System and method for determining volume of fluid in a tank

• Main Authors: Bones Sarah, Stevenson David L
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.01.2017
• Subjects: ALARM SYSTEMS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; CALCULATING; CHECKING-DEVICES; COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; MEASURING; MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER,MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE; MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUIDLEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TESTING; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

Volume of a fluid in a tank is determined by measuring the pressure of fluid proximate to the bottom of the tank. The depth of the fluid is then determined from the pressure and density of the fluid. Fluid volume is then determined mathematically or from charts given the depth as well as the size and shape of a tank. Multiple pressure readings may be taken along the bottom of a tank, and an average pressure determined that may be used to calculate volume. Pressure readings may be taken at different heights to determine fluid density used to calculate volume. Pressure readings may be adjusted for atmospheric pressure. Volume increases or decreases exceeding a respective predetermined threshold may be flagged and alerts generated. Volume calculations may be recorded for comparing against a volume of fluid recorded as being purchased.