Tank gauging and inventory management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11561122-B2
Application number	US-202016928813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2020
Priority date	Jun 13, 2017
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for gauging tanks. A computer-implemented method includes generating, using an interrogator, a radio frequency signal directed towards a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that is freely floating on the liquid stored within the tank, receiving a return signal from the RFID device, the return signal being associated to a location of the RFID device, processing the return signal to determine a height of the liquid stored within the tank based on a triangulation algorithm, and determining a result data based on the height of the liquid stored within the tank and one or more tank characteristics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
measuring, using one or more devices of a float apparatus, a property of at least one signal in a storage tank that stores a liquid, wherein the float apparatus is freely floating on the liquid in the storage tank;
calculating, based on the property of the at least one signal, a position of the float apparatus within the storage tank;
transmitting data indicative of the position to an interrogator device attached to the storage tank, wherein the interrogator device is configured to use the position of the float apparatus to determine a current fluid level in the storage tank; and
generating, based on the position of the float apparatus, a propulsion plan for the float apparatus, wherein the propulsion plan comprises a starting position within the tank, a destination within the tank, and at least one path between the starting position and the destination.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a plurality of optical sensors, wherein the at least one signal comprises an optical signal reflected by or emitted from an optical target within the storage tank, wherein the property of the at least one signal is a strength of the at least one signal, and wherein the position of the float apparatus within the storage tank comprises a vertical distance between the float apparatus and a top area of the storage tank.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the float apparatus further comprises a light source that illuminates the optical target, and wherein the optical signal is a reflection of an illumination from the light source.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the optical target comprises a light source that emits the optical signal.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the float apparatus further comprises a light source that emits an intensity modulated light toward a reflective target within the storage tank, wherein the at least one signal comprises an optical signal reflected from the reflective target, wherein the one or more devices comprise an optical sensor, wherein the property of the at least one signal is a difference in phase between the intensity modulated light and the optical signal, and wherein the position of the float apparatus within the storage tank comprises a distance between the float apparatus and the reflective target.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a vibration sensor, wherein the at least one signal comprises a vibration signal, and wherein the property of the at least one signal is a frequency of the vibration signal.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein a source of the vibration signal is at least one of a standalone vibration source in the storage tank or a propulsion engine of the float apparatus.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices comprise a wireless charging receiver, wherein the at least one signal is a wireless power signal, and wherein the property of the at least one signal is a power transfer efficiency.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the float apparatus further comprises an image sensor configured to capture an image of a target within the storage tank, and wherein the method further comprises:
calculating, based on the captured image, a distance between the image sensor and the target.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more devices further gather data indicative of digital transformation information, wherein the digital transformation information is used for prediction and decision making in proactive control schemes.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions executable by a computer system to perform operations comprising:
causing an image sensor of a float apparatus to capture at least one image of a target within a storage tank, wherein the float apparatus is freely floating on a liquid in the storage tank;
calculating, based on the at least one captured image, a distance between the image sensor and the target;
calculating, based on the distance, a position of the float apparatus within the storage tank; and
transmitting data indicative of the position to an interrogator device attached to the storage tank, wherein the interrogator device is configured to use the position of the float apparatus to determine a current fluid level in the storage tank.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the at least one capture image comprises a plurality of images, and wherein calculating, based on the at least one captured image, the distance comprises:
calculating, based on each of the plurality of images, a respective distance associated with the image; and
calculating the distance as an accumulative average of the respective distances.

13. A float apparatus comprising:
a first sensor positioned at a first end of the float apparatus;
a second sensor positioned at a second end of the float apparatus opposite the first end;
one or more processors; and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the one or more processors and storing programming instructions for execution by the one or more processors, the programming instructions instructing the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
measuring, using the first sensor and the second sensor, a property of at least one signal in a storage tank that stores a liquid, wherein the float apparatus is freely floating on the liquid in the storage tank;
calculating, based on the property of the at least one signal, a position of the float apparatus within the storage tank; and
transmitting data indicative of the position to an interrogator device attached to the storage tank, wherein the interrogator device is configured to use the position of the float apparatus to determine a current fluid level in the storage tank.

14. The float apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are optical sensors, wherein the at least one signal comprises an optical signal reflected by or emitted from an optical target within the storage tank, wherein the property of the at least one signal is a strength of the at least one signal, and wherein the position of the float apparatus within the storage tank comprises a vertical distance between the float apparatus and a top area of the storage tank.

15. The float apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the float apparatus further comprises a light source that illuminates the optical target, and wherein the optical signal is a reflection of an illumination from the light source.

16. The float apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the optical target comprises a light source that emits the optical signal.

17. The float apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the float apparatus further comprises a light source that emits an intensity modulated light toward a reflective target within the storage tank, wherein the at least one signal comprises an optical signal reflected from the reflective target, wherein the one or more devices comprise an optical sensor, wherein the property of the at least one signal is a difference in phase between the intensity modulated light and the optical signal, and wherein the position of the float apparatus within the storage tank comprises a distance between the float apparatus and the reflective target.

18. The float apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the one or more devices comp

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Alkhabbaz Fouad M

Classifications

• B65D90/48

  Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices · CPC title

• G01F23/686 Primary

  using opto-electrically actuated indicating means · CPC title

• B65D2203/10

  Transponders · CPC title

• B65D2203/04

  Level indicators · CPC title