System for monitoring propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks

摘要

An improved apparatus and method for monitoring the levels of propane or other consumable liquid in remotely located storage tanks and coordinating delivery of liquid to those tanks, including an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to identify out-of-ordinary conditions at remote tanks, optimally schedule purchases or deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by calculating site-specific Degree-days and K-factors for each tank and by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring two or more liquid fuel storage tanks comprising:
determining the fluid level in each storage tank by way of at least one monitoring unit associated with each storage tank and communicatively linked with a fluid sensor that provides fluid level data indicative of the amount of fluid in the storage tank and with a temperature sensor that provides temperature data indicative of the ambient temperature at the storage tank location, said monitoring unit including a processor to receive and process the received fluid level and temperature information; storing said fluid level and temperature data for each storage tank; predicting future fluid levels for each storage tank based upon at least one of the following:
(i) determining historical fluid levels for each storage tank over a time period from stored fluid level information; or(ii) calculating the number of Degree-Days per day for each tank location using said temperature information.