Application of Jiwei Rada31 80GHz Radar Level Meter in Oil Storage Tanks

1. Background and Requirements
In the oil and petrochemical industries, oil storage tanks are essential equipment used for storing crude oil, refined oil, and chemical additives. Accurate level monitoring in these tanks is crucial for ensuring production safety, optimizing inventory management, and maintaining oil quality. Traditional level meters (such as float-type and magnetostrictive level meters) often face challenges due to the volatility, foam, and gas interference of the oil, leading to insufficient accuracy and high maintenance costs.

With advancements in technology, Jiwei’s Rada-31 80GHz Radar Level Meter, an advanced level measurement technology, provides higher accuracy and more stable monitoring due to its high frequency and short wavelength, making it the ideal choice for oil storage tank level measurement.

2. Process Flow of Oil Storage Tanks
Oil storage tanks primarily store crude oil or refined oil, and their process flow typically includes the following stages:

• Oil Inlet: Crude or refined oil is delivered through pipelines into the tank. During the intake process, foam and vapor may form, which can affect the accuracy of traditional measuring devices.
• Oil Storage: The oil in the tank must maintain a certain level to ensure stable storage. The oil level is usually required to remain within a specific range to ensure stability.
• Oil Outlet: Through pumping systems, the oil in the tank is transferred to other containers or pipelines, during which the oil level fluctuates.
• Level Monitoring and Control: To prevent overflow or dry running, the oil level needs to be continuously monitored and connected to an automatic control system to regulate the filling and discharge speeds.

Throughout the entire oil storage process, the level monitoring system plays a crucial role, directly affecting the safe operation of the tank, oil management, and logistics scheduling.

3. Advantages of Jiwei Rada-31 Radar Level Meter

The Rada-31 Radar Level Meter offers several significant advantages for oil storage tanks:

• High Precision and Resolution: The high frequency and short wavelength of the Rada-31 enable ultra-high measurement precision, suitable for long-range level monitoring (up to 30 meters) in oil storage tanks. Even at low oil levels, the radar level meter provides accurate data.
• Penetration of Steam, Foam, and Gases: During the oil inlet and outlet processes, steam, foam, and gases can form inside the tank, which often interferes with traditional level meters, resulting in unstable measurements. The Rada-31 can penetrate steam and foam layers, ensuring stable oil level measurement.
• Non-contact Measurement: The Rada-31 employs non-contact measurement, preventing direct contact with the oil. This avoids issues such as corrosion, wear, and contamination, extending the equipment’s service life and reducing maintenance costs.
• Resistance to Interference: The radar level meter is not sensitive to electromagnetic interference, temperature variations, or pressure changes, ensuring stable operation under complex environmental conditions.
• Adaptability to Harsh Conditions: The Rada-31’s non-contact measurement and high-precision characteristics make it ideal for sealed tanks, corrosive media, and volatile liquids, ensuring stable and accurate level measurement to maintain safe operations of the oil storage tank.

4. Application of Jiwei Rada-31 Radar Level Meter
A certain oil company installed the Rada-31 Radar Level Meter in its oil storage tanks for real-time monitoring of crude oil and refined oil levels. The specific application outcomes are as follows:

• High Level Accuracy: The Rada-31 provides precise measurement of the oil level in the tank, even when there are significant fluctuations in oil levels during the intake, storage, or discharge processes, ensuring stable and reliable data.
• Adaptation to Steam and Foam Environments: During the oil intake process, the mixture of liquid and steam makes it difficult for traditional level meters to measure accurately. However, the Rada-31 can penetrate the steam and foam, ensuring accurate level data and preventing measurement errors.
• Remote Monitoring and Automation Control: The Rada-31 integrates with the control system to enable remote data transmission and real-time monitoring. Operators can access the tank’s level information through the central control system, allowing automatic adjustment of oil intake and discharge rates, thereby preventing the level from becoming too high or too low.
• Reduced Maintenance Costs: The non-contact measurement method minimizes contact with the medium, preventing equipment wear and corrosion, which greatly reduces maintenance workload and costs.

5. Benefits and Results
By installing the Jiwei Rada-31 Radar Level Meter, the oil company achieved the following benefits:

• Improved Level Monitoring Reliability: The precise data provided by the Rada-31 helps the company manage oil storage tanks more effectively, reducing the risk of over-storage or under-storage of oil.
• Ensured Production Safety: Due to its ability to penetrate steam, foam, and other interfering factors, the Rada-31 ensures accurate measurement of oil levels, guaranteeing the safe operation of oil storage tanks under all conditions.
• Lower Maintenance Frequency and Costs: The durability and non-contact measurement of the Rada-31 significantly reduce maintenance frequency and effectively control maintenance costs.
• Increased Production Efficiency: By integrating with the automation control system, the Rada-31 improves the oil intake and discharge control efficiency in oil storage tanks, optimizing inventory management and ensuring timely oil supply and continuous production.

6. Conclusion
The application of the Rada-31 Radar Level Meter in oil storage tanks effectively addresses challenges that traditional level meters cannot overcome, such as the interference caused by steam, foam, and other factors. Whether during oil intake, storage, or discharge, the Rada-31 provides accurate and reliable level data, ensuring the safe operation of storage tanks and efficient oil management. This application greatly enhances the accuracy and automation level of oil storage tank monitoring, leading to higher production efficiency and economic benefits for the oil company.