Tank gauging (ATG, automatic tank gauging; in Spanish, telemedición) means measuring a tank's contents without opening it or using a dipstick, and reading the result remotely. For a station owner it means knowing, from a phone or computer, how much fuel each tank holds right now.
How it works, simply
- The probe sits inside the tank. A magnetostrictive probe uses floats to measure the height of the fuel and of the water at the bottom; it also takes the temperature.
- The concentrator is at the station, normally in the electrical panel. It collects readings from several probes.
- The cloud receives the data over the internet and shows it in a web console, with history.
What a good console should show
- Product level and volume per tank, and free space.
- Water at the bottom, in millimetres.
- Temperature.
- Deliveries detected, with time and volume.
- Curves for the last 24 hours, 7 and 30 days.
- Alarms and events with date, time and who handled them.
Overfill alarm: an aid, not an insurance policy
Overfilling a tank during a delivery is one of a station's most serious risks: product overflows the fill port, with a risk of spill and fire. The console can warn when a tank's level passes a threshold you set, with a visible signal on screen and a contact that can drive a siren.
Two things to understand:
- The threshold must leave a margin. The system reads the probe every 5 seconds (every 30 while the concentrator is disconnected); this is a system setting, not chosen by the customer; between the product crossing the threshold and someone acting, fuel keeps flowing in. Whoever sets the threshold must calculate that margin from the delivery flow rate.
- It does not replace other protections. Gasóleo Technology's manual OA-001 is explicit: the system is a warning, not a substitute for a mechanical overfill-prevention valve, an independent level alarm or the operator's presence during delivery. The first response to the alarm is still to close the tanker's valve.
What tank gauging does not do
- It does not measure a tank whose probe has no reading: the console flags it as ‘No recent data’ or ‘Disconnected’ so you do not deliver into it.
- It does not replace the tank's calibration chart or its calibration.
- It does not record sales. It measures fuel; to compare with sales it needs the point of sale (see inventory control).
How Orbion solves it
Orbion Tank uses a magnetostrictive probe with ±0.5 mm accuracy and a concentrator that handles up to 12 probes, with 2 six-channel IO cards. It shows product, water and temperature per tank, detects deliveries, keeps history and lets you export it. With firmware 1.0.1 or later, per manual OA-001, the console's alarm contact can cut the pump by switching the station's own 24 V circuit; the board's contact is volt-free and it does not close valves. The electrical installation must be done by staff trained in service station installations.
Text-message and email alarms, and automatic valve closing, are listed as features in development or testing and are not available to date.
Frequently asked questions
What is an ATG probe?
A sensor installed inside the tank that measures fuel level, water level and temperature and sends the data to a console.
Does it work in underground tanks?
Yes, that is its typical use. The probe is installed in a classified area, so installing and replacing it is work for qualified personnel.
How many tanks can I connect?
Each concentrator supports up to 12 probes, with 2 six-channel IO cards.
Do I need internet?
Yes, to see data in the cloud and receive alarms on the console. Always ask how each function behaves when the connection is lost.
How often should I check the system?
Check each shift that no tank shows ‘No recent data’ or ‘Disconnected’, and run a full test of the alarm chain at least once a year.
Take the next step
Request a demo and let us work out how many probes your station needs.