Tank Farm Overfill & Pressure Monitoring (Storage Safety & Compliance) — ATEX

Prevents spills, meets HSE standards

Pressure

Temperature

Quick Overview

Problem

Tank farms store large volumes of hydrocarbons under variable temperature and pressure conditions. Undetected overpressure, abnormal temperature rise, or filling anomalies can lead to overfill events, leaks, or catastrophic incidents in ATEX-classified zones.

Solution

SENSAiO’s ATEX-certified pressure and temperature sensors continuously monitor tank pressure behaviour and thermal conditions, enabling early detection of overfill risks and abnormal operating states.

Value

Overfill prevention • Reduced spill risk • Regulatory compliance • Lower inspection OPEX

ATEX

Zones 0–2 • Ex ia IIC T4 Gb certified pressure & temperature sensors

The Operational Challenge

Midstream tank farms are critical assets used for buffering, blending, and storage of crude oil, refined products, and intermediate streams.


They are exposed to multiple operational risks, including:

  • Overpressure during filling or transfer operations
  • Thermal expansion due to ambient temperature changes
  • Vapour accumulation in fixed or floating roof tanks
  • Malfunctioning vents or pressure relief devices

Common operational limitations include:

  • Reliance on periodic manual checks
  • Limited instrumentation on legacy tanks
  • Delayed detection of abnormal pressure or temperature trends

In ATEX environments, manual inspection increases personnel exposure and may not provide sufficient early warning to prevent incidents.

Why Continuous Pressure & Temperature Monitoring Matters

Pressure and temperature trends provide early indicators of abnormal tank behaviour.

Continuous monitoring enables operators to:

  • Detect abnormal pressure rise during filling
  • Identify blocked vents or malfunctioning breather valves
  • Monitor thermal expansion effects
  • Validate safe operating envelopes during transfer operations

Pressure deviations often precede visible overfill or leakage, making continuous monitoring essential for prevention rather than reaction. By combining pressure and temperature data, operators gain a comprehensive view of tank behaviour under real operating conditions.

SENSAiO Solution

SENSAiO delivers a wireless, intrinsically safe tank monitoring solution for midstream storage facilities.

Core Components

Pressure Sensor (ATEX Ex ia IIC T4 Gb)

High-accuracy pressure monitoring of vapour space or tank connections to detect overpressure and abnormal trends.

Temperature Sensor

Monitors product or shell temperature to detect thermal stress and expansion effects.

Wireless Communication

Supports LoRaWAN, Modbus, and MQTT, enabling integration with tank management systems and SCADA.

Installation & Power

Battery-powered design supports retrofit installation without cabling or tank modification.

Operational Benefits

  • Early overfill risk detection
  • Reduced spill and emission risk
  • Improved storage safety
  • Lower inspection and maintenance costs

Results and ROI

Metric Before After
Pressure visibility Intermittent Continuous
Overfill detection Late Early
Manual inspections Frequent Reduced
Compliance risk Higher Lower

ATEX Compliance and Safety

All pressure and temperature sensors for tank monitoring comply with:

  • Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb (Zones 0–2)
  • IECEx certification
  • ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU

The intrinsically safe design allows installation on live tanks without shutdown, supporting safe operations in explosive atmospheres.

Integration and compatibility

Protocols

LoRaWAN, Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, REST API

Systems

SCADA, tank gauging and terminal management platforms

Vendors

Honeywell, ABB, Emerson, Schneider

Cybersecurity

AES-128 encrypted communication with secure transport

FAQ - Common Questions

Are Sensa.io sensors compatible with any gateway or network?

Yes, they connect to any LoRaWAN or MQTT infrastructure (Kerlink, Cisco, Milesight, MultiTech, etc.) for flexible integration with existing SCADA systems.

What ATEX certifications apply to Sensa.io devices?

All hazardous-area models are certified Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb and IECEx approved for Zones 0–2.

What is the typical battery life?

Up to 10 years at 15-minute intervals, depending on signal strength and environment.

How are the sensors integrated into existing systems?

Through standard protocols — LoRaWAN, Modbus, MQTT, REST API — no proprietary middleware needed.

How does predictive maintenance reduce OPEX?

Early anomaly detection reduces emergency interventions by 30–40 %, extends equipment life and lowers energy costs.

What does the Sensa.io Valve Position Sensor actually measure?

The device detects real-time valve position states—open, closed, or intermediate—with high accuracy. It continuously sends this information wirelessly to your monitoring dashboard.

Can this sensor detect partial valve movement or stuck valves?

Yes. The sensor identifies irregular patterns such as partial movement, delayed response, or stuck valves, enabling early maintenance before failure occurs.

Is this sensor suitable for manual, motorized, and actuated valves?

Yes. It supports a wide range of valve types including ball, gate, butterfly, actuator-driven, and manual valves.

How fast does it update the valve position?

You can configure the reporting interval—from seconds to minutes—depending on your operational and battery needs.

How long does installation take?

Most installations take under 10 minutes. The sensor mounts using brackets or clamps without modifying existing valves.

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