Custody transfer system for LNG carriers

Reliable tank gauging for LNG carriers

Thousands of tons of liquefied natural gas rush through the pipes into the tanks of your LNG carrier. Raising your eyes, you look beyond the dazzling lights of the tank terminal into the dark sand dunes behind. Concentrating on the levels, temperatures and pressures in the tanks, you feel confident that the Saab TankRadar system is giving you instant, accurate, reliable information about your cargo. This brochure tells you how your LNG carrier operation can become more efficient and profitable with the Saab TankRadar custody transfer system.

The Saab TankRadar custody transfer system can be installed on LNG carriers with 3 either spherical or membrane type tanks.

All values from the Saab TankRadar system are available on the Work Stations. The Work Stations are 4 based on PCs with a fast real time operating system. The system is operated using a light pen.

In control of your cargo

The feeling of being in control and of being able to rely on your equipment is important to all professionals in tanker operations. But, when your job is to handle liquefied natural gas in a safe, efficient way, this becomes significantly important. With the Saab TankRadar custody transfer system for LNG carriers, you have reliable information so that you can safely control your cargo operation.

Knowing how much unscheduled downtime costs, your Saab TankRadar system will soon pay off with its reliable operation.

Accurate and reliable radar measurement

We have put a lot of effort into making a tank gauge that measures with high accuracy even under the most demanding circumstances. You receive accurate, reliable figures during all stages of

No downtime due to repairs inside the tanks

With Saab TankRadar we introduce a whole new way of measuring the cargo in LNG carriers. With the tank gauges on top of the tanks, there are no parts inside the tanks that can break down or degrade.

loading, transporting or discharging. The temperature and pressure sensors are connected to the radar tank gauges, so that the Saab TankRadar system always gives you the complete picture of the cargo in your LNG tanks.

Certified custody transfer system

The costs of transporting gas and the cost of the cargo places a lot of importance on the custody transfer system on any LNG carrier. The custody transfer system must generate detailed and indisputable cargo reports, based on accurate measurements and calculations. NKKK, the Japanese sworn surveyor, has certified the Saab TankRadar system for custody transfer. Saab TankRadar s accuracy of 5 mm meets the requirement of LNG exporters and importers. And all the major classification societies have type

Accuracy certified by NKKK

Saab TankRadar is a complete custody transfer system for LNG carriers.

The Saab TankRadar gauge measures ullage, temperature and pressure. From these values the Work Station calculates for example, levels, vapor and liquid average temperatures and cargo volumes at average liquid temperature. It uses certified tank tables and corrects for parameters, such as thermal expansion of the tank and the still pipe, the propagation speed of the radar waves in the vapor space, trim and heel.

approved the Saab TankRadar system.

Verification at any time

Whenever company procedures or measurement standards require verification, the crew can easily verify the performance of any of the Saab TankRadar gauges. They just set it to measure the distance to a verification pin inside the still pipe. This pin is invisible to the tank gauge in normal operation. Furthermore, the performance of the Saab TankRadar gauges can be checked against verifiers set to correspond to 20% and 80% of the tanks level.

7 Detailed and indisputable cargo reports are generated by the Saab TankRadar custody transfer system.

Radar is the natural choice for LNG carriers

In a tank that is -160 C, and may not be opened for years, you really do not want to have electrical cabling or moving mechanical parts. Any failure on such equipment inside the tank might result in having to warm the tank, inert it, gasfree it, enter into it to repair the failed equipment, inert, purge and cool down the tank. No LNG carrier operator wants to do these time-consuming tasks. This is where radar tank gauging, with only the still pipe and the cone antenna inside the tank, comes into the picture. No equipment inside the tank can break down or degrade in operation. The safety risk involved when gasfreeing is eliminated and no harmful gases have to be released to the environment. The electronic box of the Saab TankRadar gauge is placed outside the tank. In the unlikely event of a failure, the crew can easily replace it with a certified spare. The tank gauge can be serviced, tested and back in operation in less than an hour. Because the temperature sensors are placed in a thermowell, they can easily be replaced from outside the tank. Spare temperature sensors are stored onboard in the spare parts set.

The still pipe guides the radar waves

The electronic box generates and transmits radar waves into the cone antenna. It provides a smooth transition for the waves into the still pipe. Because the still pipe guides the radar waves, very little signal energy is lost, which results in a strong echo from the liquid surface.

Saab TankRadar means no maintenance

No maintenance is required on the Saab TankRadar system. This means years of trouble free operation, with highly accurate and reliable results calculated and presented on the Work Stations.

The Saab TankRadar gauges are installed on top of your tanks. 9 No equipment inside the tank can break down or degrade in operation.

Pressure seal Ball valve

Electronic box

Pressure sensor

Protective hose

Antenna cone

Thermowell

Temperature sensor Still pipe

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The Saab TankRadar gauge is installed on top of a still pipe. The temperature sensors are installed in a thermowell. 11 This means that you can easily replace the electronic box and the temperature sensors, with the tank in operation.

Convenient installation

Because the only parts inside the tank are the still pipe, cone antenna and thermowell, the installation of the Saab TankRadar system is very convenient. It can be installed on newbuildings or be retrofitted on existing LNG carriers.

The temperature sensors are installed into a thermowell manufactured by the shipyard. After the sensors have been installed and connected, the thermowell is inerted. Both the still pipe and the thermowell can share the same penetration through the tank dome.

Reduced testing at shipyard

We put each Saab TankRadar system and each tank gauge, including the still pipe, through a factory acceptance test, that is also supervised by a sworn surveyor, before delivery. This minimizes testing at the shipyard and ensures the best possible measurement conditions. We deliver the still pipe in typically sixmeter-long, numbered sections, ready to be installed into the tanks pipe tower or tripod. Saab Marine Electronics supports the shipyard with documentation and technical support from the design stages to the commissioning of the system. Together with each Saab TankRadar system, we also provide comprehensive and dedicated documentation that includes all applicable certificates. One of our certified service engineers assists during the commissioning of the system.

Technical support from design to commissioning

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Electronic box

Protective hose for cables Antenna cone

Still pipe

Tank dome penetration

Thermowell

Temperature sensors Pipe for inerting the thermowell

Pressure equalization hole Verification pin

The Saab TankRadar system can be installed on newbuildings or retrofitted on existing LNG carriers. 13 Both the still pipe and the thermowell can normally share the same tank penetration.

Technical details
The main parts of the Saab TankRadar system are: The tank gauges that measure ullage, vapor pressure as well as liquid and vapor temperature. The Level Unit that contains much of the calculation power for the signal processing and the circuits for ensuring the intrinsic safety. The tank gauges are connected to the Level Unit. The signal processors and memory circuits are doubled for internal redundancy in the Level Unit.
Work Station Printer Work Station
Saab TankRadar
Setup Group Trend Alarm Window Overview Setup Group Trend Alarm Cargo System Fore Back CT4 Ullage 1.956 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 P P P P T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C CT3 Ullage 5.630 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C CT2 Ullage 8.502 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C CT1 Ullage 1.559 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C P P P Exit CT4 Ullage 1.956 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 P T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C CT3 Ullage 5.630 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C CT2 Ullage 8.502 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C Back CT1 Ullage 1.559 m 0.00 m/h T=19.1 Exit LC7 LC8 LC6 LC5 LC4 26 bar 24 bar

The Work Stations that calculate the cargo volume from tank parameters and measured values. They also supervise and warn of any alarms that may occur. A Work Station consists of a PC that is type approved for operating in the marine environment. A printer is included for printing custody transfer reports and various logs. The Redundancy Box that automatically switches master Work Station, if the active master fails.

Wed Aug 24 20:05:30 1994

Help

Exit all

Wed Aug 24 20:05:30 1994

Help

Exit all

Level Unit
7 8 5 2 9 6 3 0
ALARM SYSTEM MENU SERV

Saab TankRadar
Window Overview

Cargo System Fore

T=18.7 T=18.6 T.avg 18.8 C

OK i

4 1

ENTER

CLEAR

LC7 LC8 LC6

LC5 LC4

LC3 LC2

LC1

LC3 LC2

LC1

26 bar

24 bar

20 bar

23 bar

20 bar

23 bar

Alarm

Hi.Hi

CT 6 Ullage

1,837

(2,000)

2...more

Accept

BuzzerStop

Alarm

Hi.Hi

CT 6 Ullage

1,837

(2,000)

2...more

Accept

BuzzerStop

LCP

LCM LCS LCM LCS

LCI

Radar Tank Gauge

Redundancy Box Interface to other computers

I/O Box

Still pipe and thermowell

Technical specifications for Saab TankRadar

Accuracy: 5 mm Measurement range: 0-45 m Gauge operating temperature: -40 to +80 C (intank temperatures can be down to -165 C) Max. operating pressure: 8 barabs Intrinsic safety of gauge: EEx ia IIC T4 Temperature measurement range: -165 to +55 C Temperature measurement accuracy (including sensor): 0.2 C for cargo temperatures -165 to -145 C, 1.5 C for cargo temperatures -145 to +50 C Number of temperature sensors: Typically 5 active sensors per tank Pressure measurement range: 0.8 to 1.4 barabs Pressure measurement accuracy: 1% of full scale Still pipe (Saab or yard supply): 114.3 x 3.65 mm in stainless steel or aluminum Thermowell (yard supply): Max. outer 32 mm Tank penetration (yard supply): Still pipe only: Min. inner 154 mm, recommended 250 mm Pipe and thermowell: Min. inner 300 mm

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Saab Marine Electronics Pioneers in radar tank gauging

Tank gauging with radar is not a new technology for Saab Marine Electronics. We have developed, produced and marketed radar tank gauging systems for tankers since 1975. We have released three generations of Saab TankRadar systems for tankers each new generation bringing new customer benefits. Today, more than 1 100 tankers are sailing with Saab TankRadar systems. In the early 1980s Saab Marine Electronics released Saab TankRadar for onshore tanks. Many of the same features that brought success on the tanker market, appealed to the instrument engineers at
Copyright Saab Marine Electronics AB, May 1998. Contents subject to change without prior notice. Saab TankRadar is a registered trademark.

onshore tanks are equipped with Saab TankRadar and it has been successfully installed on LNG storage tanks in Japan. More than 35 000 Saab TankRadar gauges have been installed on both tankers and onshore tanks.

Certified quality and environmental systems

In 1992, Saab Marine Electronics was the first supplier of tank gauging equipment to be certified according to ISO 9001. In 1997 we were again first to be certified according to ISO 14001 for our environmental management system.

refineries, tank terminals, chemical plants and other industries. More than 500 LPG

LNG/C Khannur with Saab TankRadar onboard.

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Produced by Skapa Digital Design i Gteborg AB. Printed on totally-chlorine-free paper.