Cargo monitoring and control system - K-Gauge

Accuracy and reliability

The high frequency (24 GHz) and the antenna design gives a narrow half power beam width of ±3°, making it easier to install radar tank gauges on narrow tanks (e.g. slop tanks). The high signal to noise ratio performance of the radar signal processing, ensures accurate and reliable readings with high repeatability. Due to the antenna design neither deposit nor condensation will have any effect on the performance.

Key features

K-Gauge Tank Gauging System is a module in the KONGSBERG Integrated Automation and Control System. Modular design allows flexibility in configuration of the cargo monitoring and control system to individual requirements, covering the whole range of tank monitoring and tank control, both as an integrated and as a stand-alone system.

Typical applications include

• Cargo tank level monitoring
• Cargo tank pressure monitoring
• Cargo tank temperature monitoring
• Ballast tank level monitoring
• Service tank level monitoring
• Draft, Trim and List monitoring

The K-Gauge tank gauging system is primarily intended to measure the ullage/level in tanks onboard vessels, both offshore and marine applications. The standard version can measure on any liquefied cargoes up to a distance of 50 metres. The measurements can be made under extreme environmental conditions with respect to temperature, pressure and humidity.

Customer benefits

• Takes full advantage of the latest microwave technology
• Applicable for all liquid cargoes
• A variety of radar tank gauges available
• Highly reliable and accurate
• Control of cargo and ballast pumps
• Control of cargo and ballast valves
• Temperature monitoring in cargo plant
• Pressure monitoring in cargo plant
• Certified as Custody Transfer System (CTS) for gas carriers
• Simple maintenance with easily replaceable parts

Simplified installation

The Radar Tank Gauge (RTG) is designed to ease installation. The RTG is installed on top of the tank on a gauge socket. The tank pressure is integrated in the RTG and tank temperature sensors can easily be connected to the RTG. A common cable connects the radar tank gauge, pressure and temperature signals to the cargo control room; hence no extra cabling is required.

Cargo monitoring and control system operation

The Operator Station forms the Human-Machine-Interface. Alarms are handled continuously in the background and ensure that the operator is immediately alerted if any alarm limits are exceeded. Failures in the system are immediately reported on the monitor. Reports on failures and alarms, as well as history/trend reports on level, inert gas pressure and temperature are logged and stored. Parameter values and alarm limit settings, plus graphic presentations of ship specific data are displayed on the monitor.

Operator station functions

The following outlines the main functions of the K-Gauge cargo monitoring and control system operator station:

• Cargo tank level monitoring
• Cargo tank pressure monitoring
• Cargo tank temperature monitoring
• Ballast tank level monitoring
• Service tank level monitoring
• Draft, trim and list monitoring
• Handling of alarms and failures
• Configuration of the system
• Storage of measured parameter values
• Logging of History/Trend
• Calculation using measured parameter values