Construction sites, data centers, warehouses, government facilities, cell towers, and more are kept operational during severe weather and other power interruptions by emergency generators. These very large generators are fueled by diesel stored in nearby tanks and use fuel tank sensors to monitor the level of fuel.
For some, this task is simply reliant on a very accurate fuel tank sensor. Other customers monitors these various diesel generator fuel tanks with our MPX-E probe, a magnetostrictive level sensor.
These low fuel sensors are extremely accurate and work by sending electrical pulses down a wire suspended inside the stem of the sensor. When the pulse interacts with the magnetic field from the float (traveling up and down the stem), it results in a return signal to the diesel fuel sensor, and identifies the precise position of the float and the liquid surface.
The accuracy of the measurement is a particularly important factor. Many of the tanks used for generators vary in construction, origin, and size which is why our tank measuring devices use slide fitting, which allows the diesel fuel level sensor to be moved up and down to better match the depth of the tank. Using this fitting lets our customers standardize on a few different probe lengths, rather than customize each order.
Once the level is known, passing the information along is the next critical step in this application. Communicating the level of the fuel back to the generator owner, or the fuel supplier, can be handled in a few different ways, most of which are either labor-intensive or cost-prohibitive. Many of our customers have opted for remote communications via the Internet, due to its low cost, ease of use, and sheer effectiveness.
Our MPX-E level probe, along with several other fuel tank sensors we manufacture, can pass information through the Internet with the addition of one of our Internet communications modules. The data is received through our secure web portal, which can be accessed 24/7 anywhere an Internet connection is available. The web portal can also send user-defined alerts via email or SMS text message to notify relevant personnel.
Similar applications for low fuel sensors involve the management of critical liquid inventory in remote locations. Oil, yellow grease, fertilizer, water, and fuel are all examples of liquid inventory that is commonly spread across entire regions. Our tank measuring devices and level sensors in conjunction with our Internet communications system offers a low-cost, highly effective solution to an otherwise labor-intensive and costly task.
For tips on how to get the Internet to remote tanks, read our article titled “Wireless Tank Level Monitoring Solutions.”
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons - Geo Swan
