The composition and remaining volume of oil in a tank is crucial information when gauging tank levels. FOTRIC 348A advanced thermal cameras can be used to accurately measure levels of oil tanks from a safe distance away, so as to validate results for other measurement methods.
Customer's Challenge
Tank level gauging plays an important role in the oil and gas industry. Facility management teams not only need to know when to refuel the tank but also to identify the location of different interfaces in oil. Because the content of crude oil is not consistent, there are often layers of substances, such as solid, liquid, sludge, foam, and vapor.
The composition and remaining volume of oil in a tank is crucial information for estimating the value and loading capacity needed to transport the remaining oil. While, except for the liquid level meter which might be less trustable due to dust pollution, other traditional gauging methods like strapping and stick dipping can be inaccurate and dangerous.
The Solution
FOTRIC 348A advanced thermal cameras can be used to accurately measure levels of oil tanks from a safe distance away, so as to validate results for other measurement methods. The FOTRIC 348A with 40 mK sensitivity and a 640x480 resolution, can clearly differentiate between solids, liquid, and foam based on small temperature differences caused by their varying heat capacity.
Its laser distance ranger is used to measure the tank level on the camera’s screen, which is very welcomed by site engineers.
The Result
By enabling users to determine the morphology of objects in the tank and make more accurate volume estimations, FOTRIC handheld thermal imagers effectively prevent sludge from getting sucked into pumps, which will likely cause impeller failure.
In addition, a clear estimation of the sludge’s volume can help companies plan ahead and manage their downtime clean-up accordingly.