest Tankvision convert – Island View Storage. With tank farms in four locations across South Africa, including a 400-tank site in Durban, Island View Storage is no newcomer to the bulk storage industry. The company acts as an intermediary between the buyers and sellers of industrial chemicals, including liquid gasses.
As part of a significant customer supply chain, Island View stores various chemicals intended for export and pumps them directly into ships based upon customer requests. It also handles the import of chemicals, dispatching the cargo by rail as needed.
Island View Storage called in the help of Endress+Hauser when the company embarked on a significant expansion project After reviewing various suppliers, it came to a very simple decision, Island View’s technical manager Mandla Mdlestshe explains: “Endress+Hauser promised that ‘what we give you is going to work’.”
However, to ensure that what Island View Storage received not only worked but also fulfilled its customer’s needs, Endress+Hauser’s area manager KwaZulu-Natal, Ivan de Waal, first clarified expectations. While Island View Storage emphasised measurement precision (ie, the accuracy of a single reading), Endress+Hauser also ensured the ‘repeatability’ of measurement results (ie, consistent accurate readings over time).
“Our main challenge was to ensure a maximum accuracy tolerance of 4 mm – with the huge volumes of product being measured in tanks of this size, a couple of millimetres equal thousands of litres,” explains de Waal, who also acted as project manager.
Once de Waal was satisfied that the client’s needs were understood, the Endress+Hauser team got down to work by connecting a Proservo Servo gauge to Island View Storage’s existing infrastructure to create a demonstration system. The demo clearly illustrated Endress+Hauser suitability and efficiency in this particular set-up, a benefit of particular value to Island View Storage is Tankvisions open software application. Therefore, unlike the system Island View Storage was used to, Tankvision allowed it to add up to 200 tanks on a system without paying additional licensing fees every time it expanded operations.
Suitably impressed with the demonstration, Island View Storage tasked Endress+Hauser with the supply and commissioning of Tankvision to 16 new tanks at its Richard’s Bay site.
Each tank was fitted with two pressure transmitters, a high-level switch, a Prothermo multiple temperature sensing device and a Proservo servo gauge. The Prothermo is connected to the Proservo via a Exi HART bus and in turn the servo gauge is connected via a Modbus loop to the Tankvision tank scanners.
The latter device connects multiple tank gauges via one field-loop, supporting several gauge protocols. Also the tank scanner is equipped with a full set of tank inventory calculations, based on various international standards such as API, ASTM, IP and others.
All the measurements and statistics can be viewed simultaneously from the central control room thanks to Tankvision’s graphical user interfaces. Each screen provides a representation of either a single tank, a group of tanks or an entire tank farm. The displays are fully configurable to meet user specific requirements, however, standard tank objects are provided for ease of configuration with templates for various tank types. Full colour support is provided with unlimited customisation.
The project was completed at the end of April 2010. Since then, Island View Storage has contracted Endress+Hauser to commission an additional 11 tanks during the first quarter of 2011. Employees received on-site training to ensure that they can fully operate the system and, towards the end of the guarantee period, Endress+Hauser will also provide technical staff with the necessary training to maintain the equipment.
Thus far, this is the second biggest Tankvision project Endress+Hauser South Africa has undertaken in Africa. The success of the project underlines Tankvision’s value to the petrochemical industry and Endress+Hauser SA’s competence in installing this state-of-the-art inventory system.
The standardised solution with universal appeal
Since its introduction scarcely three years ago, approximately 1000 Tankvision workstations systems have been installed worldwide, keeping a watchful eye on more than 5000 tanks.
Tankvision introduces the following key benefits to tank gauging, helping to ensure the cost-effective running of any tank farm, irrespective or size:
* The system is modular, resulting in a scalable solution adaptable to client needs.
* It provides integrated and accurate monitoring of multiple parameters from single tanks to groups of tanks, from custody transfer to inventory control.
* Perfect for both small tank farms and large refineries with hundreds of tanks that require host interfaces.
* There is no software to install and no limitation to certain PCs on a network – data can be accessed from any computer anywhere in the world.
* Tankvision is compatible with various communication protocols, including DCS/PLC and scada systems.
* It helps prevent human error while significantly reducing labour costs.
* It guards against losses resulting from either pilfering or leakages.
* The accuracy and real-time nature of the data enhance the overall safety of tank farms.
Endress+Hauser’s Tankvision makes tank walls truly transparent without increased cost per access point, allowing the cost-effective accurate inventory control that is imperative for successful tank farming.
For more information contact Ivan de Waal, Endress+Hauser, +27 (0)11 262 8000, [email protected], www.za.endress.com
| Tel: | +27 11 262 8000 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.endress.com |
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