ATEK Access Technologies. TankScan System. Instruction Guide.

Transcription

1 ATEK Access Technologies TankScan System Instruction Guide

2 Contents Service Support... 3 General Description... 3 a. TSM8000 Monitor... 4 b. Gateways... 4 c. X2e Gateway... 4 d. X2 Gateway... 4 e. X4 Gateway... 4 f. Gateway remote antenna... 5 Site Preparation Prior to System Installation... 5 Gateway Installation... 5 a. Ethernet Connected X2 or X2e Gateway... 5 b. Cellular Connected X4 Gateway... 6 c. X2e Wi-Fi Connected Gateway... 7 Monitor Installation... 7 a. Monitor Installation Instructions... 8 AIP (ATEK Intelligence Platform)... 9 Appendix A Line of Sight and Reliable RF Communication a. Line of Sight b. Effects of Poor Communications c. Range d. Obstructions e. Remote Antenna f. Antenna Mounting Guidelines g. Clear Line of Sight h. Indoor Installations i. Summary Appendix B Installation Examples a. Remote Antenna Installation Example b. Remote Antenna Installation Example

3 Service Support Read this manual before installation. For optimal product performance and safety make sure the contents of this guide are fully understood. Contact the ATEK Customer Care Team at for questions before, during, and after installation. Verify that the operating environment of the TSM8000 Monitor is consistent with the hazardous location certification. Installation of the monitor in an explosive environment must be in accordance with appropriate local and national standards, codes, and practices. Ensure the monitor is installed in accordance with intrinsically safe or non-incendive field practices. General Description The TankScan Monitoring system for liquid storage tanks provides effective, easy access to inventory levels. It is intrinsically safe, provides accurate level monitoring and is easy to install. However, improper installation can result in improper level measurements, communication issues, or reduced battery life. This guide provides the instructions for successful installation of the TankScan Monitoring system. The TankScan Monitoring system is comprised of two hardware components: a TSM8000 Monitor, and a gateway. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This device must be installed to ensure a minimum antenna separation distance of 20 cm (8 in.) from all persons. Any substitution of non-authorized parts may jeopardize safety, voids IS approvals, and other certifications, and obsoletes warranty. 3

4 a. TSM8000 Monitor TSM8000 Monitor measures liquid level of most fuels, oils and chemicals in tanks. Level readings are wirelessly sent to gateways up to 1000 feet away. These monitors are capable of level accuracy of 0.5% of probe length, can be used on tanks up to 35 ft tall, and are battery powered with typical battery life of 2 years (4 hour reporting interval). There are two types of monitors standard and extended. Standard monitors mount directly to tank port openings or on risers of 4 inches or less tall. Extended monitors have a capsule assembly that extends the probe wire down into the tank space preventing the probe wire from coming into contact with taller riser walls. The choice of which style to use is made by TankScan Technical Support during the site survery review process. b. Gateways Gateways are devices that receive tank level readings and other information from TankScan Monitors and then relay that information to the AIP webbased portal for accessing. c. X2e Gateway The X2e gateway is the most cost effective gateway solution. It includes a 2.4 GHz radio with a self-contained antenna for communication up to 500 ft. This gateway is intended for office or indoor retail environments. Each X2e gateway also has an Ethernet port and can support 20 monitors. d. X2 Gateway The X2 gateway has greater range than the X2e. It has provision for adding a remote external antenna to improve line of sight (refer to appendix A) communication range up to 1000 feet. Each X2 gateway also has an Ethernet port and can support 10 monitors. e. X4 Gateway The X4 gateway has a similar range to the X2 gateway, accommodates an external remote antenna and can communicate via cellular services. Each X4 gateway also has an Ethernet port and can support 10 monitors. 4

5 f. Gateway Remote Antenna The gateway remote antenna is an ordering option with either the X2 or X4 gateways. 2dB gain antennas with cable lengths of 10 ft to 100 ft are available. It comes with a mounting bracket and clamps that easily attach the antenna to pipes or walls. Refer to Appendix, Section e for recommended antenna cable lengths. When installing remote antennas, use established safety procedures to avoid falling or contact with high-power electrical lines. Install remote antenna in compliance with local and national electrical codes. Do not change cable length or antenna type as this could impact performance and result in non-compliance with spectrum approvals. Site Preparation Prior to System Installation Prior to installation date, the site must be prepared for installation. The site owner is responsible for the following items: 1 Prepare tanks for monitor installation Send strapping table for each tank to ATEK Access Technologies Ensure availability of 1 ½ or 2 NPT internal threaded port on each tank Loosen the tank port plugs that are to be used for monitor installation Procure all required port size adapters (if 1 ½ or 2 NPT internal threaded port is not available) Maintain two foot clearance around probe wire inside tank Vent tanks to atmosphere 2 Prepare site for monitor and gateway installation Arrange for all necessary equipment (lifts, ladders, etc.) Complete all required site paperwork (work orders, etc.) Remove all equipment/structures to allow clear access to work area Ensure all safety precautions are in place to support installation (per OSHA standards) 3 Inform employees of installation date Gateway Installation a. Ethernet Connected X2 or X2e Gateway Installation 1 Locate the gateway near 115 VAC supply, Local Area Network (LAN) Ethernet connection and within a clear line of sight for communication to monitors. (Refer to appendix A) If clear line of sight is not possible with X2 gateway then use optional remote antenna (purchased separately) to position antenna within a clear line of sight Unpack gateway and connect to an available Ethernet switch port using an Ethernet cable (not supplied). X2e Shown 5

6 Gateway Installation (cont.) 3 Attach provided antenna or optional remote antenna to the X2 gateway. 4 Connect power using supplied wall plug transformer. Look for indicator lights to illuminate after power is applied. Install and power up gateway before installing monitors. 4 X2e Shown b. Cellular Connected X4 Gateway Installation 1 Locate gateway near 115 VAC supply, in an area with cellular service and ideally with a clear line of sight communication to monitor (refer to appendix A). If clear line of sight is not possible then use optional remote antenna to position ZigBee antenna with a clear line of sight. 2 Cellular Antenna XBee Antenna 2 Attach provided cellular and ZigBee antennas to X4 gateway. If clear line of sight is not possible using provided ZigBee antenna then use the optional remote antenna (refer to appendix A). Attach magnetic base of the ZigBee antenna to a metal surface at least 2 inches square. 3 Unpack gateway and connect power using supplied power supply. Look for indicator lights to illuminate after power is applied. Install and power up gateway before installing monitors. 6

7 c. X2e Wi-Fi Connected Gateway Installation 1 Locate gateway near 115 VAC supply, in an area with Wi-Fi service, and ideally with a clear line of sight communication to monitors. 2 Unpack gateway and connect power using supplied wall plug transformer. Look for indicator lights to illuminate after power is applied. 2 Install and power up gateway before installing monitors. Otherwise, the monitors will continuously try to find a gateway which will drain the batteries. Refer to X2e Wi-Fi Gateway Setup Instructions for instructions to set up and configure Wi-Fi settings. Monitor Installation Verify that the operating environment of the TSM8000 Monitor is consistent with the hazardous location certification. Installation of the monitor in an explosive environment must be in accordance with appropriate local and national standards, codes, and practices. Ensure the monitor is installed in accordance with intrinsically safe or non-incendive field practices. The customer must prepare all tanks for monitor installation by loosening caps, removing existing float gauges and installing pipe adapters, if needed. Each monitor requires either 1.5-inch NPT or 2-inch NPT internal thread pipe fitting for mounting. The monitor probe wire must hang freely without touching anything but tank fluid. ATEK requires that the customer fill out and return Pre-Installation Checklist prior to installing the TankScan TSM8000 monitors and gateways. During monitor installation fill out Site Install Data form and return to ATEK. Installation Dos and Don ts: Do vent tank to the atmosphere. Do not let the probe wire contact anything but liquid and air. Do not install monitor on the same tank port used for filling. Do not install near an inlet. Do not install less than 4-inches away from tank walls. Do not install less than 24-inches from anything else inside the tank. Do Not Install Near an Inlet Inlet 4 Do Not Install Less than 4-inches away from Tank Walls.. and 24-inches from Anything Else Inside the Tank 24 7

8 a. Monitor Installation Instructions: 1 Unpack TSM8000 Monitor. Uncoil and straighten probe wire. 2 Calculate the probe length: Using 1.5 Thread: Probe Length = A + (B -.75) - C Using 2 Thread: Probe Length = A + (B - 1.5) - C A = Internal height of the tank B = Tank neck height from inside of the tank to top of neck C = Distance from the bottom of the tank 2 : for tanks > 72 tall; 1 : for tanks > 72 or less B A After installation, end of probe wire should be about 2 inches above tank bottom. C 3 Using the probe wire length calculated in the previous step, measure the appropriate length of probe wire starting from wire exit on the bottom of monitor and cut off excess wire beyond that length. 2-inch NPT Thread 1.5-inch NPT Thread 4 Slide floating target, if provided, on to the probe wire. Probe Wire Exit from Monitor Bottom 3 5 Attach weight by sliding probe wire through hole so clamp is at end of wire. Tighten weight s clamp with supplied hex key wrench. 4 WARNING: To prevent ignition of a hazardous atmosphere, battery pack must only be installed or changed in an area known to be non-hazardous. 5 6 Insert battery and plug it into connector. 7 Install battery compartment door and hand tighten door fasteners with supplied screwdriver. Take care not to pinch battery wires. Note When batteries installed the monitor will attempt to find the gateway. To maximize battery life wait to install the battery until the system is ready to be started up

9 8 Drop probe wire down into tank port and screw in monitor. 8 9 Swipe the magnet end of screwdriver across Swipe Magnet Here label to start the monitor communication process. Monitor will enter a mode where readings are sent to gateway every 30 seconds for 10 minutes after which the monitor returns to its normal reporting interval. Once connection is established with the gateway, the monitor will emit a single beep. If no connection is established the monitor will emit three beeps in a row. If no connection is established after 10 minutes, check that the gateway is powered up, then reinsert battery pack and try again. If after several attempts connection is not established, contact ATEK Customer Care Team at AIP web-based portal AIP is a web-based portal used to examine tank levels from any web browser. Refer to ATEK s AIP User Guide for instructions on using AIP. 9

10 Appendix A Line of Sight and Reliable RF Communication a. Line of Sight Line of Sight (LOS) is defined as the straight line distance, clear of any objects, between gateway antenna and each monitor that it communicates with. b. Effects of Poor Communications Poor communications between a gateway and any monitor can manifest itself in two ways, missed reports and shortened battery life. If a monitor has trouble communicating with a gateway then it may have to re-establish a connection while it is reporting a level. This process increases radio on time and further drains the battery. Also, if a connection cannot be established then that tank level reading will be skipped. c. Range TSM8000 Monitors and their X2e, X2, and X4 gateways operate at 2.4 GHz frequency band and contain 18dB (63 mw) radios. In addition, X2 and X4 have an additional 2 db of gain from their antennas to provide 100 mw of output power. This allows for a 1000 ft range with true line of sight conditions. However, few installations have perfect line of sight and some installation guidelines need to be observed. The following information will aid in antenna installation and positioning. d. Obstructions Many variables can affect the range of gateways and monitors. Most prominent are obstructions blocking the signal path. The gateways are not intended for outdoor installation and must be placed indoors or inside an enclosure. This means that at least one obstruction (building wall or window or enclosure wall) will exist between a gateway and any monitor unless an optional remote antenna is used, which reduces the 1000 ft range. There is not an exact way of predicting how the range will be reduced but there are a few general guidelines: There may be up to 18dB loss when sending radio signals through an exterior (non-metal) wall. The communication range may then be reduced to 125 ft. The type of wall (wood, concrete, masonry, brick, or combination) and the thickness of wall affect this number. There may be up to 12dB loss when communicating through a window. The communication range may then be reduced to 250 ft. The type of window, tinted, double-paned, thickness and frame are all factors that contribute to range loss. Trees and foliage also attenuate 2.4 GHz signals so avoid gateway to monitor line of sights that pass through trees and foliage. 10

11 e. Remote Antenna It is not recommended to send radio signals through more than one window or non-metallic wall and never through a metal wall. A remote antenna should be used in these instances. This antenna can be used to improve the range and/or performance for other installations as well. Cable lengths of 10 ft to 100 ft in 10 ft increments are available, see table below for recommended cable length versus radio signal range. cable length versus radio signal range Cable Length (ft) Range 1000 ft Range 500 ft Range 250 ft Range 125 ft 0 a a a a 10 a a a a 20 a a a a 30 a a a a 40 NR a a a 50 NR a a a 60 NR a a a 70 NR NR a a 80 NR NR a a 90 NR NR a a 100 NR NR NR a f. Antenna Mounting Guidelines ATEK s remote antenna should be installed at least 2½ inches from metal surfaces, such as walls and mounting poles, for best performance. Ideally an antenna should have clear Line of Sight communication (LOS) to all monitors. The farther an antenna is from a monitor the more critical this becomes. Radio signals do go through, reflect off, and refract around obstructions, but they lose strength and range each time it happens. The mounting bracket for the remote antennas is a simple, lightweight design. It can be mounted to a 2-inch maximum diameter pole, or to a wall or other flat surface and can be secured in a vertical or horizontal position. Optimal position is a vertical mounting. TankScan remote antennas have a fat, concentric, donut-shaped propagation pattern (shown below) so height differences between gateway antenna and monitors are not critical and may be installed at different heights. Vertical angles of up to 60 degrees between the gateway and monitor are acceptable. The following examples show some of the various remote antenna mounting configurations. Every installation will be different, but Line of Sight should be maintained for each one. This will provide the most robust communication. 11

12 Pipe Mounted on Roof of Building Coverage Area Coverage Area Coverage Area Mounted to Building Corner Mounted to Building Wall Coverage Area Coverage Area 12

13 g. Clear Line of Sight Often a gateway needs to talk to a cluster of tanks or tanks positioned near obstructions such as other buildings, trees, or equipment. In these cases, a clear Line of Sight should be established to all monitors by picking an appropriate position for the gateway s antenna and/or raising the antenna up high enough to see all the tank monitors. Adequate antenna height above earth ground is important for successful radio communications. Radio signals propagate through air in a zone shaped like a football with the zone being very narrow at each antenna end and widest in the middle. As a very rough rule of thumb there should be 1 ft clearance radius (r) from all obstructions at the midpoint for every 100 ft of transmit distance. Midpoint Transmit Distance r LOS Clearance Zone In the example below communication to Tank 3 is probably not possible from the North, while Tank 2 may or may not be blocked by Tank 1 from the West. A good rule of thumb to follow is that if each monitor is within range and an observer can clearly see the gateway antenna from the monitor s position, they should be able to communicate. North West 1 East 2 3 South 13

14 h. Indoor Installations Many sites have tanks located within same building as their gateway. Guidelines for signal strength and range loss within a building are: 2 db to 9 db loss when shooting through a sheet rock interior wall. 2 db to 6 db loss when shooting through an office panel. 2 db to 6 db loss when shooting through a rack of equipment. As a rule of thumb, every 6 db of loss decreases signal range by 50%. Indoor installations present unique conditions. With less open space for a LOS clearance zone and have much more interference. Line of Sight communication is rarely possible. Because of the nature of indoor environments, it is recommended to limit communication range to 250 ft. i. Summary For reliable monitor to gateway communication there are two basic rules. 1 Do not exceed radio signal range of gateways and monitors. 2 Establish clear Line of Sight communication between gateways and monitors using a remote antenna if necessary. typical ranges Gateway LOS Range Through Wall Through Window Indoor LOS Range w/ Remote Antenna* X2e 500 ft 125 ft 250 ft 250 ft n/a X2 (with provided 1000 ft 250 ft 500 ft 250 ft 1000 ft antenna) X4 (with provided antenna) 500 ft 125 ft 250 ft 250 ft 1000 ft *Cable length< 20 ft 14

15 Appendix B Installation Examples a. Remote Antenna Installation Example 1 An X2e gateway was installed in the windowed office below. The tanks were only fifty feet away. However, there were two interior sheet rock walls plus an exterior metal wall and metal roof in the pathway between the gateway in the office and the monitors on the tanks. Placing the gateway a few feet outside the window allowed for communication, because RF reflects off objects and can refract around corners and obstacles. This was not a desirable solution as the gateway is not outdoor rated and there is constant activity and change in the yard so the signal may not be reliable. Radio signals that depend on being reflected to reach the monitors may work one day but not the next. The solution was to change from an X2e to an X2 gateway using a 50 ft remote antenna which was mounted to an existing pipe on the roof. This allowed for direct LOS communication and the extra cable length allowed for relocation of the gateway elsewhere in the office area if needed. While anywhere along the building and roof edge would have worked, the location of the antenna also allowed for future monitor installations on other tanks in the surrounding area. Remote Antenna Monitor Monitor Office 15

16 b. Remote Antenna Installation Example 2 An X4 Gateway was installed inside the office, see upper right picture. Monitored tanks were 250 ft away from the gateway. This gateway was mounted at a 7 ft height and its included antenna was not attached to a ground plane. Each monitor was mounted at approximately 10ft elevation but trees were blocking line of sight to one tank. This presented several issues. Communication was not clear LOS because it was blocked by a metal shed wall, several trees, and neighboring tanks. This resulted in many missed reports and batteries draining excessively fast which led to eventually all monitors ceasing to function. The solution was to provide a clear LOS by relocating the gateway antenna to the roof using a 30 ft remote antenna. A tree still partially obscured one tank but it was eventually trimmed back. Tank level reporting and battery life were now normal. New antenna location Antenna originally installed inside Antenna relocated to roof Original antenna location inside building Blocked Tank Rev. F 6/15 Blocked Tank ATEK Access Technologies Valley View Road, Ste. 190 Eden Prairie, MN U.S.A. PH: FAX: ATEK Access Technologies, LLC. All Rights Reserved. TankScan images and marketing materials are protected by various patents, copyrights and/or trademarks. ATEK assumes no responsibility for any errors which may appear in this document, reserves the right to change devices or specifications detailed herein at any time without notice, and does not make any commitment to update the information contained herein. No licenses to patents or other intellectual property of ATEK are granted by the Company in connection with the sale of TankScan products, expressly or by implication.