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Ortech Engineering Inc.
Tank Sentinel™ System


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Like a silent sentry, the OEI Tank Sentinel stands guard over your tank farm operation, watching for and alerting when abnormal conditions occur.

The OEI Tank Sentinel is a powerful add-in extension to National Instrument's Lookout SCADA package for Windows PC platforms. It is available as a user-configurable package that can be installed in an existing Lookout system or as a complete turnkey system solution.

The table below serves as an index to the Tank Sentinel information on this page. Before you leave us, be sure to also check out the Tank Sentinel Features page for a tongue-in-cheek look at typical tank farm problems that can be solved with the OEI Tank Sentinel and the Tank Sentinel Graphics page to see some typical user interfaces.



Lookout Information
Links to National Instruments and Georgetown Systems Sites		 Tank Sentinel Specifications
Standard Features of the Tank Sentinel		 Tank Sentinel Drivers
Standard Tank Gauging Interfaces
Leak Detection
Continuous On-line Leak Detection		 Valve & Pump Interfaces
Monitor and/or Control Valves & Pumps		 Remote Alarming
Alert Off-site Personnel
Field Interface Unit
Electrical Interconnection to Tank Gauges		 Turnkey Systems
OEI's System Integration Services		 Support Services
OEI's Customer Support Program


LOOKOUT INFORMATION

Unlike other tank gauging systems which are typically proprietary data acquisition systems, OEI's Tank Sentinel System is based upon National Instrument's Lookout package. Lookout, developed by the Georgetown Systems division of National Instruments, is an open-architecture, object-oriented SCADA package that can be easily adapted to a wide range of process control applications.

The Tank Sentinel package is a collection of objects that can be easily added to any existing Lookout-based system. Likewise, a Tank Sentinel System can be readily expanded to include any of Lookout's standard features and capabilities.

Check out the links below for more information on the National Instruments Lookout package:

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TANK SENTINEL SPECIFICATIONS

Architecture
The heart of the Tank Sentinel System is a Tank Gauging Object (TGO) which is implemented in a consistent manner with all other Lookout objects. The TGO allows a complete storage tank to be defined in a matter of minutes by combining all of the common data parameters associated with tank gauging (level, temperature, gross volume, net volume, etc.) into a single object.

Tank Definition
When a TGO is added to a Lookout system, a dialog box is presented to allow entry of static tank information such as Tank Identifier, Height, Shape, and Volume Calculation Method. The TGO supports several means for computing gross volume but the most common method is by utilizing a strapping table. Strapping tables are entered as ordinary text files and may contain any number of strapping points per tank.

Graphic Displays
The TGO includes several default graphic templates which can be used to quickly create graphic displays of tank data. Naturally you can build your own graphic displays using the standard Lookout editing tools but the built-in TGO templates can totally eliminate this task. Check out the Tank Sentinel Graphics page to see how the standard TGO templates can be used.

User Interaction
Typical tank farm operations require periodic adjustment of a number of data parameters such as Product Type, Product Density, API Table for Net Volume Calculation, Alarm Setpoints, etc. A Tank Detail display presents all user-enterable data fields into a single window for viewing or adjustment. Scan, Activity, Leak Detection, and other switches or flags can also be controlled from the Tank Detail display.

Operation
Once a TGO is defined and linked to level and temperature data sources, it is ready to be placed on-line like any other Lookout object. Level and temperature changes or operator-entered changes are the events which trigger the execution of the computation, alarming, and control logic associated with the particular event change.

Other Features
All standard Lookout features such as Data Logging, Trending, Alarming, Report Generation, DDE Links, Networking, etc. are available with the Tank Sentinel System. Any of the data parameters associated with a tank (whether scanned, computed, or user-entered), can be accessed and utilized with any standard Lookout functions.

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TANK GAUGING INTERFACES

A number of drivers are available to accomodate most of the popular tank gauging instruments used in petrochemical installations. Some of these drivers are included in the standard Lookout package and some are included with the Tank Sentinel package.

At the present time, the following types of tank gauging instrumentation can be connected to a Tank Sentinel System:

OEI also offers electrical interfaces for these types of tank instrumentation. Additional protocols and interfaces will be added to this list as they are developed and custom interfaces can be provided on an as-needed basis.

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LEAK DETECTION

The Leak Detection feature of the Tank Sentinel is an extremely powerful and important tool. It is a standard feature that can be activated manually or automatically. When activated, the Tank Sentinel monitors tank level for unauthorized changes in product level and generates an Unauthorized Movement Alarm for increases in level or a Leak Alarm for decreases in level. Sophisticated algorithms ensure that false alarms are not generated as the result of factors such as temperature changes, ripple, instrument or electrical noise, etc.

If valve and/or pump monitoring capability is included, the Tank Sentinel can determine when a tank is active. In such cases, the Tank Sentinel can be configured to automatically disable Leak Detection while a tank is active and enable Leak Detection when the pump is inactive. In the absence of such monitoring capability, the operator must manually enable and disable Leak Detection via the Tank Detail display.

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VALVE & PUMP CONTROL

The Tank Sentinel has the ability to monitor and/or control the valves and pumps in a tank farm via an OEI TRIACS network or a wide variety of other digital I/O devices such as PLCs and RTUs. The OEI TRIACS system is a family of distributed I/O modules that can be located near the remote operator for a valve or pump and minimize system wiring. The TRIACS modules communicate with the Tank Sentinel via a convenient 4-wire data/power network.

Valve and pump monitoring provide the Tank Sentinel with the ability to automatically determine when a tank is active in a product delivery, receipt, or transfer. If this feature is implemented, the Tank Sentinel can automatically disable leak detection while a tank is active and enable it while a tank is inactive.

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REMOTE ALARMING

By adding a voice dialer card, a Tank Sentinel System can be configured to provide Remote Alarming capability. With this feature, the Tank Sentinel will dial voice telephones, fax machines, or pagers to report alarm conditions. Remote operators can respond to a voice call or dial into the system in response to a fax or pager message to acknowledge alarms by entering appropriate security and operational codes through a telephone touchpad.

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FIELD INTERFACE UNIT

Ortech Engineering also offers Field Interface Units (FIUs) to provide power, electrical interfacing, and wiring termination with surge protection and current limiting. FIUs can be configured for any tank gauge instrumentation and can be packaged in a variety of enclosures to meet virtually any installation environmental need. Please contact the factory for more information.

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TURNKEY SYSTEMS

The Tank Sentinel is available as a user-configurable software package that can be added to any existing Lookout system. It is also available as a complete turnkey system package from Ortech Engineering.

We offer a full range of system integration services including hardware packaging, system assembly, database and display configurations, testing, installation, and training. We also offer custom software services to implement special features to meet a customer's specific operational requirements. Please contact the factory for more information.

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SUPPORT SERVICES

Ortech Engineering offers a wide range of system support services. In addition to installation and training services, we offer complete follow-on system support starting with unlimited toll-free telephone support for the life of the system. We offer full maintenance, spares, and support services on the Tank Sentinel system and all tank gauging instrumentation connected to the Tank Sentinel system. Please contact the factory for more information.

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For more information, contact info@ortech-engr.com.



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Copyright © 1996 by Ortech Engineering Inc. All rights reserved.
The Ortech Engineering logo, OEI Sentinel, Tank Sentinel, and TRIACS are trademarks of Ortech Engineering Inc.
Lookout is a trademark of National Instruments, Inc. All other product and company names referenced here are trade names, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective companies. All images on this page are the copyright property of Ortech Engineering Inc. They may not be copied, reproduced, or used in any manner without the express written consent of Ortech Engineering Incorporated.