Systems and methods of determining a quality and a quantity of a fluid

A sensing system for sensing a fluid in a tank, the system comprising:

• a sensor housing;
• a fixed target;
• a first transducer configured to generate a first sound wave and to detect a first echo of the first sound wave from the fixed target, the first transducer positioned near the bottom of the tank, the fixed object positioned a known distance away from the transducer;
• a second transducer configured to generate a second sound wave and to detect a second echo of the second sound wave, the second transducer positioned to direct the second sound wave toward a surface of the fluid in the tank;
• a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the fluid;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• produce a first signal to drive the first transducer to produce the first sound wave,
• produce a second signal to drive the second transducer to produce the second sound wave,
• receive a first indication of the detected first echo from the first transducer,
• receive a second indication of the detected second echo from the second transducer,
• receive a temperature indication of the temperature of the fluid from the temperature sensor,
• determine a quality of the fluid based on the first indication and the temperature indication, and
• determine a quantity of the fluid based on the second indication, and the temperature indication.

A method of sensing a fluid in a tank, the method comprising:

• generating a first sound wave in a horizontal direction;
• detecting an echo of the first sound wave from a fixed object positioned at a known location;
• generating a second sound wave in a vertical direction such that the second sound wave travels toward a surface of the fluid in the tank;
• detecting an echo of the second sound wave;
• detecting a temperature of the fluid;
• determining a quality of the fluid based on the echo of the first sound wave and the temperature;
• and
• determining a quantity of the fluid based on the echo of the second sound wave, and the temperature.