Tank Levels Monitored on the Web

MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Division (USA) has been working with OleumTech Corporation (USA) to provide their customers with a solution that allows the customer to monitor tank levels via the Web.
MTS Sensors provides the tank measurements and the OleumTech wireless monitors transmit the data back to the control room, where a Modbus controller with Ethernet output passes the data onto the Web. In the end, the customer is able to open a webpage and pull up the latest measurement at anytime.
“The benefits for the customer from this solution are tremendous. The customer savesmoney on conduit, cable, and has the added convenience of allowing anyone the ability to check tank levels fromanywhere,� said Lee
Aiken, MTS Product Marketing Manager. “MTS and OleumTech are very excited about the success customers are having with this solution and we are working together to create additional solutions.�
MTS Sensors uses its Level Plus® model MG liquid level transmitter to measure the level in storage tanks. The tank level is transmitted via Modbus to the OleumTech LevelMateTM Monitor that sends the measurement to the control room where the OleumTech DataHubTM is located. The output from the DataHub is connected to a Fieldbus controller that places the information on the Internet.
The customer can open the website and poll the unit to find out the last collected measurement. The user can customize the update time of the radios and the web interface.
The intended application for the currentmodel MG transmitter and LevelMate Monitor solution is when the tank has line power froma local source but does not have communication lines back to the control room. MTS has found several locations where the control roomis located hundreds of yards away fromthe tanks and the expense of running conduit the full length has inhibited the use of automatic tank gauging on the tank. However, there is no need for batterypowered gauges and/or radios since power is located throughout the facility.
The solution provided by MTS and OleumTech allows customers to reap the benefits of automatic tank gauging without having to endure the costs of running conduit. Customers choose the model MG transmitters due to its ability to provide 3 in 1 measurement of the product level, interface level and temperature along with offering volume outputs from 100 point strap tables. The model MG has built a reputation of high accuracy, reliability, simple installation, and field replacement. Every gauge is built custom to the application and is available in lengths from 508 mm (20 in.) to 18,288 mm (720 in.). The model MG can operate on either 12 or 24 Vdc power via its 4-wire Modbus connection.