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Reserve Your Seat TodayAs a utility provider responsible for monitoring dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of propane tanks, you face a big challenge. Whether you're overseeing propane tanks spread across a wide geographic area or servicing thousands of individual customers, accurate and timely monitoring is critical.
Without the right system in place, you'll face significant risks to safety and service continuity.
My team and I have written pretty extensively about the "nuts and bolts" of propane tank monitoring, from R3D sensors to propane vaporization optimization.
I'm going to zoom out and give you a broader picture here. In particular, we'll focus on the dividing line between locations that have the potential ROI to justify a telco-grade solution - and those that do not.
Let's take a look at methods you can use to monitor propane tanks across a large geographic area.
Handling a large number of propane tanks presents several logistical issues. Manually inspecting each tank is neither practical nor sustainable when dealing more than a few sites.
When propane levels aren't monitored consistently, tanks can run dry without warning. That leads to emergency service calls, where trucks are dispatched on short notice to refill depleted tanks, increasing your operational costs.
What's worse is that the potential risks extend beyond the inconvenience of an empty tank. Unmonitored tanks can create dangerous situations, especially during extreme weather conditions.
Underfilled propane tanks are more susceptible to pressure build-ups, leaks, or freezing issues, which can pose significant safety hazards. Failing to maintain proper tank levels or allowing undetected leaks could result in accidents that endanger customers and damage your company's reputation.
To avoid these problems, it's essential to maintain good visibility of tank levels across your entire network.
To prevent these issues, some companies use basic tools. These aren't very effective, and you have better options in 2024.
Manual inspections, while useful in smaller setups, are labor-intensive and prone to human error. There's no guarantee that every tank is checked regularly, and the risk of missed or delayed inspections remains high. Even with perfect execution, you might have a tank run dry between inspection intervals.
While basic sensor units can offer on-demand remote monitoring, they typically lack the capability to integrate with a central system. This leaves you with isolated pockets of data. Your operators might receive scattered alerts without a clear view of what's happening.
Also, many of these basic systems don't offer real-time visibility or proactive alerts. Without the ability to monitor tanks continuously or receive immediate notifications, you're still reacting to problems rather than addressing them before they escalate.
To effectively manage propane tanks on a large scale, you need a monitoring system that is reliable and capable of scaling with your enterprise. The right system should:
A key feature of a successful system is its ability to consolidate data from all remote sites into a single, centralized platform.
Your alarm monitoring system should include a master station that serves as the central hub for all your alarms. This station consolidates data from your various sensors and remote monitoring units into one interface, providing a "single pane of glass" for easy management.
With all the data in one place, you can quickly identify and address issues without sifting through multiple systems or manually aggregating information.
The system should support multiple communication protocols (such as SNMP, Modbus, or cellular-based methods) to function across a variety of network setups.
Whether you're dealing with urban or rural sites, the system must be flexible enough to operate under different conditions, allowing you to monitor tanks regardless of the available connectivity.
A modern monitoring solution should include automated threshold-based alerts. You can set specific tank levels that, when crossed, trigger immediate notifications to the right teams.
This allows you to dispatch refills before tanks reach a "too low" level. That helps you avoid expensive emergency situations.
Scalability is crucial. Your monitoring system should grow with your business, accommodating new sites and additional tanks without requiring major infrastructure changes. The ideal system allows for easy expansion, whether by adding more remote units or integrating additional sensors as your network grows.
While advanced and field-proven monitoring solutions are essential, it's important to recognize that not all scenarios are suited for every type of equipment.
For situations involving a very large number of sites with relatively low asset value per site (such as a 500-gallon propane tank at a private residence), deploying a NetGuardian RTU may not be practical. These environments often lack the necessary infrastructure, like a weatherproof enclosure, wired LAN, and power supply.
In these cases, a cellular, Wi-Fi, or LoRaWAN waterproof monitoring device with a built-in battery might be the best solution.
DPS Telecom's NetGuardian RTUs are ideally suited for more complex environments where infrastructure justifies their deployment. These include telecommunications sites, electric utility substations, radio tower sites, and similar remote business or government facilities.
In these settings, the NetGuardian RTUs can leverage existing power sources and network connectivity to provide robust and reliable monitoring.
For utility providers managing critical infrastructure sites, DPS Telecom has remote monitoring solutions that meet the specific challenges of large-scale operations.
T/Mon LNX serves as a master station that centralizes all monitored data into one platform. With the T/Mon, you get real-time visibility into your propane tanks and other critical assets. You'll be receiving automatic alerts when levels drop below pre-set alarm thresholds.
NetGuardian RTUs are critical components of an effective monitoring solution in these environments. These remote telemetry units gather data from individual propane tanks and other equipment, sending it back to the T/Mon for analysis and reporting.
They support various communication protocols to integrate into existing network infrastructures. Whether you're operating over LAN, cellular, or another method, the NetGuardian RTUs provide the flexibility needed for large-scale monitoring in suitable facilities.
In scenarios where you're monitoring a vast number of residential propane tanks, the infrastructure required for deploying NetGuardian RTUs might not be feasible. These residential sites often lack the necessary power supply, network connectivity, and environmental protection needed for such equipment.
Running out of fuel is much less costly in a single residence, making it tough to justify an investment in telco-grade gear.
Managing large networks of propane tanks doesn't have to be difficult. By choosing the right combination of equipment for each specific situation, you can streamline operations, reduce costs, and mitigate risks.
DPS Telecom equipment is designed to meet the unique demands of utility providers handling vast networks of remote assets in suitable environments.
Whether you're monitoring propane tanks at critical infrastructure sites, managing environmental sensors, or overseeing essential equipment, DPS has the tools and expertise to help you manage everything on one screen. From the T/Mon LNX to the NetGuardian RTUs, our systems are built for scalability, security, and efficiency where they fit best.
If you're ready to improve your remote monitoring capabilities in the appropriate settings, contact DPS Telecom today. Our team is ready to help you design a custom solution that meets your specific needs.
Call us at 1-800-693-0351 or email sales@dpstele.com to start your journey toward more efficient and reliable network monitoring.
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 17 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
