Measuring particulate in liquid storage tanks
View Patent ↗This device provides for measuring the particulate content in a fluid storage tank. A sample of fluid is taken from a fluid storage tank; and compared to a field visual reference chart. Using this chart results in identifying tanks containing a maximum or average particulate allowable.
1. A visual apparatus for measuring particulate content in a gasoline or diesel fuel storage tank using a field visual reference comprising:
a sample of gasoline or diesel fuel taken from a gasoline or diesel fuel storage tank;
a photograph image of a first sample consisting of only gasoline or diesel fuel;
a photograph image of a second sample of gasoline or diesel fuel containing a maximum allowable particulate for consumer sales; and
a multiplicity of photograph images of samples of gasoline or diesel fuel, each sample of the multiplicity containing a different, measured amount of particulate, wherein the particulate has settled to the bottom of the sample.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the particulate is rust.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the particulate is solid material.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the photograph images represents a sample containing 50 mg of the particulate per liter of gasoline or diesel fuel.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the photograph images represents a sample showing a maximum particulate allowable for a distribution system.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the photograph images represents a sample showing a maximum particulate allowable for an underground storage tank.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the storage tank is an underground tank.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the storage tank is a steel tank.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the photograph images are digital photographs.
10. A visual method for measuring particulate content in a gasoline or diesel fuel storage tank using a field visual reference comprising the steps of:
providing a sample of gasoline or diesel fuel taken from a gasoline or diesel fuel storage tank;
providing a photograph image of a first sample consisting of only gasoline or diesel fuel;
providing a photograph image of a second sample of gasoline or diesel fuel containing a maximum allowable particulate for consumer sales;
a multiplicity of photograph images of sample gasoline or diesel fuel, each sample of the multiplicity containing a different, measured amount of particulate;
settling the particulate to the bottom of the sample;
visually comparing the sample of gasoline or diesel fuel from the storage tank to photograph images; and
making a decision on the quality of the gasoline or diesel fuel in the storage tank based on the visually comparing.
11. A method according to claim 10 including the step of providing one image of a container containing 50 mg of the particulate per liter of the fluid.
12. A method according to claim 10 including the step of providing one image of a sample containing a maximum particulate allowable for a distribution system.
13. A method according to claim 10 including the step of providing one image of a sample containing a maximum particulate allowable for an underground storage tank.
14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the storage tank is an underground tank.
15. A method according to claim 10 wherein the storage tank is a steel tank.
16. A method according to claim 10 wherein the particulate is rust.
17. A method according to claim 10 wherein the particulate is solid material.