Method and apparatus for monitoring, communicating, and analyzing the amount of fluid in a tank

A device for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank, comprising:

• a housing comprising an inlet adapted to be attached to an outlet of the tank and to receive fluid from the tank;
• a flow meter disposed in the housing and configured to measure a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid after it leaves the tank and flows through a pressure regulator during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval;
• a pressure sensor in communication with the at least one processor, the pressure sensor configured to periodically or continuously measure a pressure inside the tank, resulting in pressure data;
• and
• at least one processor in communication with the flow meter and the pressure sensor, the at least one processor programmed or configured to:
• determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on:
• an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements;
• receive the pressure data;
• determine a rate of change of the pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on the pressure data;
• determine a volume of the tank based at least partially on the rate of change in pressure in the tank during the at least one measurement period and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period;
• determine an initial mass of the fluid in the tank based at least partially on an initial pressure in the tank and the volume of the tank;
• determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on the initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period;
• generate, based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following:
• a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof;
• and
• communicate the indication to a remote system or device, wherein the remote system or device comprises at least one of the following:
• a robot, an automated valve configured to open or close based on the indication, a software application configured to plan or predict supply chain events, capital expenses, and/or delivery routes to customers, or any combination thereof.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for monitoring the mass of a fluid remaining in a tank as the fluid periodically or continuously leaves the tank through an automated valve, comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

• measure, with a flow meter in communication with the at least one processor, a plurality of flow rate measurements of the fluid as it leaves the tank during at least one measurement period, wherein each flow rate measurement of the plurality of flow rate measurements is determined at a time interval;
• determine a mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period based at least partially on:
• an averaged value of the plurality of flow rate measurements taken during the at least one measurement period, a density of the fluid at a pressure and/or temperature of the fluid as it passes through the flow meter, and the time interval between the plurality of flow rate measurements;
• determine a mass of the fluid remaining in the tank based at least partially on a known, measured, or determined initial mass of the fluid in the tank and the determined mass of the fluid that has left the tank during the at least one measurement period;
• generate, based at least partially on the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an indication of at least one of the following:
• a volume of the fluid remaining in the tank, a volume of the tank, a consumption rate, a consumption rate history, the determined mass of the fluid remaining in the tank, an estimated time remaining before the tank will be empty, or any combination thereof;
• and
• control the automated valve of the tank based at least partially on at least one of the mass of the fluid remaining in the tank and the indication.