Oil tank level sensor is very important in the petroleum industry. Oil storage tanks are important for oil refineries to store crude oil and refined oil. The level of the storage tank is one of the important parameters of the oil gathering and transportation process.

The Oil tank level sensor can be based on various measurement technologies. For example, the continuous emergence of high technology such as ultrasonic and radar level sensors. According to the characteristics of the storage tank medium, the measurement of the storage tank can be divided into five types: light oil and crude oil, heavy oil, asphalt, liquefied gas, and corrosive medium. The automatic level measurement of oil tanks has entered a new stage of multi-function and high precision. The non-contact radar level meter can solve the problems of large errors and unsafe levels in liquid level measurement.

More Radar Level Sensors

Features of SIRD-803 Radar Oil Tank Level Sensor

  • No blind zone, high precision.
  • Two-wire technology. It is an excellent substitute for differential pressure meters, magnetostrictive, radio frequency admittance, and magnetic flap meters.
  • Not affected by pressure changes, temperature changes, inert gas, vacuum, smoke, steam, etc.
  • Easy to install, durable and maintenance-free.
  • HART or PROFIBUS-PA communication protocol and fund field bus protocol. It is easy to calibrate, and it can easily realize on-site calibration operation through digital LCD display. Simple configuration setting and programming can be realized through software GDPF.
  • The measurement is sensitive and the refresh speed is fast.
  • Suitable for high temperature working conditions, up to 250°C process temperature, up to 300°C when using high temperature extension antenna.

Specifications of SIRD-803 Radar Oil Tank Level Sensor

Applicable medium:Liquids, especially pressure and volatile liquids
Application:Crude oil and light oil liquid level measurement;
Aluminum hydroxide liquid level measurement;
Raw coal and limestone position measurement
Explosion-proof certification:Exia IIC T6 Ga/ Exd IIC T6 Gb
Measuring range:35m
Antenna:Horn antenna
Frequency:6 GHz
Process temperature:-40～130℃(standard type)/-40～250℃(high temperature type)
Measurement accuracy:±10mm
Process pressure:(-0.1～4)MPa
Signal output:(4～20)mA/HART
On-site display:Four-digit LCD programmable
Power supply:Two-wire system (DC24V) Four-wire system (DC24V/AC220V)
Repeatability:± 1mm
Housing:Single cavity/Aluminum Double cavity/
Plastic/Stainless steel Single cavity
Process connection:Flange (optional) / thread

If you need to measure high temperature and high pressure (-0.1MPa-32MPa) oil storage tanks, then learn about New Choice for Heating Oil Tank Level Sensor.

Choose Your Right Level Sensor

There are many liquid-level measurement techniques currently used in storage tanks. According to the measurement method, it can be divided into contact type and non-contact type.

Contact measurement methods mainly include manual detection rulers. Float-type steel belt level sensor. Servo type level sensor. Static pressure type level sensor. Magnetostrictive level sensor. Radiofrequency admittance level sensor.

Non-contact measurement methods mainly include an ultrasonic level sensor, radar level sensors, etc.

At present, the commonly used measurement methods on the market that can meet the requirements of commercial level sensors are: magnetostrictive level sensors, servo-type level sensors, radar level sensors, static pressure level sensors, etc.

The hydrostatic liquid level measurement system (HTG) is too complicated and requires a lot of maintenance and other shortcomings. The usage is getting less and less.

As a high-precision liquid level measurement method, radar level sensors are more and more recognized and accepted by customers because of their large range, convenient installation, and low maintenance.

Moreover, in recent years, the price of radar level sensors has decreased year by year. Many ordinary users have also begun to use radar level sensors as a liquid level measurement solution for storage tanks.

Read more about 7 Level Senors for Tank Level Measurement

How to choose a suitable level sensor for different use environments?

  1. On-site liquid level measurement of storage tanks. Suitable to use magnetic float level sensor and float level sensor. Direct-reading color glass plate level sensor can also be used;
  2. The liquid level measurement of crude oil, light oil, heavy oil, and chemical raw materials (non-corrosive) storage tanks is suitable for the use of radar level sensors (high frequency radar level sensors, guided wave radar level sensors);
  3. Liquid level measurement of inner floating roof tank, pressurized tank, outer floating roof tank, storage tank with agitator or swirling flow. Radar level sensor with still-pipe installation method should be selected;
  4. Measurement of the liquid level of the dome tank. Optional guided wave radar liquid level sensor. High-frequency radar liquid level sensor can be used for liquid level measurement of floating roof tank. Of course, if the floating roof adopts in-pipe measurement, guided wave radar level gauge or intelligent radar level sensor can also be used;
  5. Measurement of liquid quality, density, volume and liquid level of pressure tanks, vaulted tanks, atmospheric tanks, and floating roof tanks. Can use static pressure tank liquid level sensor. But do not use high viscosity liquid level measurement.
  6. The liquid level measurement of crude oil, refined oil, asphalt, ethylene, propylene, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and other mediums in large vaulted tanks and spherical tanks. In order to use guided wave radar liquid level sensor.

Extended reading: Radar Level Meter for Corrosive Liquids

The application of radar Oil Tank Level Sensor in the petrochemical industry

According to the characteristics of the storage tank medium, the measurement of the storage tank can be divided into five types: light oil and crude oil, heavy oil, asphalt, liquefied gas, and corrosive medium. The following will briefly introduce the application of radar-level sensors in these media.

Typical light oil media are gasoline, naphtha, petroleum, etc. Generally, a certain amount of volatile gas is generated and the dielectric constant is low. The low-frequency radar liquid level sensor measures directly, and the signal may be too weak to cause a loss of wave. It is generally required to install still pipe.

For example, a low-frequency radar level gauge can meet the level measurement of light oil. The use of high-frequency radar level sensors does not require any auxiliary measures and can measure the level of light oil.

Due to its characteristics, high-frequency radar is generally not recommended for stilling wave tubes. For some taller storage tanks, the cost of making still pipes and installation costs are higher. In addition, many longer still-pipes may cause certain deformation under the change of the environment, which may affect the measurement effect and accuracy of the radar level gauge.

Therefore, the overall investment cost of choosing high-frequency light oil storage tanks for measuring large ranges will be more economical and applicable than low-frequency radar solutions.

Read more about: Ultrasonic Tank Level Sensor-External Mounted

The typical heavy oil medium is diesel oil and so on. The dielectric constant is generally >3. There are certain volatile gases. Can use low-frequency radar sensor to measure directly.

Extended reading: Oil Level Measurement Solutions for the Oil & Gas Industry

The dielectric constant of pitch (liquid) is also relatively low. Generally around 3 (according to temperature). And liquid asphalt generally needs to be maintained at high temperatures. A certain amount of water vapor is usually accompanied by high temperatures. The characteristics of asphalt are relatively sticky, and it is easy to produce a certain phenomenon of hanging materials.
In high-temperature conditions, it is generally necessary to choose an antenna made of PTFE, rather than a PPS antenna.

In order to prevent the influence of hanging materials, you can choose a horn antenna.

However, water vapor generally causes the production of condensed water. Experiments show that the pole antenna is less sensitive to condensate than the horn antenna. Because the effective electromagnetic wave emission area of ​​the rod antenna is much larger than that of the horn antenna.

Asphalt has a low dielectric constant, and the small amount of hanging material generated in the antenna can generally be penetrated by the electromagnetic wave of the radar level gauge.
Since the hanging material of the asphalt medium is relatively viscous, the effect of using the cleaning device is not very obvious. Therefore, it is not recommended to use a cleaning device for measuring asphalt.

For asphalt applications where mixing and material hanging in the tank are very serious, a radar level sensor with a bell mouth can be used. The size of the bell mouth should not be less than DN150 (6″).

For processes where the temperature is higher, the condensation water phenomenon is more obvious. It is better to use a full PTFE rod antenna. The PTFE antenna with the stainless steel shielding section has a better shielding effect on the installation standpipe with a smaller diameter.

However, if the shielding length is selected too short, it cannot be extended. The length of the shielding section of the full PTFE antenna can be freely and conveniently extended according to the length of the installation standpipe. However, the installation of a riser with a small diameter (≤DN80) will affect the operation of the antenna.

Liquefied gas includes liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Typical liquefied gas media include propane, butane, etc.

The main features are:

  • The dielectric constant is generally very low (1.5～1.8)
  • High pressure and low temperature storage;
  • Explosion-proof requirements;
  • It is usually stored in spherical tanks, and the height of the spherical tanks generally ranges from 10 to 28m.

The dielectric constant of most corrosive media is relatively high. Accompanied by varying degrees of volatile gas (smoke). Different concentrations of corrosive media have different corrosive requirements for different radar antenna materials.

The volatile gases of many corrosive media have certain permeability. After a period of use, it may penetrate into the electronic part of the instrument or the motor transmitting part of the antenna and damage the radar level gauge.

Therefore, which radar antenna is used to measure corrosive media generally needs to be confirmed by checking the chemical compatibility table in advance.

Extended reading: Radar Liquid Level Sensor|Corrosive, steam, volatile liquids

Featured Fuel Tank Level Switch & Sensors

Frequently
Asked
Questions

Technical Support

In order to monitor the level of the mailbox, we generally choose to install a level gauge.

Divided into two categories:
One type is contact type, including single-flange static pressure/double-flange differential pressure level transmitter. Float-type liquid level transmitter. Magnetic level transmitter. Drop-in liquid level transmitter. Electric internal float level transmitter. Electric float level transmitter. Capacitive liquid level transmitter. Magnetostrictive liquid level transmitter. Servo-level transmitter, etc.

The second category is the non-contact type, which is divided into the ultrasonic liquid level transmitter, liquid level transmitter, and so on.

The Smart Oil Gauge allows you to remotely monitor your home heating oil tank. The Smart Oil Gauge uses an ultrasonic sensor to measure the level of oil in the tank throughout the day and transmits this information over your home’s Wi-Fi network. Check your tank level from any smartphone, tablet, or PC – anywhere in the world. When the tank is low, the device will send text and e-mail alerts indicating that it’s time to order oil.

Track gallons used per day, week, month, and year and reorder heating oil right from the app.

The oil tank monitor is an instrument used to measure and display the level of oil tanks.
For example, the level gauge dedicated to gas stations is a magnetostrictive level gauge. If you are a buried oil tank, it is very inconvenient to monitor the amount of oil. However, the magnetostrictive level gauge is used, which is installed in the oil storage tank. The oil quantity is directly displayed on the liquid level monitor through the liquid level gauge. No manual measurement is required. The oil quantity monitoring of multiple oil tanks can be realized remotely.

The monitor on top of your oil tank is pretty easy to find and read. It usually has a red or a yellow plastic disk that is covered by a clear plastic tube with levels such as FULL, ¾, ½, ¼, etc. Most monitors make use of a rigid metal rod attached to a float inside the oil tank. When the tank is full, the float rises and pushes up the disk to the top of the gauge. As the oil is consumed, the float falls accordingly and the monitor reading drops.

Sino-Inst offers over 10 Radar Oil Tank Level Sensors for level measurement. About 50% of these are Radar level meters, 40% is the tank level sensor.

A wide variety of Radar Oil Tank Level Sensors are available to you, such as free samples, paid samples.

Sino-Inst is a globally recognized supplier and manufacturer of radar level measurement instrumentation, located in China.