T Series Product Analysis

In the February issue of NPN (National Petroleum News), The Franklin Fueling Systems T5 Series Fuel Management System was featured in a product analysis article focusing on the latest in Automatic Tank Gauge (ATG) technology. Below is an excerpt from the article which discusses some of the features of the system:

…Working to leverage today’s technology is Franklin Fueling Systems, whose INCON brand TS-5 Series (gauge) features a built-in Ethernet port and Web access capability. According to Dan Marston (Product Manager), “It comes standard on the console, and it has the ability to generate Web pages.”

Thus if petroleum marketers “install the console at a site and plug into an existing local network,” Marston added, “anyone on the network can bring up a Web browser, put in the address of the system and view it. Since there’s no extra software needed, it allows access both locally and remotely.” And in addition to fulfilling fuel management needs such as tank testing, line testing and leak detection, the (system) offers in-station diagnostics (ISD).

Marketers who are thinking about their tank gauging systems should consider the possibility that more states will begin to require secondary containment monitoring. “Recently North Carolina adopted requirements for this, and a lot of other states are looking following suit,” Marston said. “In anticipation, we have secondary containment vacuum monitoring using a siphon port on the existing submersible pump, along with some control hardware. We draw vacuum on any lines, sumps, tanks or any double-wall space, and then monitor and maintain that vacuum through our ATG console.”

In the past, adding new capabilities to ATGs has meant complicating the user interface. But with the Franklin system, Marston pointed out, “our touch screen is icon-based and can offer multiple languages. So for store personnel anywhere in the world, it’s user-friendly.”

The system strives to be budget-friendly as well. “Even if someone invested in an older INCON tank gauge monitoring system 10 or 15 years ago,” Marston explained, “we can utilize the same probes and sensors. And for interfacing with other equipment like point-of-sale devices and card readers, we use industry standard protocols.”

Moreover, Franklin has developed its own XML-based protocol for communicating with different devices via multiple ports, such as the built-in Ethernet port or serial ports. The TS-5 Series is also equipped to interface locally and remotely so that “you can remotely verify that an entire site is compliant,” Marston said. “For instance, a compliance manager can bring up an Internet browser from a home office, connect to a system at on of their sites, and review tank and lines tests. And you can pull hundreds of sites and bring all that data back to one central location – and then output that information into everything from e-mails to faxes.”

Franklin Fueling Systems is also keeping a close eye on developments from the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology (PCATS). “They’re developing open-architecture protocols for equipment to communicate to each other at fueling stations,” Marston said. “Although a lot has to do with billing, they’re developing protocols for dispensers, probes, point-of-sale devices, price signs, ATMs, and tank gauges using a standard protocol.” And because PCATS protocols are XML-based, Franklin is anticipation the future by designing its TS-5 Series to be PCATS-friendly.

Meanwhile, Franklin had ensured that components of its own fuel management systems can communicate with each other. “One of our biggest features is turbine pump interface,” said Marston, “which combines the intelligence of the tank gauge with the intelligence of our FE Petro smart controllers or variable-frequency controllers. These systems communicate with each other to keep the site up and running, or get the site back up when there’s any kind of issue like water in the tank.”

Franklin has developed a “rules engine” in its TS-5 Series that enables the system to quickly address problems. “In setting up the programming for your system, the rules engine gives us the flexibility to create custom rules and meet your specific needs,” Marston reported. “Further, by combining the rules engine with a large variety of inputs and outputs available on our system, we can go beyond tank gauging and tie-in other components or systems at your site. Security, HVAC and lighting systems can all be interfaced to our console.”

The installed cost of a T-5 Series system will vary according to customer needs. But Marston believes the upfront cost of adding optional features can payoff in the long run. “For instance, if you purchase the density measurement option on our float kit,” he pointed out, “it can help you detect a mis-delivery such as unleaded fuel dropped into a kerosene tank. And that could prevent an explosion.”

- Mark Ward Sr. & Laura Glass, NPN Magazine
To learn more about the T5-Series Fuel Management System, click here.