Tank weighing involves mounting a storage vessel, silo, or mixing tank onto a set of load cells to accurately measure the amount of material (liquid or solid) contained within. This technique is crucial for inventory control, batching, and process monitoring in industries like chemical, food and beverage, and pharmaceuticals. The installation requires special attention to potential external forces, such as piping connections or agitator vibrations, which must be minimized or isolated to ensure accurate weight readings. The tank is typically supported by three or four weighing modules, each containing a single load cell and often a self-aligning mechanism to maintain vertical loading despite thermal expansion or slight seismic activity.

The most common type is the Canister Load Cell (or Compression Load Cell) and the Shear Beam Load Cell.

• > Compression/Canister Load Cells: These are highly robust and ideal for very large-capacity tanks and silos. They are designed to withstand significant weight and often come housed in protective mounting assemblies.
• > Shear Beam Load Cells: Often used in smaller to medium-sized tanks, they are typically housed in weighing modules that include restraints (like lift-off and side-to-side protection) and are self-aligning for repeatable accuracy

An Electronic Weight Transmitter or Controller is used to amplify and process the combined signals from all load cells. These instruments typically offer features essential for tank weighing, such as:

• > Calibration: Advanced digital calibration (like Smart Calibration) without test weights.
• > Filtering: Digital filters to suppress vibrations caused by agitators or mixers.
• > Output: Communication protocols (e.g. 4-20mA, 0-10VDC, Modbus RS485) for integration with a plant’s main PLC or DCS system for automated control and inventory tracking