Title page

TankRadar on LPG/LNG Tanks Provides Safety and

Maintenance-free Operation

By Johan Sandberg and Tomas Akerstrom, Saab Marine Electronics

 Section 1:
Precision Radar Level Gauging
On LPG and LNG storage tanks

Johan Sandberg

Radar technology is quickly replacing old level gauging technology. The non-contact microwave
technology provides safety, high accuracy, high reliability, superior longevity and low cost of purchasing
and ownership.

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Background:
Level gauging has in the past been dominated by mechanical systems like floats, servo driven displacer,
pressure sensors and capacitance probes. All these technologies require active sensor parts to be inserted
in to the storage tanks. Moving parts are in contact with the liquids measured. Typically, mechanical and
intrusive systems will require regular maintenance to perform reliably. Cost for spare parts, calibration
and tank entry makes these old technologies expensive to maintain. Malfunctions in intrusive gauging
systems can lead to incorrect Inventory assessment and over fill situations.

Mechanical gauges:

Picture 1. Typical servo displacer gauge on a pressurized tank.

Servo driven displacer gauges has been used since the early fifties. The servo gauge is an electro-
mechanical devise. The displacer is suspended in a thin wire. The wire is wound up on a drum with one
groove per turn, keeping the diameter constant. An electric motor turns the drum moving the displacer up
or down. As the displacer hits the liquid surface the tension in the wire changes. A weighing balance

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detector senses this tension-change. The servo control circuit will maintain a constant wire strain and
makes the displacer follow the liquid surface as the level changes. See picture 2.
A servo gauge contains many moving parts. When the tank is agitated or the liquid is boiling the
servomotor is in frequent movement. Maintenance and calibration is needed to keep the unit in good
condition.

The servo gauge can be isolated from the tank by a ball valve. A calibration chamber above the ball valve
is used to calibrate the unit. When inserted in the tank the displacer is maintained in place by a still pipe.

Picture 2. The main components in a servo level gauge.

A complicated mechanical design with many moving parts.

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 Picture 3. A servo tank gauge under maintenance.

Since it is difficult to determine if the displacer is fully wound up above the ball valve it is possible to
break the wire by closing the valve. If this happens the displacer and the wire will fall down to the bottom
of the tank. A new displacer and wire needs to be fitted and calibrated.

Capacitance sensors consist of multiple, segmented probes. The probes are connected by wring to the
electronics outside. Tank entry is needed if any probe with the probes occur.

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Radar Technology

Radar level gauging has been available for industrial applications since the mid 1970 s. The technology
has gained a large market share over the existing intrusive gauging methods.
A radar level gauge consists of a microwave transceiver and an antenna made for the application. A low
power microwave signal (< 0.5 mW) is sent from the antenna towards the liquid surface. The liquid
reflects the microwaves back to the antenna. The transmitted and received signals are compared and the
distance to the surface can be measured within fractions of a millimeter. The radar gauge has no moving
parts and no part of the unit is in contact with the liquid. Basically any liquid can be measured. Radar
gauges can with proper design be used for level gauging on any hydrocarbon from Methane to Asphalt at
the same high accuracy.

Picture 4. Typical Radar Tank Gauge installation on a fixed roof tank.

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How Radar works
Pr - received power
Pt - transmitted power
2 G - antenna gain
Pr λ 2 λ - wavelength
= G2 ? √ ?Γ ?L
Pt 8πR ↵ R - distance to surface
Γ - reflection coefficient
L - loss

Pt G
RADAR R Γ
Pr

In decibel notation:
G>0
Pr = Pt + 2 ? G + DR + Γ + L DR < 0
Γ<0
All properties expressed in decibels. L<0

Picture 5. The Radar equation

When a wave travelling in a medium encounters an interface

towards another medium with different properties reflection will
take place.
Part of the wave will be reflected back and part of the wave will
continue through the interface.
The magnitudes of the reflected and transmitted waves depend
on the physical properties of the two media.
E reflected = Γ ? Eincident
µ2 µ1
−
Γ =
ε2 ε1
µ2 + µ1
ε - permittivity
ε2 ε1 µ - permeability

Picture 6. The strength of the radar reflection is depending on the dielectric constant of the
liquid. Both LPG and LNG have typically a very low reflectivity.

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Radar physics

A radar level gauge transmits and receives microwave signals at the same time. The strength of the
reflected signal depends on many factors. The distance, the antenna size, the atmospheric attenuation and
the properties of the reflecting liquid will have influence on the ratio between transmitted and received
signals. When the microwaves are guided in a pipe the distance effect will be smaller compared with free
space propagation.

Picture 5 and 6 describes the mathematical model of the radar conditions in a typical radar level gauge
application. The strength of the radar reflection depends of the dielectric properties of the liquid. Liquid
petroleum gas and LNG typically has a very low dielectric constant and provides poor reflectivity. In such
a situation with both weak reflectivity and long distances it is most important that the radar receiver is
very sensitive.

Product Dielectric constant (liquid phase)

Butane 1.4
Propane 1.6
Methane 1.7
Diesel 2.0
Water 80.0

Any radar level gauge must have some signal return. The following factors
affects the strength of that returned signal:

1) Distance attenuation. Long distance gives weak

signal

2) Antenna size. Large antenna gives narrow beam

and larger receiving area.

3) Surface conditions. Waves and turbulence

reduces the returned energy.

4) Dielectric constant. Oil gives bad reflection.

Water gives good.

5) Foam. Can in the worst case eliminate the echo.

6) Vapor and dust. Can influence depending on the
frequency of the radar. At 10GHz it is no problem.

7) Dirt on the antenna.

Picture 7. Real life factors have an effect on radar level gauging. The distance factor is much less
when a still pipe is used to guide the microwaves. The still pipe also reduce the effect from the
surface conditions.

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Technical solutions:

Picture 8. A Radar Tank gauge for LPG/LNG tanks.

Picture 8 describes a Radar Tank Gauge for pressurized tanks used for LPG or LNG storage. The
electronics and the microwave transceiver are located in the Flameproof Transmitter Head. The
microwaves are transmitted through a pressure seal and a ball valve into a still pipe. The still pipe reaches
all the way to the bottom of the tank. The cone at the top of the pipe provides a smooth transition from the
21mm wave-guide in the radar gauge to the still pipe diameter of 100mm. The radar unit receives
temperature information from external RTD sensors. The built in pressure sensor monitors the tank
pressure. All measurement data is transmitted to a readout unit (PC or display) through a common field
bus.

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 Verification
Pin

Picture 9. A TankRadar gauge on a LPG sphere.

To produce commercial precision radar gauges the design of the microwave components, signal
processing and antennas is of greatest importance. When properly designed, the radar gauges will exceed
the demands for custody transfer accuracy.

Safety is #1 when designing a radar level gauge for gas application. A radar unit must be isolated from the
tank atmosphere by a heavy duty, microwave transparent window. An optional ball valve is fitted
underneath the pressure window. The electronics can be removed at any time. Se picture 8.
In atmospheric tanks verification of a radar tank gauge is easy to perform. Simply compare the readings
with a calibrated hand tape. In a pressurized tank this is not possible.

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With an ingenious design using in-tank references, verification can be made inside the tank while the
gauge is in normal operation.
By installing a small, (
1mm) verification pin in the still-pipe (see picture 9) the verification of the radar
gauge can be done automatically with no interruption of normal level gauging.
The pin will produce a small radar echo but let most of the microwaves to pass down to the next pin and
the liquid surface. The reflection from the pin will be compared with the actual pin position verifying
level gauging performance inside the active range.

When LPG is stored at ambient temperature the pressure is high which results in high vapor density above
the liquid surface. High vapor density will have a small effect on the microwave propagation velocity. For
instance in a butane tank at 20°C the pressure is about 2 Bar. At this condition the vapor influence is
0.26%. In worst case this means 26 mm deviation on a 10 meter distance.
By measuring the pressure the vapor density is calculated. Knowing the vapor density the radar gauge can
calculate the deviation. The radar gauge has a built in pressure sensor. With vapor compensation the final
accuracy is within 1-2 mm.

The calculation and correction for vapor influence on the radar wave is simple and basically consists of
using the viral polynom for determination of amount of hydrocarbon in vapor phase,
from pressure, temperature and vapor pressure tables (stored in the gauge). Debey s law
will transfer the density of hydrocarbons in vapor phase to effect on dielectric constant,
I.e. the dielectricity of the vapor phase will adjust the calculation of the velocity of the
Radar wave. This method has been used for the last 12 years in radar based level gauging
on LPG tanks, and has gained acceptance worldwide.
The API (American Petroleum Institute) standard chapter 3.3 states and describes the suitability for radar
gauges on LPG storage.

With information of level, temperature and pressure other interesting tank data can be extracted. Since the
volume of the tank is known both the liquid and gas volume can be calculated. Based on this and knowing
the properties of the gas the liquid equivalent of the product in gas phase can be calculated as well.

The LPG radar gauges are installed on spheres and bullet shaped tanks for various LPG products. See
picture 11, 12 and 13.

Picture 10. Radar tank gauging can be implemented in pressurized tanks of different
shapes like bullet tanks or spheres.

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 Picture 11 and 12. A TankRadar installation on a
LPG sphere in Finland.

Picture 13. A Saab Radar on a LPG sphere in Tahiti.

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Radar vs. intrusive systems

Picture 14. A TankRadar LPG gauge replacing a mechanical servo gauge

Most non-radar level gauges have parts of the unit inside the tank and in contact with both liquid and
vapors. Sooner or later these parts will require maintenance. A displacer can be fitted outside the tank but
the broken displacer will remain in the tank along with a wire. A capacitance sensor must be removed for
repair. This can only be done when the tank is out of service. Broken gauges mean no level gauging. This
lack of gauging can stretch over a long time period leaving the tank operator to rely on secondary back-up
gauging.
Radar provides superior gauging availability. If any failure occur the MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) is
less than 30 minutes. Any repair is done outside the tank. The built in system with verification pin makes
it is possible at basically any time, to verify the gauging performance inside the tank. Normal level
gauging is not interrupted when the verification process is running.

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LNG applications

Picture 15. A radar tank gauge on a LNG tank.

LNG level gauging provides interesting challenges. The product is cold -160°C. The gauging distance is
often long, more than 50 meters. Level reading reliability is very important.
Radar level gauging offers excellent solutions for LNG. The accuracy is high and the reliability is
outstanding. Radar needs no active parts inside the tank. All serviceable parts are out side. Only a still
pipe is needed inside the tank.
Compared with capacitance based systems and mechanical servo gauges, the radar has superior reliability
and gauging availability. There is virtually no need for maintenance, calibration or repair.

TankRadar gauges has been in successful operation at LNG storage tank farms in Yokohama, Japan since
1993.

The main reason for choosing TankRadar as the LNG level gauge in Japan were:
• High accuracy — better than 10 mm over the entire measuring range (custody transfer accuracy)
• High reliability — There must be no need to open the tank for repair
• Long life — the TankRadar shall perform for 50 years
• Low cost

The instrument accuracy of the TankRadar is +- 1mm. The MTBF is better than 70 years.
The purchasing cost of the TankRadar is considerably lower than alternative solutions (capacitance
systems).

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Picture 16. Inside an LNG tank. Looking up Picture 17. Pipe package including the radar still
towards the top. pipe. A 100 mm diameter 60 meter long pipe is used.

Picture 18

TankRadar installation on in-ground LNG

storage tank.

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Conclusion

There are obvious benefits from using Radar level gauging on liquefied gases. The nature of the storage
tanks are such that the tanks are difficult and costly to enter. All gauge parts are be outside the tank.

With proper design of the microwave receiver the weak echo from the liquid surface can be detected even
at long distances. Using the right methods of modulation and signal processing the gauging accuracy be
better than one millimeter. By measuring the gas properties (pressure or temp) it is easy to correct for any
vapor effect.
The Radar can be verified by using simple in-tank references. Verification of the gauge performance can
be done at any time without interfering with the normal gauging.
The radar has no moving parts and requires no maintenance. The MTBF is empirically calculated to
exceed 70 years in the field.

Tank Radar is built to last a long time providing high accuracy and availability over its entire life.
TankRadar has a long track record of proven performance on hundreds of LPG tanks in refineries and
terminals world wide.

Radar has also proven to perform well on LNG providing excellent accuracy low cost of ownership.

[ paperGT2000_2.doc, Johan Sandberg ]

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 Precision Radar Level gauging
on LPG and LNG storage tanks

The Saab TankRadar History

1976 1980 1984 1996 1997 1999

First World leader First on World Two new TankRadar
tanker in level shore leader systems: REX for
delivery gauging delivery in the oil LPG/LNG gauge inventory tank
for tankers industry for tankers and gauging
TankRadar Pro applications
for the chemical
industry

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 Broad range of knowledge
Tank gauging systems for
refineries and tank terminals
with demands for high
accuracy in a wide range of
applications.
Tank gauges with high
sensitivity for tough
applications in the
chemical industry.

Measuring of wave height.
Saab WaveRadar on oil rigs
measures up to 30 metres
wave height.
Broad knowledge in
specialty radar level gauging
applications
Equipment for the steel
industry, measuring pellets and
levels in blast furnaces.

Saab - Certified supplier

Environment Quality Finance

ISO 14001 ISO 9001 Triple A

Q
Environmental management Quality management For the highest credit rating in
system, Certified by system, Certified by Dun & Bradstreet s credit
Det Norske Veritas Det Norske Veritas system

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 Market Trend:
Radar replaces old technology

Old mechanical gauges

on LPG:
¥ Moving parts
¥ Displacer
¥ Intrusive
¥ Contact with the liquid
¥ Large isolation valve
¥ Calibration out side

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Mechanical
technology

Old Mechanical
Gauges
¥ Moving parts
¥ Wear & Tear
¥ Maintenance
¥ Calibration
¥ Spare parts
¥ Cost

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 Radar Tank Gauging

¥ Non contact
¥ No moving parts
¥ No maintenance
micro wave
RADAR ¥ High reliability
¥ High accuracy
¥ Long life

TankRadar systems

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 Radar for LPG/LNG

¥ All pressurized tanks

¥ Spheres, bullets
¥ LPG: Butane, Propane etc
¥ LNG @ -160¡C
¥ 150 - 600 Psi
¥ > 60 m (200 ft) range

Digital
Signal Processor Microwave module
Quartz Reference

Metrological Digital
Seal Field bus

Flame proof
Housing
Wave Guide

Tank Connection
(antenna)

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 Range
> 60 m

In-tank
verification

Verification
Custody
Pin
transfer
accuracy

¥ Spheres
¥ Bullets
¥ LPG
¥ Condensate
¥ LNG

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 Install & Forget

¥Remote
readout
¥Remote
diagnostics
¥Local readout

Typical LPG
installation

¥ Sphere tank
¥ 20 meter range
¥ Butane
¥ 2 - 5 Bar
¥ Temperature
inputs

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TankRadar for LNG

TankRadar installed
on in-ground
LNG storage tank

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 Inside an LNG tank
equipped with
TankRadar gauge

LNG tank pipe-cluster

including still pipe for
radar level gauging

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 TankRadar on LPG & LNG
¥ High reliability
¥ Long range
¥ High accuracy
¥ No moving parts
¥ No maintenance
¥ Long life
¥ Low cost

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 Section 2: Radar tank gauging for marine CTS in LNG applications

Contents:

Brief history of radar tank gauging.................................................................................................................................28

LNG application considerations .....................................................................................................................................28
Field experience from LNG vessels applications...........................................................................................................29
System performance and comparative advantages.........................................................................................................30
Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................................32

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Brief history of radar tank gauging
Since 1975 more than 40.000 radar level gauges have been delivered to tankers and shore based storage
tanks. The shore-based applications cover primarily chemical industries, tank terminals and refineries.
Radar gauges for storage tanks are available with an accuracy of < ±1 mm and are approved for custody
transfer applications. Over 1500 tankers have radar level gauging systems from Saab Marine Electronics
installed and today our market share is 50% for crude -, product - and chemical tanker newbuildings.

First LNG tanker installation/testing took place in August 1997 onboard Khannur, which has since been
operating on its trade with a Saab TankRadar in tank # 5 certified for CTS.

Full ship installations certified for LNG tanker CTS took place October 1999 with Saab retrofitting
"Delta" (ex Southern) for Argent Marine Operations and Autronica retrofitting "Century" for Bergesen.
Both ships took their first LNG loading at the end of 1999.

LNG application considerations

Current level gauging systems for gas tankers uses intrusive methods (sensor element in contact with
liquid), and so far all installations have been duplicated per tank with these systems, to enable
measurements while waiting for repair/replacement, which in most cases involves emptying, heating up
and gas freeing.

Any competitive marine LNG gauging method (radar) will have to comply to similar installation
requirements, i.e. gauging inside the pipe tower (Moss-type tanks) or along the tripod structure
(Membrane-type tanks). Using a still pipe for such radar gauging is incidentally very advantageous, since
this means no disturbances from tank interiors.

The marine LNG radar gauge is intrinsically safe and has only the stainless steel conical adapter to the still

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pipe in the tank vapor. A permanent microwave transparent pressure seal enables the radar electronics to
be fast and safely replaced in case of any failure during operation. Thus, one reliable radar may replace
current duplicated sensors.

The temperature measurements are done using a sealed inerted thermowell in each tank with insertion of
typically five steel mantled cable sensors from outside (on dome top). This design has been used by us for
more than fifteen years in about 15,000 ship tanks, and is now also used for the cryogenic application.
Thus, the temperature measurement installation requires no in-tank cabling and any sensor can be replaced
from top of the tank anytime.

Field experience from LNG vessels applications

Following successful installations and tests of Saab TankRadar on shore LNG tanks in Japan 1993 to
1996, discussions for marine verification test procedure for CTS acceptance continued with NKKK in
1997. The procedure was used both for the Khannur single tank installation and for the first FATs (factory
acceptance tests) and deliveries of the first full ship tank installation of Delta and Galeomma (ex. Arzew)
in 1999. For LNG/C Khannur, a "Certificate of Accuracy" and a custody transfer approval were given by
NKKK, and the ship has been in trade for Osprey since with the system performing and operating to the
full satisfaction of the operator and the crew. The number of cargo transfers using the system as CTS are
now more than 40.

On Khannur tank # 5, the radar still pipe was lowered and installed into a wider pipe for the existing float.
On the first full ship installation, LNG/C Delta, which took place in Sept-Oct 1999, the pipes were
installed through the existing 6" tank penetration of the removed nitrogen bubbler system and supported
to pump pipes in the tank.

Extensive logs and follow-ups of Khannur operation reveal that any "accurate" comparison with the
secondary (capacitive) system for that ship has not been feasible.

LNG/C Delta, since January 2000 trading regularly between Bonny, Nigeria, to Europe has been followed
with great interest. This ship has certificate for primary CTS for both the Saab TankRadar and the
Foxboro CT4 upgraded system. The Logs from Delta comparing Saab radar and the capacitive system has
revealed no suspicions whatsoever on the excellence of radar performance. A sistership, LNG/C Arzew,
now renamed Galeomma has been installed and certified with Saab TankRadar in the same way and was
set into operation in July this year on trade from Oman to US and Europe.

The trading so far has directed these LNG vessels with Saab TankRadar CTS to the following terminals
with full acceptance of the radar gauge CTS reports:
Terminal Operator Ships No of transfers
Dampier, Aus NWS Khannur >9
Arzew, Alg Sonatrach Khannur >8
Everett, Ma, USA Distrigas Khannur > 13
Lake Charles, La, USA Trunkline Khannur, Galeomma >4+1
Zeebrugge, B Distrigas NV Delta gastrial
Ras Laffan, Qatar QatarGas Delta, Khannur 1+3
Pyeong Taek, Korea KoGas Delta 1
Montoir, Fr Gas de France Delta 1
Bonny, Nigeria NLNG Delta 6
Huelva, Sp EnaGas Delta, Khannur 4+2
Marmara Ereglisi, Tu Tupras Delta 1
Qalhat, Oman Oman LNG Galeomma gastrial & 1 loading

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System performance and comparative advantages
Technical Data:
• Gauging speed 4 tanks/sec.
• Ullage gauging range 0 - 45 m
i.e. from 20 mm above bottom to 100% full
• Accuracy (sounding) < –5 mm
• Temperature gauging -165¡C to +55¡C
• Accuracy (temperature) including sensor:
< – 0.2¡C @ -165¡C to -145¡C,
< – 0.3¡C @ -145¡C to -80¡C,
< – 1.5¡C @ -80¡C to +50¡C
• Pressure measurement 0.8 -1.4 bar(abs)
• Accuracy (pressure) < 0,5% (<3 mbar) LNG
• Start-up time < 10 sec. per tank
• Verification Pin at 2 m radar range (= just above 100% full)
Attenuator on bottom (~ level 20 mm)

Advantages over current LNG gauging techniques:

- Radar technology is proven to highest reliability and lowest maintenance on marine vessels
- No equipment inside the tank that can break or degrade in operation.
- All gauge electronics are intrinsically safe and sealed off from tank, located on the tank top, and can be
replaced at any time.
- One common tank penetration handles level, temperature and pressure.
- No costly full size ball valve for still pipe is needed, since the radar head incorporates a certified (small
size) ball valve in the wave guide between the pressure seal and the conical adapter. This enables the
pressure sensor to be verified or replaced with the tank in operation.
- Verification of measurement repeatability can be made under full operational conditions, at any level,
using the verification pin in the top part of the pipe as the "upper verification point".
- At maximum radar range, i.e. bottom level, and at empty occasions (not necessarily gas free), the
residual echo from the flat array attenuator enables verification of the "lower verification point".
- By radar gauging, the measuring accuracy for custody transfer calculations of LNG on gas tankers is
enhanced to < – 5 mm uncertainty at all levels.

Advantages over competitive radar systems for LNG:

- No pipe joints used for verification.

Saab uses a patented verification pin above 100% level
There is fundamental physics behind the interference between two closely located radar echoes (Methane
liquid level & e.g. the discontinuity of pipe joint) implicating that when the liquid level is in the vicinity
of (typically < 200 mm) such a "disturbance" in the pipe, the liquid level estimation cannot be made with
full accuracy. A maximum uncertainty of otherwise 2-5 mm maximum will in these regions more likely
be 20 - 50 mm.
Saab has extensive experience from testing discontinuities in still pipes in LNG tanks (since 1993) and the
only way to avoid excessive uncertainties within the tank fill range is to manufacture the pipes & joints
without any disturbances and locate any "verification means" outside the operation level range.

- Correction for radar propagation

Saab determines the correction from actual vapour temperature, pressure and the knowledge of
composition and physical properties of the concerned gases. An alternative system solution based upon
"continuos measurement verification in real time" of the intermediate pipe joint echoes needs not only

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vapour temperature and pressure for correction of propagation velocity, but also relies on the calculation
of physical lengths of pipe segments in the vapor phase. It is well known from LNG operation that spot
vapor temperatures can differ as much as 30…C from the average. This implies possible great "calibration"
errors.

- Lowest measurable level

Saab provides a bottom mounted flat array attenuator (patent pending), which allows for reliable
measuring to 20 mm level and with full accuracy (+/- 5 mm) down to at least 40 mm level. This
performance is independent of tank type.
Due to the development work of the low profile attenuator device, its patent application and the
development of how to attach it safely to the two membrane types, only the latest retrofit Galeomma had
the flat array attenuator installed. For Delta, where the radar still pipe was centered over a knuckle cross
in the Mark I type tank, a slightly higher uncertainty in the lower region below 150 mm had to be
accepted.

Use of any other "specially designed reflection plate" (e.g. as is used for LPG tanks) provides serious
limitation to measure very low levels. It is obvious from such a design that a practical lowest level is at
least 100 mm or higher. Competitive systems using capacitive technology states lowest measurable level
as 35 mm, which is now matched by Saab radar both for LNG and LPG tanks.

Clarification of the need for accurate LNG measurement to at least this low level can be done for two
cases:
a) GT&T membrane tanks (regardless if this tank has stainless steel or invar membrane):
The normal marine operation of these tanks includes emptying to very low levels, well below 100 mm,
and still leaving enough liquid volume on the big flat area bottom for the cooling on the ballast trade.
Furthermore, the radar still pipe (stainless steel) will shrink abt 100 mm in length from installation
temperature to cryogenic condition. Due to the fact that it is fixed to the tank top, the low end will raise
same distance, and the lowest measurable level would be very much higher up using a "specially designed
reflection plate" fixed to the pipe lower end (at about pipe center line crossing the reflection plate).
b) Moss Aluminum tanks:
The same amount of left liquid for the cooling during ballast trade may in this case possibly mean a
reduced requirement on measurable lowest level. Probably more than 100-200 mm liquid will be left in
each tank after unloading, but this amount of LNG will be boiled-off and consumed (abt 0,15% volume
per day) and at next loading, there is a (CTS) need for measuring of the level at beginning of loading. It
is very unlikely that a system with a "specially designed reflection plate" fixed to the pipe lower end, will
satisfy this situation, even if taken into account that the pipe low end distance from bottom basically
remains the same from installation to cryogenic condition (tank & pipe in same material = Al).

- Pipe dimension
The smaller the diameter (used at same microwave frequency, X-band or 10 GHz, as Saab and others) the
more critical are irregularities, such as ventilation holes and pipe joints, for the undisturbed propagation
of radar in the pipe. Saab has optimised the pipe size to (inner dia) 107 mm with 10 mm ventilation holes
each half meter and with non-interfering joints for several reasons:
a) it avoids the uncertainty of level estimation from the ambiguity caused by several detectable
microwave modes; eliminating all discontinuities within the measuring range avoids the phenomenon
"mode conversion" at e.g. pipe joints. For accurate level gauging the interference between different
propagation modes is disastrous.
b) 107 mm pipe will allow for undisturbed use of big enough (10 mm dia) ventilation holes at 500 mm
separation as well as reasonably specified flanged joints
c) using a wider pipe, the resistive attenuation of the waveguide will be acceptable also at the maximum
ranges of this application (45 - 50 m)

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d) any hydrocarbon wetting (=lining) of the pipe inside, e.g. as thin as 0.01 mm will deteriorate accuracy
far more in a smaller diameter pipe.
e) in a significantly over-dimensioned waveguide, i.e. with diameter several times greater than the
wavelength (3 cm), the required relative accuracy (abt 0.0001) will be easier met than in a smaller
waveguide with one-mode propagation. The accuracy (here= stability) of pipe diameter and radar
frequency are much less critical for a 107 mm pipe than for a 50 mm pipe.

- Subsequent verifications of level measurements

The Saab use of a) verification pin above 100% level and b) a bottom mounted specially designed planar
array attenuator, means that a subsequent verification can be done a) any time with the verification pin,
and b) with sufficient accuracy at empty tank condition using the echo from the planar array attenuator.
The use of pipe joint reflections for verification, means practically (unless a pipe joint located above
100% is in use) that verification using an "upper verification point" (ref to ISO/DIS 13689.2) may be
possible, but dependent of fill level. With the use of a plain 45 degree reflection plate at the low pipe end,
it is not likely that a verification using a "lower verification point" can be done with sufficient accuracy
even at empty tank conditions.

Acknowledgements
We would like to express appreciation to the following companies having encouraged and challenged us
in the development and application of radar for liquefied gas gauging: Tokyo Gas, Osprey Maritime
(Europe) Ltd, Shell International Trading and Shipping Co Ltd, SIGTTO, NKKK, GT&T, Moss Maritime
A/S and several others that has brought their extensive knowledge and experience to us in order to
accomplish this achievement.
A special thanks to Mr Bjarne Thygesen, who gave full support from first step.

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Saab TankRadar¤ on LNG/LPG Tanks

Provides Safety and Maintenance-free
Operation

¥ Johan Sandberg, Sales Manager, Saab Tank Control Div.

¥ Tomas k erstr m, Technical Manager, Marine Division
1 (1)

Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Section 2

¥Radar tank gauging for marine CTS in LNG applications

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Custody transfer & Marine Products

experience base

¥ Inventory Tank Gauging for shore tanks

¥ Tank Gauging & Cargo Handling for tankers
¥ CTS for liquefied gas tankers (LNG)
¥ Industrial tank gauging

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Saab Marine Electronics world-wide

Marine service Head office & manufacturing Marine sales rep

STC sales & service rep

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Saab Marine Electronics in short

¥ Market leader in tank gauging on shore and marine vessels
¥ Turnover: 56 MUSD (1999)
¥ 290 employees, of which 200 in Sweden
¥ Represented in 82 countries by 90 agents/reps
¥ Fully owned by the Saab group, turnover (1999) >2000 MUSD,
~18000 employees

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Vision
Shaping the future
in tank gauging

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Radar tank gauging in retrospect

¥ 1976 First marine vessel system installed by Saab
¥ 1980 SUM-21 no 1 level gauge on tankers
¥ 1983 Shore tank testing began by Saab
¥ 1985 1st shore & 2nd marine gauge generations in use,
and 1st radar competitor on the market
¥ 1991 2nd generation shore tank gauge, TRL/2,
also used for LPG tanks & test LNG (1993)
¥ 1994 3rd generation marine system, G3, introduced
¥ 1996 1st LNG gauge in operation (Tokyo Gas),
and the Marine liquefied gas gauge introduced
¥ 1999 3rd generation shore tank gauge, Saab Rex,
and LNG/C Delta in CTS operation with G3 radar

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Saab TankRadar¤ installations

¥ Installed gauges world-wide > 40000
 gauges on tankers, all types > 20000
 gauges in liquefied gas applications > 1000
 shore tanks LNG gauges 6
 marine LNG gauges 13

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

LNG application considerations

¥ Performance -- best in market
¥ Reliability -- no service or calibration in years
¥ Non-intrusive -- no delicate components in the tank
¥ Intrinsically safe -- of course
¥ Verifiable -- with tanks in operation

¥ Repairable -- with certified spares

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

TankRadar CTS Gauge unit

Electronic box
Pressure seal

Ball valve Pressure sensor

Protective hose for cable

Antenna cone
Thermowell

Still pipe
Temperature sensors

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Electronic box

Protective hose for cable

Antenna cone

Tank dome penetration

Thermowell
Still pipe
Temperature sensors

Pipe for inerting the thermowell

Ventilation hole(s)

Verification pin

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

TankRadar G3 CTS for Gas tankers

Work Station Printer Work Station Level Unit Radar Tank

Gauge

Redundancy Box
I/O Box

Interface to
other computer Still pipe and
thermowell

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Bottom attenuator

Patent pending

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Traded terminals, Khannur:

(total so far > 40 transfers)
Dampier, Aus.
Arzew, Alg.
Everett, MA, US
Lake Charles, LA, US
Ras Laffan, Qatar
Huelva, Spain

Traded terminals,
Delta & Galeomma :
(total so far > 20 transfers)
Ras Laffan, Qatar
Qalhat, Oman
Pyeong Taek, Korea
Montoir, Fr
Bonny, Nigeria
Huelva, Spain
Marmara, Turkey
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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

System performance
¥ Gauging speed 4 tanks/sec.
¥ Types of cargo acc to IMO IGC
¥ Accuracy (sounding) –5 mm over gauging range 0 - 45 m
¥ Temperature gauging -165¡C to +55¡C
¥ Accuracy (temperature) incl. sensor: – 0.2¡C @ -165¡C to145¡C
– 0.3¡C @ -145¡C to -80¡C
– 1.5¡C @ -80¡C to +50¡C
¥ Pressure measurement 0.8 -1.4 barabs LNG
1.0 - 8 barabs LPG
¥ Accuracy (pressure) < 0.5% (< 3 mbar LNG)
¥ Start-up time < 10 sec. per tank
¥ Verification pin at ~2 m range (above 100% level)
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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Advantages of Saab TankRadar¤ for LNG - 1

¥ Easy retrofit installation using existing pipe/penetrations
¥ One common tank penetration for level and temperature
¥ Easy installations in Moss & Membrane -type tanks,
¥ Measuring very close to bottom, accomplished by planar
array attenuator (patent pending) mounted on bottom
¥ Verification/certification at installation easily accomplished
¥ Verification easy during operational conditions
 By means of verification pin (patented)
 By means of verifiers (test cable lengths 20% and 80% level)
 By means of attenuator echo repeatability at empty tank, ~ bottom

¥ Excellent performance on LNG, no disturbance of boiling

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Advantages of Saab TankRadar¤ for LNG - 2

Feature Saab

Lowest measurable level 20 mm

Accuracy over total tank height ± 5 mm over 45 m

In-tank verification points

Level correction method Using gas and tank physical data

Calibration Not needed after installation

In-tank items Only a → 107 mm pipe

Serviceable during operation All parts

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Installation on LNG/C Delta & Galeomma

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Installation on LNG/C Delta & Galeomma

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Installation on LNG/C Delta & Galeomma

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Alternative temperature sensor installation

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Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

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 Saab Marine Electronics AB Radar in LNG/LPG gauging

Factory Acceptance Testing

¥ A Saab TankRadar CTS has been ordered for HHI #1295/96
for Shell Nigeria a year ago
¥ The first ship system is completed, assembled and under FAT
at Saab in Goteborg this week

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