Tank mass measurement assembly

A tank mass measuring assembly for monitoring an amount of a fluid stored in a tank comprising:

• (a) a tank having a fluid stored in the tank;
• (b) an outlet passageway for permitting the fluid to exit the tank for use by a device requiring the fluid;
• (c) an inlet passageway for permitting the fluid to be returned to the tank;
• (d) a mass measurement chamber located externally of the tank and coupled in fluid communication with both the outlet and inlet passageways of the tank;
• and
• (e) a sensor assembly at least partially disposed in the mass measurement chamber, the sensor assembly adapted to measure a mass of the fluid disposed in the mass measurement chamber and relay the measured mass to a computation device for determining the amount of the fluid in the tank.

A method of installing a tank mass measuring assembly to a tank storing a pressurized fluid within the tank without purging the tank of the fluid, the method comprising:

• (a) closing an outlet valve on a fluid outlet line of the tank;
• (b) closing an inlet valve on a fluid inlet line of the tank;
• (c) mounting a mass measurement chamber remotely of the tank;
• (d) coupling the mass measurement chamber in fluid communication with the fluid outlet downstream of the outlet valve and with the fluid inlet line upstream of the inlet valve;
• (e) installing a mass measuring sensor assembly at least partially within the mass measurement chamber for measuring a mass of the fluid in the mass measurement chamber;
• and
• (f) opening the inlet and outlet valves to permit fluid from the tank to freely enter and exit the mass measurement chamber.