OA20094A - Intelligent real-time gauging system for petroleum products. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an intelligent system for real-time gauging of petroleum products stored in above-ground and underground tanks. The invention relates to a device manufactured in accordance with standards, NF EN 1127-1, capable of measuring and processing information relating to the quality and quantity of petroleum products in stocks in overhead, underground and mobile tanks in real time and without contact. with the product to be measured. The device according to the invention consists of a box made up of two parts, an upper part (1) in which is inserted the motherboard (Fig. 3) and the power supply and a lower part (2) in which is inserted the ultrasonic sensor, the temperature sensor. The two parts are connected by a screwable junction. The device according to the invention measures and processes information relating to the quantity and quality of petroleum products in stocks in mobile, overhead and underground tanks and transmitting them remotely using a Machine to Machine radio communication protocol and a protocol. LoRaWAN. To perform the measurement, the device emits a sound pulse. This pulse then travels through the media at the speed of sound. On hitting an obstacle, this impulse is reflected and it either comes back. The measured distance will represent the height of the vacuum in the tank containing the product to be measured. To obtain the height of the liquid, the device, through its motherboard, will make a difference between the total height of the tank and the height of the vacuum. This value will subsequently be integrated into the calculation algorithm integrated into the microcontroller of the motherboard to determine the volume at the same time as the density.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Intelligent real-time petroleum product gauging system

The present invention relates to an electronic device for real-time gauging of petroleum products in stocks in overhead and underground tanks.

The gauging of petroleum products is traditionally carried out using a manual gauge (gauging saber) or a wired gauge. Processes which cause HSE problems, loss of operations, fraud, · human errors, losses on stocks and require a site study, training to carry out installations because of their wired nature. These devices are generally supplied with alternating current and connected through cable connections, thus requiring to break certain constructions for their installation.

The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks. Indeed, it comprises according to a first characteristic, an upper part (Fig. 2) through which can be introduced a motherboard (Fig. 5) which is the central unit of the invention comprising an integrated power supply with an autonomy ranging from up to 10 years. And a lower part (Fig.l) through which an ultrasonic and temperature sensor are introduced.

The device according to the invention provides protection against any total infiltration of dust, and against any immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter deep. It has Electromagnetic Compatibility, is immune to external mechanical disturbances, is Waterproof and resistant to climatic and thermal conditions of temperatures up to 65 ° C for several days of exposure to the heat source.

The accompanying plates and drawings illustrate the invention:

• Figure 1 shows the upper part of the device, into which the ultrasonic sensor and the temperature sensor are inserted.

• Figure 2 shows the lower part of the device containing the motherboard;

• Figure 5 shows the motherboard of the invention;

• Plate IV represents the electronic circuit of the motherboard;

• Figure 3 shows the thread of the device, this is the part that screws onto the manhole flange of the Tank;

• Figure 4 shows the assembled device, the upper and lower part together;

Referring to these drawings, the device comprises a rugged ultrasonic sensor component module. This sensor is in a compact and rugged PVC housing that meets the IP67 water intrusion standard and matches standard 3/4 inch PVC electrical pipe fittings.

The device according to the invention is designed according to the ATEX standard and manufactured in a polycarbonate and / or in stainless steel In accordance with the standards, NF EN 1127-1 and NF EN 62262 (Explosive atmospheres, explosion prevention and protection against explosion The maximum values observed during manufacture will comply with the following values: - Density, g / cm ³ : 0.96 - DIN EN ISO 1183

- Tensile modulus E, MPa; 1100 - DIN EN ISO 527

- Creep strength, MPa,: 23 - DIN EN ISO 527

- Impact resistance on a smooth specimen, kJ / m ² : without breakage DIN EN ISO 179

- Coef 1.8 x 10-4 f. means of thermal expansion, K-l: 1.8 x 10-4 - ISO 11359-2

- Thermal conductivity, W / m * K: 0.38 - DIN EN 12667

- Surface resistivity, Ohm:> 1014 - DIN IEC 60093

- Operating temperature, ° C: -20 to +120

The device according to the invention comprises an integrated power supply of 7v, 9600mAh, 2.8Wh. Each Block on the motherboard operates at a nominal voltage of 3.3 volts up to lOv and a minimum direct current of 0.5mA. Thanks to its DC - DC buck boost optimization circuit, the device will accept a supply voltage of up to 2V. Thus, a battery will be considered discharged when it cannot deliver a voltage of this value.

Battery life = battery capacity in mAh / charging current in mAh

The device according to the invention measures and processes information relating to the quantity and quality of petroleum products as follows: An ultrasonic transducer is triggered for a short period of time, using the trigger pin of the microcontroller, which allows the ultrasonic sensor to emit a sound pulse. This pulse then travels through the media at the speed of sound. On hitting an obstacle, this impulse is reflected and it either comes back. According to the formula: Distance = travel time x wave propagation speed.

According to the invention, the returning pulse is picked up by the same transducer. This transducer on reception of the pulse converts it into a logic signal for the microcontroller assembled on the motherboard (Fig. 5). The time between these trigger and echo events is calculated by the microcontroller present on the motherboard. This time is also called the flight time. The time thus calculated can be used to measure the pitch necessary to determine the corresponding volume, since the speed of sound is known.

The device according to the invention generates for 10 milliseconds a sound signal, of frequency 0.6 GHz and as a function of the medium crossed at a speed V determined by the approximation of the Van der Waals formula relating to the speed of sound in a gas.

According to the approximation, the speed of the waves will be obtained as a function of the temperature according to the formula: V = 331.5 + 0.607 * 1 °

And The height H of the liquid in the corresponding tank: H = d tank - (V * t / 2)

Where dcuve is the diameter of the vat; U is the wave propagation speed; t is the time for a round trip of the wave.

According to the invention, the abacus of the tank containing the product to be measured (according to the ISO 91: 2017 standard) can be inserted into the system of the device and the volume determination will be made by application of the mathematical principle of cubic spline interpolation in function of the level of liquid returned after emission of ultrasonic waves.

The device according to the invention converts the analog values for level and temperature readings, obtained respectively by the ultrasonic transceiver sensor and the temperature sensor, into digital quantities by means of analog digital converters (ADC) integrated in the microprocessor. These digital quantities are then, thanks to the on-board program, typed and formatted in order to be sent to the data processing server via the LoRaWAN low frequency communication module. The data sent contains the liquid level, density, temperature and time data relating to the reading instant and day of level and temperature readings

The device according to the invention incorporates reduced impact of condensation and freezing when used continuously in closed or high humidity environments, millimeter resolution, short to long distance detection, 300mm range information at 5000mm for the nearest detectable target.

The device according to the invention provides virtually noise-free distance readings through the use of high-efficiency acoustic power combined with continuously variable gain, automatic real-time background calibration, signature analysis. real-time waveform and noise rejection algorithms.

The device according to the invention has a high tolerance to acoustic noise. This means that during operation it has the ability to reduce or eliminate false detections caused by external noise sources in order to provide reliable and stable readings.

The device according to can bring the measured volume of the product to a temperature equal to 15 ° G. in fact, petroleum products are influenced by temperature: they contract when cold and expand when heated. It is therefore important to take this into account in the inventories. A volume measured at a temperature of 15 ° C will be greater than if it is measured at 5 ° C. Most petroleum product suppliers deliver their products at a temperature corrected volume of 15 ° C. To bring the volume back to 15 ° C, we measure the temperature of the liquid at tO and the volume of the liquid vO, we correct the measured temperature tO, then we make a correspondence between the temperature tO and the conversion coefficient fl) in the table coefficients. The volume vO is then multiplied by the coefficientfO to obtain the volume at 15 ° C.

: The device according to the invention can measure the density of the product. Indeed, using a pressure probe connected by cable to the motherboard, the device can measure the pressure of the liquid at the bottom of the tank. Once this measurement has been made, the processing unit at the motherboard will apply the formula relating the density to the pressure at the bottom of the tank and the vacuum pressure (gaseous medium). The ASTM table will then be used to reduce the density to 15 ° C.

Claims (5)

1) Intelligent real-time gauging system for petroleum products, characterized in that it comprises a box manufactured in accordance with standards, NF EN 1127-1 (Explosive atmospheres, explosion prevention and explosion protection) and NF EN 62262) presenting an upper orifice through which can be inserted a motherboard which is the central unit of the device allows a series of calculations to be carried out, an integrated power supply with an autonomy of up to ten years And a lower part through which is introduced an ultrasonic and temperature sensor And a lower part through which is introduced an ultrasonic and temperature sensor. 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it is intended to operate in industrial process environments subject to many constraints such as: - Explosive atmosphere: presence of C02 and gas dust capable of creating an explosion - Temperature in the atmosphere open up to 44 ° C in the shade, i.e. a temperature that can reach 47 ° C or even 65 ° C for warmer areas - Winds and torrential rains - Vibrations when passing heavy machinery - Presence of electromagnetic waves and parasitic electrostatic discharges 3) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with on-board technology offering a simple, fast and economical means of increasing the range and obtaining intelligent data in real time. It features a wireless, non-intrusive, self-managed, self-powered system that can be deployed in minutes and easily integrated into existing systems. ; 4) Device according to claim 3 is characterized in that it does not require any wiring, for its commissioning which reduces by more than 50% the time and costs of installation and minimizes the need for site studies, d equipment, engineering and training. 5) Device according to claim 3 is characterized in that it can permanently provide precise and reliable data on the level, the temperature of the product and the vacuum, the volume and the density of the product and transferred them via a communication module wireless in real time and in complete autonomy without human intervention.