Innovation driven by safety
Floating roof monitoring solutions for aboveground storage tanks (AST) must be able to detect, quickly, accurately, and reliably, any changes in key roof operating parameters, such as inclination, acceleration/vibration, temperature, and the presence of hydrocarbons and/or water that indicate conditions exist that could lead to failure of the floating roof.
Syscor developed the WirelessHART FR-Tracker Floating Roof Monitoring System in close cooperation with the petroleum industry as an effective and economical solution. FR-Tracker systems have been deployed on many large AST floating roofs in Canada and internationally since 2014. On several occasions, the system has been credited with preventing floating roof accidents. The design of the FR-Tracker system has been driven by customer input, experience gained in the field, and industry adoption of the WirelessHART protocol. With more than 30 million HART devices in the field, using WirelessHART allows FR-Tracker to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure. Modular system components allows flexibility in solution applications.
The 
FR-Tracker Aboveground Storage Tank Floating Roof Monitoring Solution Package provides all of the components required for rapid deployment of the floating roof monitoring solution in the field.
External, or open-top, floating roof tanks typically have steel floating roofs with a drainpipe to drain away rain water. Problems that may affect EFRs include excessive rainwater or snow accumulation, rim seal degradation, and stuck seals or ladders. These problems may further cause inclination and/or vibration of the floating roof, and product emissions. Syscor's FR-Tracker Solution has sensor technologies capable of detecting warning signs for these conditions.
Internal, or closed-top, floating roof tanks typically have aluminum roofs that may have penetrations for structural columns and other equipment. Some IFRTs are EFRTs that have been converted for the extra protection the fixed roof provides. Problems that may affect IFRs include rim and equipment seal degradation, and stuck seals or ladders. These problems may further cause inclination and/or vibration of the floating roof and product emissions. Syscor's FR-Tracker Solution has sensor technologies capable of detecting warning signs for these conditions.
On EFRTs, Blocked roof drains or overwhelming rainfall can cause water accumulation on the deck beyond the roof’s engineered capacity. The FR-Tracker system can detect when the fluid level is approaching designed limits and when inclination indicates a sinking roof.
As with water accumulation, excess snowfall on an EFR can place more weight on the floating roof than it is designed to handle. Snow layers on EFRTs typically have a layer of water at the bottom that is detectable by the FR-Tracker system's water level sensor.
A stuck seal, ladder or other equipment can cause a roof to stick or sink. The FR-Tracker system can detect the acceleration and roof inclination that indicate this condition.
Seismic activity or any of a number of other factors can cause movement of the floating roof. The FR-Tracker system detects vibration and acceleration that can occur during such events.
Sensor transducers in the FR-Tracker system detect the presence of liquid hydrocarbons (butane and heavier).
The FR-Tracker solution comprises the following products: