Cepsa developes terminal to manage fuel discharges at sites

The terminal is a system for automatic hydrocarbon unloading, optimizing unloading times and improving operational safety. Pilot tests are being carried out in Andalusia and Valencia (Spain).

Cepsa and the Montrel Industrial Group have developed a high-performance hydrocarbon Discharge Management Terminal (DMT), the first of its kind in Spain for automatic liquid fuel discharges at service stations and other fuel storage facilities.

This new system features a touchscreen to assist tanker truck drivers in discharging their fuel using a smart local control console, which allows them to complete the task safely and without the aid of service station staff. This in turn reduces the risk of human error and direct contact with the products by professionals.

In addition, the Terminal strengthens discharge process safety measures, thanks to the electronic centralized monitoring and control at each stage of the process: automatic receipt of delivery notes and seal verification/confirmation of all necessary safety actions, with the option for remote supervision from a control center, among others.

The DMT system avoids the risk of contamination between products, as it clearly and safely identifies each hydrocarbon, as well as the volumes loaded into each compartment of the tank, by communicating with a small encapsulated hardware device supplied by Montrel called TAG. This prevents the discharge of products that do not match the storage tanks.

Julio Hernández Penide, Head of Technology in Cepsa's sales department, noted that "after three years of developing the project, we are very proud to finish up the final stage of on-site tests of the system and IT integration, which is yet another milestone in the development of innovation and technology applied to our sector."

Luis A. Víu, CEO of Montrel said: “This innovation represents the culmination and success of the R&D+i work that we have been persistently and tirelessly carrying out in our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement that governs our business activity.”

Cepsa and Montrel's commitment to technological innovation has led to this project receiving the national invention patent, since it is the first automatic discharge system of its kind in Spain.

The system is currently undergoing pilot tests at four Cepsa service stations in the regions of Andalusia and Valencia.