Swedish tank farm stays safe with Emerson wireless06 October 2011

FH Tank Storage is using Emerson Process Management's Rosemount wireless level and pressure transmitters to provide overspill protection at its 13,000m3 68-tank Kalmar storage terminal, in Sweden.

Lars Ferm, site manager for FH Tank Storage, states that the company has installed a plant-wide smart wireless network, along with a DeltaV digital automation system and AMS (asset management suite) predictive maintenance software to automate tank storage level monitoring.

This, he says, is enabling the plant to meet environmental and safety requirements, as well as to improve the efficiency, accuracy and reliability of level monitoring and terminal personnel safety.

"Emerson's Rosemount level, pressure and temperature transmitters, and the smart wireless network, have enabled us to implement a cost-effective automated measurement system," comments Ferm.

He explains that installing the wireless network meant savings of between €50,000 to €100,000 on new cabling and trunking alone. New cabling would also have required extensive groundwork, which would have disrupted operations and fuel tanker traffic around the site.

"They have also improved the monitoring of tank levels and have provided a fully approved overspill protection solution," adds Ferm.

Rosemount transmitters are deployed on the storage tanks and transmit measurement data to Emerson's DeltaV system, in the main control room. AMS then helps operators to monitor the health of both the wireless network and the transmitters, while also improving the efficiency of maintenance staff by identifying faults and reducing trips into the field.

Ferm explains that FH Tank Storage wanted to minimise the types of devices installed, to enable easier maintenance and reduce inventory. So, for the smaller tanks, the company installed Rosemount 3051S wireless DP pressure transmitters – with mass and media density deriving level.

However, a number of the larger tanks have floating roofs, so Rosemount 5402 non contacting radar level transmitters have been installed, with Emerson's THUM wireless adapters transmitting data via the wireless network.

"The smart wireless network was relatively simple to install, and both the network and the transmitters have been extremely reliable," advises Ferm. "We expect to continue to deploy wireless level devices in the near future, as we don't see any reason or benefit to using cables."

There have been no overfill alarms at the site so far, and historical information provided by the radar measurements has enabled quick and accurate answers to customer queries. Based on this success, FH Tank Storage has placed a further order for Rosemount radar level transmitters and THUM adapters to automate 15 more tanks.

In addition, five more tanks are currently being constructed at the terminal, and Rosemount radar devices are again expected to provide the level measurements and overspill protection.

Brian Tinham

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