Tank Gauging - MHT Technology Ltd

Apprentice Update – October 2024

Jack Zelenka — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 13:10:23 +0000

Whilst it is almost hard to believe, it has now been over a year since MHT welcomed our two Apprentice Software Engineers, Tom and Joe. In this blog we’ll get an insight into how they have found their first year here, and we’ll also catch up with our Production and Field Service Apprentice Jake who has entered his third and final year.

Apprentice Software Engineer - Joe

Joe – Apprentice Software engineer

How do you feel about the progress you’ve made in learning the skills required for your role?

“I feel I’ve made good progress in learning the skills required for my role at MHT. Over the past year, I’ve built a solid understanding of various technologies, and I’m able to tackle more complex tasks with confidence. My troubleshooting abilities, in particular, have improved significantly.”

How well do you feel you’ve adapted to the work culture and team dynamics?

“I’ve adapted well to the work culture and team dynamics at MHT. The team is very collaborative, and over time I’ve become comfortable with our communication style and workflow. The open environment has made it easier to seek help and contribute my own ideas to projects.”

Has the training and support you’ve received been effective in helping you meet your learning goals?

“Yes, the training and support I’ve received have been very effective. My mentor has been especially helpful in guiding me through complex tasks, and the resources provided by the company have supported my learning. I’ve found that I’m now able to apply my knowledge more practically in projects.”

How has your confidence grown since starting the apprenticeship?

“My confidence has grown significantly since starting the apprenticeship. Initially, I was hesitant when approaching tasks or asking questions, but now I feel much more self-assured in my abilities and decision-making. This growth has also made me more proactive in contributing to team discussions.”

How comfortable are you in giving and receiving feedback from colleagues and supervisors?

“I’m quite comfortable both giving and receiving feedback. At MHT, feedback is always constructive, and it’s encouraged in a way that helps me improve without feeling discouraged. I’ve also learned to give feedback to others in a way that supports the team’s growth and development.”

Do you have a clearer idea of where you’d like to be professionally in the next few years?

“Yes, I have a clearer idea of where I’d like to be. Over the next few years, I aim to develop more advanced technical skills, especially in software architecture and design. I’d also like to take on more responsibility within projects, possibly moving into a leadership role in the future.”

What has been the most valuable part of your apprenticeship experience so far?

“The most valuable part of my apprenticeship has been the hands-on experience. Being able to work on real-world projects has accelerated my learning far beyond what I could have achieved through theory alone. The combination of mentorship and practical tasks has been crucial to my development.”

Tom – Apprentice Software engineer

Has the training and support you’ve received been effective in helping you meet your learning goals?

“The apprenticeship has been highly effective in supporting my learning goals through a combination of university education and on-the-job training. The apprenticeships structure has allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge from my university courses directly to real-world projects at work, reinforcing my understanding and skills. Additionally, the hands-on experience I have gained has significantly contributed to my professional growth, helping me meet and often exceed my learning objectives.”

What has been the most valuable part of your apprenticeship experience so far?

“The most valuable aspect of my apprenticeship has been working on real-world projects. These experiences have challenged me to adapt to dynamic work environments, required quick problem-solving skills, and provided opportunities to apply theory from my university courses. Successfully completing these projects has given me a profound sense of accomplishment, boosting both my confidence and motivation in my chosen field.”

Do you have a clearer idea of where you’d like to be professionally in the next few years?

“Undergoing an apprenticeship has given me a better understanding of my chosen industry (software engineering) and how I can grow within the industry throughout my career. I now have a clearer vision of potential career paths, specialisations, and the skills I need to develop to achieve my professional goals in the coming years.”

Apprentice Software Engineer - Tom

Whilst Tom and Joe have just completed their first year with us, our Production and Field Service Apprentice Jake is into his third and final year.

Jake – Production and Field Service Apprentice

Can you describe a specific skill or task that you feel particularly confident in now compared to when you started?

“When I started over two years ago, I wasn’t very confident assembling our products so it would take me a while to get an order out of the door. However now I am very confident building and testing all of our products and feel I could comfortably guide others through the process too.”

How well do you feel you’ve adapted to the work culture and team dynamics?

“With being involved with in two separate departments, I think I have adapted to the team dynamics really well, especially when jumping between roles as I have to work with multiple different people. In fact one of the things I like most about my job is the people that I work with.”

How do you feel this apprenticeship is preparing you for a long-term career in this field?

“The fact that I get real world work experience in the industry I have chosen whilst continuing to learn and widen my knowledge is a remarkably good way to prepare me for a long term future in this field. I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone.”

What personal achievements are you most proud of so far?

“One of my personal achievements was completing my first order. When you are watching your work leave the building to he used on sites all over the world, you get an overwhelming sense of achievement and it pushes you to complete more and more orders at at a high standard.”

Production and Field Service Apprentice - Jake

Production Supervisor - Steve Mills

“Jake has now entered his 3rd and final year of his apprenticeship and is well and truly settled into his role within MHT. As well as performing well within the Production Department, he has been involved with several Field Service jobs, and as a result he is gaining a broader knowledge of Tank Gauging systems. It’s been enjoyable to oversee Jake’s progress over the last couple of years and I look forward to seeing his future progression within the engineering world.”

If you are interested in working for MHT Technology Ltd, you can view our careers page on the button below.

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The post Apprentice Update – October 2024 first appeared on MHT Technology Ltd.

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Apprentice Spotlight

Jack Zelenka — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:40:55 +0000

This week, MHT Technology will take part in National Apprenticeship Week.

This is a week for businesses and education centres around the country to celebrate and acknowledge apprentices’ hard work and progress as they move forward on their career journeys.

At MHT we are grateful to have 3 fantastic apprentices, and we would like to take this opportunity to shine the spotlight on them.

In September of 2023, we took on two new Apprentices. Joe and Tom became our first-ever Apprentice Software Engineers, and they have absolutely hit the ground running.

Apprentice Software Engineer - Joe

Joe – Apprentice Software engineer

“Hi, I am Joe, and I am currently working towards a Digital and Technology Solutions degree apprenticeship with MHT Technology.

Back in college, when it was time to think about university, I started looking into apprenticeships and realised that they suited me more than the idea of continuing full-time education. Apprenticeships have a few major benefits over traditional university: getting to work while learning, help from professionals in your field, and avoiding the huge amount of debt from university fees.

My aim from this apprenticeship has always been to gain valuable knowledge in the area, but to achieve firsthand experience with developing software. My background in computer science in sixth form and secondary was why I decided a software career would be right for me. I also had people I spoke to already in the industry, so jumping straight into work right after college seemed like the right move.

So far, I have been learning through online courses, sessions with senior engineers, and my weekly university classes. This mix helps me apply what I learn in class to real work, which is exactly what I wanted. I always wondered how school stuff would actually matter in the real world, and now I am seeing the connections at my job with MHT. The first five months were not without their challenges, though. Moving from sixth form to working life was a big change since I had to get used to more responsibility, but it has been good for picking up skills I can use anywhere.

This apprenticeship scheme definitely feels like it is setting me up for the future, giving me experiences you just cannot get in a classroom. Furthermore, it is opening doors and giving me an edge in the job market compared to newly graduated uni students. If I were to think ahead, I am most excited about the chance to work with artificial intelligence and machine learning in the future.

Looking back, I am really glad I went the apprenticeship route since learning on the job works better for me than sitting in a lecture hall. Even though I am not at university full-time, the once-a-week classes still provide some university experiences, such as meeting other apprentices like me. If you were to ask if an apprenticeship is worth it, I would say totally. Anyone thinking about it should go for it because you never know where it will lead you. And one of the most attractive parts is you earn money whilst learning, which is a major win.”

Tom – Apprentice Software engineer

“Hello, my name is Tom, and I am an apprentice at MHT Technology. I am currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in digital and technology solutions (Software Engineering) at Teesside University.

I chose to undertake a degree apprenticeship as I was concerned that whilst going to university would allow me to gain academic knowledge, I would leave with no experience in the field. For me, the decision to go down the apprenticeship route was a no-brainer, as I could work and study simultaneously. Through my apprenticeship, I can apply the academic knowledge I learn at university in real-world settings, learn from professionals, and gain skills that will be invaluable to my career. Furthermore, given that the apprenticeship is government-funded, I am able to earn a salary without the stress of student finance/loans.

I have really enjoyed the apprenticeship so far. The opportunity to learn new skills and gain hands-on experience has already been incredibly rewarding. Beyond gaining coding and technical skills, I have been able to grow professionally, developing my communication, problem-solving, and teamwork abilities. My favourite part of the apprenticeship so far has been the ability to collaborate on projects and offer a meaningful contribution to the team despite being a novice. Being new to the industry, it was easy for me to doubt my ability, but the apprenticeship has offered me the flexibility to learn on the job and quickly overcome any fears by working on my own projects and collaborating with experienced developers.

In the coming years, I look forward to continuing to learn and grow in my professional journey, and I cannot wait to see where this apprenticeship takes me. I strongly believe that the combination of academic learning and hands-on experience that a degree apprenticeship offers is an excellent pathway for anyone looking to start their software engineering career.”

Apprentice Software Engineer - Tom

Robin Nesbitt - Software Development Manager

Tom and Joe have been invaluable assets to our software degree apprenticeship program. Their dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence have set a high standard for their peers. Both have consistently demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills, innovative thinking, and a strong commitment to mastering the intricacies of software development. Their collaborative spirit and eagerness to learn make them standout candidates for future leadership roles in the industry. We are proud to have Tom and Joe as part of our apprenticeship program, and we have no doubt that they will continue to excel and make significant contributions to the field of software engineering.

You may have already been introduced to our Production and Field Service Apprentice, Jake. He is currently midway through his second year with the company and is an integral part of our team.

“Hi, my name is Jake; I am currently enrolled on a level 3 Engineering Fitter course at Darlington College, which I attend once a week. The course is part of my apprenticeship program here at MHT Technology.

When I left school, I decided I wanted an apprenticeship so I could gain the skills and knowledge from the college course but also the experience of a workplace. Once I left school, I went to college to study Electrical Installation, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This experience proved that I enjoyed working with electricity and gave me a career option which I would go on to pursue.

I have been working at MHT for a year and a half now, and throughout my time at the company, I have learned many skills ranging from academic skills to communication and people skills. So far, during my time on the apprenticeship, I have had many challenges in getting multiple reports completed in a short period of time; however, that challenge helped me to improve my time management. I have also taken a Portable Appliance Testing training course and the skills I gained I use at work when testing appliances around the office.

In the future, I would like to venture more into field service to experience the products we assemble in the office working out on-site.

Overall, my journey so far has been massively rewarding, gaining valuable skills and information needed in any workplace. I would massively recommend the apprenticeship schemes!”

Production and Field Service Apprentice - Jake

If you are interested in working for MHT Technology Ltd, you can view our careers page on the button below.

Click Here

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The post Apprentice Spotlight first appeared on MHT Technology Ltd.

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VTW Software Version 18.3.3 Release notes

Jack Zelenka — Tue, 02 May 2023 15:52:41 +0000

Overview

Release 18.3.3 of VTW represents the latest in the ongoing story of MHT Technology’s continuing support for bulk liquid handling and storage. The software builds on its heritage for supporting instrumentation from all major vendors and international standards of operation.

New Features

Sortable Alarm Panel

The Alarm Event Viewer has been enhanced to permit customers to define a hierarchy of notifications based on several columns. For instance, events can be sorted such that alarms are ranked by severity first, then active state, then last occurrence time.

The sort order can be “locked in” using the security system to ensure only authorised users can change this ordering.

Sorting of Events in Alarm Event Viewer

RESERVE VOLUME

Some users of VTW are responsible for maintaining countries’ strategic reserves of fuels. In these sites the state mandates that a minimum amount of stock is kept on their tanks to keep people safe should the worst happen.

The diagram shows the relationship between the reserve volume and the current product inventory based on product level. Note that use of the Minimum Operating Level is not affected allowing movements to be safely executed on tanks with floating rooves and blankets.

A new feature allows a volume of product to be defined for each tank that represents the minimum observed quantity that needs to be maintained in the tank.

When inventory is calculated for the tank, the Reserve Volume is considered and a Reserve Deficit Volume is derived from it. The Reserve Deficit Volume is the observed volume of product that needs to be made up to fulfil the sites’ strategic reserve obligations. This value can be shown on the Home Page, Single Tank Overview, Grid View and included on customised inventory reports.

The feature allows the safe minimum volume setting to be left for the purpose it is intended. The minimum amount of product that needs to be in the tank to prevent pumps from becoming dry, or floating roofs from landing. When a strategic reserve is called upon the last thing that is needed are operators unable to supply product to those in need safely.

If you are interested in upgrading to the latest version of VTW or would like a quote for any of our other products and services, please click on the button below.

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The post VTW Software Version 18.3.3 Release notes first appeared on MHT Technology Ltd.

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Meet our Production and Field Service Apprentices

Jack Zelenka — Tue, 14 Feb 2023 08:35:51 +0000

six months in…

On the 1^st of August 2022, MHT Technology opened its doors to our first ever Production and Field Service Apprentices. Covering areas such as: Production Assembly, Stock Control and Inventory, and Installation, Servicing and Repair, the 3-year scheme will provide the apprentices with industry standard vocational skills gained in a real working environment.

The tailored learning programme will see the apprentices start in our Production Department where they will develop a better understanding of our products whilst helping our Production Supervisor Steve to achieve the production requirements of the business.

From there, our apprentices will also have the opportunity to work alongside our Field Service Department, offering technical support to customers both in the field and remotely, to the highest levels of service that we expect from all MHT colleagues.

Having now been a part of the MHT family for 6 months, we checked in with Matthew and Jake to find out about their journey at MHT so far…

Production and Field Service Apprentice - Matthew

“Hello everyone, my name’s Matthew. I have an interest in politics, history and blacksmithing and I studied engineering and design in college.

Since joining MHT, I’ve found it really interesting working with and learning about the other departments as there is a real diversity of roles and skill-sets within the company.

A challenge that I’ve encountered in my first 6 months has been learning how to use and navigate some of the computer systems we use such as SAP and MERVIN (an in house piece of MHT software). Fortunately there’s always knowledgeable people available to help.

Going forward I’m excited to start working in other areas of the company such as the Field Service department and I’d really like to do a First Aid course soon.”

Production and Field Service Apprentice - Jake

“Hi, I’m Jake. I’m interested in all kinds of sports especially football and formula 1. I am a season ticket holder at Newcastle United and I play football for my local team Shildon as well as a 5-a-side team.

One of my personal highlights of the apprenticeship so far has been the opportunity to work with all of the different equipment and programs that MHT produce. I’m very happy that I have already been able to independently build, test and dispatch my first assembly.

I’m looking forward to getting my safety passport which will allow me to visit customer sites as a Field Service Apprentice. It will be really interesting to see how the products we have been working on are used from the customers perspective.”

Steve Mills - Production Supervisor

Jake and Matthew have settled in very well to the MHT production environment, learning the core skills required alongside their college learning for their engineering apprenticeship. I look forward to seeing them both progress within MHT, gaining further understanding of the Tank Gauging business and other key engineering skills.

If you are interested in working for MHT Technology Ltd, you can view our current vacancies on the button below.

Click Here

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The post Meet our Production and Field Service Apprentices first appeared on MHT Technology Ltd.

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LMS Automatic Composition deployed in Virginia

adminmht — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 16:21:51 +0000

LMS 18.3.2 Deployed at LNG Site in Virginia

December 2022

MHT Technology’s LMS 18.3.2 software was deployed at the TC Energy site in Chesapeake, Virginia in December 2022. The deployment took place as part of an upgrade of their software and included the scheduled rollover feature and the new associated automatic composition facility.

TC Energy were already using 18.2.5 to monitor the stratification of their LNG storage tank, but decided to upgrade their software following a training program on the subject of LNG Rollover. The peak shaving plant in Chesapeake stores excess natural gas during the summer months when demand is low, to provide back to the national grid in the winter. In the change over from exporting to importing gas the tank contents can weather to leave a dense heel in the tank, setting up the conditions for stratification and eventual rollover.

ROLLOVER Protection

The automation starts with a scheduled profile of the tank. The Scientific Instruments 6290 gauge is sent a command by LMS to do a full profile of the tank contents. The second stage of the analysis takes place after the profile is completed; a rollover calculation takes the last 2 profiles and analyses them for stratification. If both are stratified the system is then able to compute the rate of change between the two and estimate from that, the time taken for the stratification to break down and result in a rollover event.

FULLY AUTOMATED ROLLOVER MONITORING

Alarms are used to alert operators to the tanks’ status. Keeping them informed of tank stratification and any forecasted rollover events. Additionally, a simplified user interface graphically summarises the tanks’ status.

COMMISSIONING AND TRAINING

MHT Technology flew an engineer to site to assist with the commissioning process and provided a demo system free of charge to allow staff to practice with the software as thankfully rollover events are uncommon occurrences. Like fire drills, you need to practice them, in the hope that you never need to use them.

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Software Insight into VTW’s Movements Package

Camille Hilditch — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:55:34 +0000

Overview

The tools for operators to manage the safe movement of product between locations are provided by the Movements packages in VTW. Within VTW there are two packages: “Simple” and “Full” Movements. “Simple” Movements is free on all licenses, the second “Full” Movements is a paid-for optional extra. In this article, MHT goes deeper to discuss the differences between the two and why Movements is an important consideration when choosing a tank gauging system.

Guidance and Monitoring

Operators are guided to set up a product movement, confident that it will comply with site operating policy. During the movement, the operators can monitor the progress via site customisable displays showing tank flow rate, estimated finish time, remaining and actual volumes, while the system will generate alerts at specifically configured points. All movement data is recorded within the database and can be visualised in reports and certificates.

Starting with Safety

A site’s policies for the safe movement of products are defined by those with responsibility for its safety. Maximum/minimum safe operating levels, maximum safe flow rates, and conferring authority on people to carry out certain operations are common decisions that are made when creating the policies. Movements make keeping to those policies easier by ensuring that operators plan and monitor progress.

Simple Movement Package

Give users the ability to plan and monitor tank movements

Allow target values to be calculated

Show how the movement is progressing

Generate estimated completion times

Sound alarms to alert operators as the tanks near their targets

Integration of unauthorised movement detection

Full Movement Package

Includes all the features in the simple movement package

Enforcement of site policies with regard to tank movements

Auditing of movement activities

Trend data showing progress against time

Reporting of movement certificates

Handling of multi-tank movements, for instance, receiving into multiple tanks

simple Movements

Access to the simple movement is normally made via the Grid View, customised views can be designed to optimise the information to the site’s needs, however, a Movements view is provided during installation for use as a starting point.

Movement Setup

To configure a movement the operator enters the desired outcome from the movement, he may want to empty the tank, ship a certain quantity of product, or fill it to defined level. The movement calculator uses the current tank readings as a starting point and calculates the resulting target level from the outcome according to the tank’s inventory settings. At this stage he can set pre-alarm levels to provide prompts as the movement near completion.

Tank to tank transfers can also be configured, with the calculation results being applied to both the source and destination at the same time.

Starting and monitoring the movement

When the movement details are ready, the operator clicks “Set Movement” button to start the movement. At this point unauthorised movement (leak) detection is disabled automatically. During the movement the information on the progress of the movement is calculated and shown on the grid view screen.

This information can also be displayed on the Single Tank Overview, the standard layout is shown below – but this can be customised to suit a site’s requirements.

Pre-alarms are sounded when the tank levels are within a certain distance of the target to alert the operators.

full Movements

Simple Movements leaves a lot to the operators’ judgement and experience, where the Full Movements comes in to its own is the ability for supervisors to place limits on their activities and promote safe methods of working. For instance, should a movement be planned that causes a tank to be filled beyond the Safe Maximum Fill, on full movements the operator can be:

Prevented from planning such a movement
Allowed to plan, but prevented from starting such a movement
Allowed to start a movement providing they have supervisor privileges on the system

There is a work flow for movements in Full Movements, which sees a movement progress from planned, to open, to finished and there are checks at each stage to prevent unsafe work. Movements can be paused and restarted in Full Movements allowing temporary stops on operations to be restarted from where they left off.

The configuration and setup of Full Movements can be quite daunting, many sites have to spend time reviewing operational policies, and formalising the use of Full Movements in order to get the best out of it.

The rewards for doing so are uniformity in their operators’ understanding of “How we work” as well as making it easier for them to follow the rules than work around them.

Movement Summary

The movements package opens at a summary screen, where movements in various states are shown, planned movements are awaiting execution, open movements are in progress and closed are work that is done.

Planning a movement

There are two methods for creating movements. The main method is via a movement “wizard” that guides the operator through the process in a step-by-step fashion. Unlike the simple movements more complex movement scenarios are possible: a ship receipt into multiple tanks, making a blend from multiple source tanks, long running jobs feeding and receiving a process, or managing recirculation to mix a tank.

The system eliminates many of manual calculations operators need to do, that are a frequent source of errors, when planning movements. Targets can be expressed as volumes, weights, standard volumes or observed volumes according to your needs.

Housekeeping Movements

Having worked in tank gauging for many year MHT are aware that although the big “headline” ship receipts attract the most attention, the majority of movements are more mundane. Simple housekeeping; consolidating inventory into one tank, draining water, all these movements require the same level of care as they have the potential to be as dangerous as the big movements.

A quick movement configuration method is provided to make a simple tank-to-tank transfer a snap to configure. The same level of safety and monitoring is provided on these movements, it is just that many of the options are hidden behind defaults. It really is easier for an operator to apply the site rules than deviate from them.

Monitoring the whole movement

Movements can be monitored either through the summary window, or through a movement window. If the movement is a multi-tank movement: suppose the ship must discharge into many tanks, then all the components of the movement are shown together in one place, allowing each tank to be opened and closed as and when needed.

The net flow from the ship is calculated from the individual flows from the tanks as is the accumulated volume moved and the volume remaining to be moved. This is invaluable in helping the operators understand where they are with a large, complex movement, where delays can result in demurrage charges.

Completion and Reporting

In many circumstances the movement is completed once the pumps are turned off and the valves are closed. When a custody transfer has occurred there are often more steps to follow in order to close out the movement. The Full Movements package supports the entry of manual dip values and pipeline adjustments after the tanks have settled, allowing accurate assessment of the inventory changes that have occurred.

These finalised data are then used to generate reports to document the process. The report format is defined by a Crystal Reports template that can be customised to match corporate styles.

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