Fuel management system

1. GENERAL
To satisfy the increasing demand of automation and computerization coming from the petrochemical sector, in 1985 S.A.M.P.I. gave life to an own electronic division that has brought to the development of numerous products devoted particularly to the automation of the loading procedures in the deposits. Among these we remember two different generations of electronic registers (TE480 and TE500), an intrinsically safe card reader (DEU) and an intelligent electronic grounding device (DMT99).

At the same time S.A.M.P.I. has planned numerous versions of supervision systems for the tankers' loading operations in oil deposits, working jointly to the equipments traditionally produced by our society as meters, pumps, valves, etc., taking particular care on the personalization of the supervision program in regard of the applications and the operational necessities of the user.

Our programs are developed for the supervision and the control of the operations of loading and unloading tankers, cistern wagons, barges, etc.
The operating system used with the last generation of programs is Windows NT of Microsoft that, being multitasking, assures the execution in real time of all the applications making part of the system, besides guaranteeing a notable simplicity of interfacing towards the operator, thanks also to the increasing familiarity of the consumers with programs like Windows.
The architecture of the system articulates on two hierarchical levels:

• The level of supervision in the control room
• The level of field automation

The supervision level in the control room is realized through an architecture based on one or more personal computers online, with the possibility of backup (warm or temporised) and eventually integrated with an existing administrative system.

The system communicates with the electronic registers TE500 through serial communication lines RS422, as indicated in Fig. 1

The level of field automation is realized through an intelligent unit (microprocessor unit) distributed on every loading point (multifunctional electronic register TE500).
Every electronic register is associated to a counter and performs the local control of the signals from and toward the field, controls the loading position in terms of quantity loaded, controls the safeties and interfaces with the operator.

The principal activities checked by the supervision level are:

• The check and the supervision of every loading position;
• The memorization of all the information inherent to the activity of loading the tankers (events);
• The production of reports, in real time or on request of the operator, related to both, the operations of load and the consumptive of the loaded quantities; separated for single position of load, for loaded product or for user;
• The management of a file of the Plans of Load;
• The management of a registry file of drivers and tank trucks.

Graphic synoptic diagrams, similar to the synoptic of Fig. 2, show in real time information related to the loading operations in progress and to possible errors or alarms, guaranteeing that the loading operations are developed in the respect of all the safety conditions.

The options present on the bar of the menu, protected by key words of access, allow the access to the following functions:

• Start/End of deposit activity;
• Analysis of the daily book of the Events/Alarms;
• Insertion/Change/Cancellation of the identification codes of the drivers;
• Insertion/Change/Cancellation of the data of the tank trucks;
• Insertion/Change/Cancellation of the Loading Plans;
• Analysis/Stamp of the loading operations;
• Analysis/Stamp of the daily surveys.

Besides, it is possible "to zoom" on every single position of load, as indicated in Fig. 3:

Every event inherent to the activity of loading is recorded on the personal computer (see Fig. 4); in case of necessity the events can be analysed for reconstructing completely the "history" of every operation of load, even after several days from the moment of the execution.

Programmable filters inside the program allow to underline only the events we are interested to, for instance those relative to a particular position of load, or to a particular date and hour of the day, or to a determined driver or to a combination of the same.

The procedure of load is generally developed following the indications of the user and therefore the one following is purely indicative and it can be modified for satisfying different operational specifications.

2. PROCEDURE OF LOAD
2.1. Entry to the Deposit
The driver of the tank truck reports to the operator the quantities to be loaded from the various products present in the deposit.

The operator inserts the demanded quantities in a file of Loading Plans (Fig. 5) together to the data of the tanker and the driver. The operator assigns a code to the driver that can be temporary, which means valid for only one operation, or permanent .

2.2. Loading of the tanker
The driver goes near to one of the positions of load. The display device of the corresponding electronic register TE500 tells the driver that has to introduce his own code. Once introduced, the code is checked by the personal computer; it verifies the existence of a Loading Plan associated to such code.

If a loading plan associated to the code of the driver exists, the computer verifies that the product corresponding to the loading position chosen by the driver is present in the loading plan.

If one of the preceding conditions is not satisfied, the electronic register visualizes a message for the driver pointing out the motive for not accepting the code.

Once such controls are done the personal computer sends the quantity of product authorized to load, to the electronic register. The electronic register controls that the tanker is connected to earth (if the electronic grounding device is present). If it is not, a message informs the driver of a possible absence of the connection to earth; the load is not authorized up to when such connection is not restored.

The driver can proceed to the local predetermination of the quantity to load; if the value predetermined by the driver is superior to the value assigned to the driver from the Plan of Load (or to the residual value to be loaded, if some product has already been loaded) the electronic register TE500 autonomously handles to modify the value predetermined with the quantity up to the driver. The error in the predetermination comes recorded and signalled on the synoptic of the personal computer.

The beginning of the load happens pressing the button of March on the electronic register. The electronic register activates a relay for the starting of the pump and it feeds the two electrovalves of the valve of predetermination of the counter.

Through the register the disbursement can happen, to the beginning and end of every batch, under conditions of low flow to avoid hits of ram to the measurer as consequence of an abrupt variation of the course.

To the attainment of the predetermined quantity the electronic register closes the valve of predetermination and disarms the command of the pump.

The driver up to the attainment of the quantities assigned can repeat such operations.

In case of breakdown or error the driver is informed through the display device of the electronic register and the procedure of load is suspended waiting for the reparation of the breakdown or the correction of the error.

2.3. End of Loading and Exit of the Deposit
The recognition end of loading happens on the Personal Computer to the attainment of the predetermined quantity (unless an anticipated tolerance is foreseen as parameter); if the predetermined quantity is not reached but the disbursement is interrupted, the driver has an interval of maximum time, within which the load must be completed, after which the load will automatically be closed. The driver can close "manually" the load pressing a second time the button of Arrest on the electronic register. Finally, it is possible to force the closing of the load from the Personal Computer.

At the end of every operation of load, all the data inherent to the operation is memorized in the personal computer (see Fig. 6) that automatically handles the press of a document of load.

Such document contains the followings data :

• Number of the Electronic Register
• Volume Compensate in Temperature
• Volume to Environmental Temperature
• Data of the Load
• Time of the Load
• Type of Loaded Product
• Temperature of Loaded Product
• Driver's Code

To end of load the operator in the control room verifies the document of load and releases the bill of delivery to the driver to allow him to leave the deposit.

2.4. Daily survey
At the end of every working day the operator can ask the press of a survey of the loads made during the day (or in one of the preceding days). The surveys of load can be performed for position of load, for driver or for type of product.

3. OPTIONS
Thanks to the modularity and the flexibility of the program of supervision proposed, it is extremely simple to add additional functions to the program to satisfy new operational requirements of the user.
The addition of a modem to the personal computer allows S.A.M.P.I. to release new versions of the program through a telephone connection, without interfering with the normal operational activity of the deposit and without asking for the dispatch of specialized personnel on the field, allowing a notable saving in terms of time and costs.
Moreover, the presence of a modem allows making a distance diagnostic of the system and, in case of necessity, to intervene in real time on the behaviour of the program.

Among the possible options it is worth to mention the followings:

• The system offers the possibility to connect the program to an intelligent system of survey of the levels of product in the reservoirs, if provided with a line of serial communication. Such connection makes possible the execution of a daily budget that takes into account also the possible stocks.
• The system offers the possibility of connections in real time with other computer systems (for instance with the computer system of the administrative sector for the possible automatic issue of shipment documents and invoices).
• The system offers the possibility to change the language with which the messages are visualized in both the personal computer and the electronic register TE500.