Liquid Tank Access Metering With Remote Dispensing Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bulk storage tanks lack secure and metered access control systems for controlled dispensing of liquids, particularly in temporary and portable storage tanks, leading to unregulated and unmonitored fluid delivery.
Innovation Solution
A fluid access and control system that includes a controller, pump, valve, and communications device, where user identification and payment verification are validated by a remote server to activate and deactivate the pump and valve, ensuring precise metering and secure delivery of fluids from storage tanks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a controlled metering system is implemented in bulk storage tanks, then fluid delivery precision and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the storage tank into multiple zones or compartments, each with independent access control and metering capabilities. This allows precise control of fluid delivery from specific sections while maintaining overall system manageability, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity through modular segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate control unit or gateway is introduced between the bulk storage tank and the dispensing mechanism. This intermediary component handles the complex metering and authorization logic, allowing the main storage system to remain simple while achieving precise fluid delivery control through the mediating layer.
2Reliability
If access control and metering systems are added to temporary storage tanks, then security and regulation compliance are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The access control system is designed to automatically verify user credentials, authorize dispensing rights, and track fluid delivery without requiring manual intervention from security personnel. The system serves itself by maintaining authorization databases and making real-time decisions, thereby enhancing security while preserving ease of operation for authorized users.
Solution Approach 2:
User authorization and fluid allocation decisions are made in advance and stored in the system before actual dispensing occurs. This preliminary authorization process allows users to simply present credentials and receive pre-approved fluid deliveries without complex real-time negotiations or manual approvals, maintaining both security and operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If remote server validation is implemented for user identification, then access security is improved, but loss of time in authentication increases
Solution Approach 1:
User identification credentials and authorization levels are validated and cached by local controllers or edge devices before actual fluid dispensing begins. This preliminary validation stores authentication results locally, allowing subsequent dispensing operations to proceed without repeated remote server queries, thereby maintaining security while reducing authentication time for routine operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic or scheduled validation with the remote server rather than continuous verification for each dispensing event. Authorization is refreshed at predetermined intervals or after specific thresholds are reached, reducing the frequency of remote communications while maintaining adequate security levels for ongoing operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid access and control system for controlling access to a fluid storage tank includes a pump, a valve, a communications device, and controller. The pump is configured to supply a fluid output from the fluid storage tank. The valve is configured to control the fluid output of the pump. The communications device is configured to communicate with both a portable electronic device and a remote server. The communications device receives an access request from the portable electric device and transmits the access request to the remote server for validation. The controller is configured to control the operation of the pump and valve as defined by control signals transmitted by the remote server and received by the communications device. The controller is further configured to activate the pump and open the valve when the access request has been validated by the remote server and a START switch is actuated.