The most effective method is to weigh the tank and its contents on a cylinder scale. This type of industrial scale, manufactured by Arlyn Scales, has a very low profile stainless steel platform, easing the task of moving the full cylinder onto the scale or off. For the same reason, it must be extremely rugged. Located inside of the electronic scale platform is an extra wide, stainless steel sensor. These are particularly well suited to withstand the huge torque loads that are developed when a full tank is resting on the edge of the platform.

Cylinder scales may be directly connected to existing process instrumentation. One of the standard interfaces, used widely, is a 4 – 20 ma analog current loop. While this interface is available, it is advisable to use a digital interface whenever possible. The most widespread method for sending data from industrial scales is the RS-232 standard. Other, more recent standards include the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Another, more advanced method is offered by Arlyn Scales. An Ethernet connection provides a method of data transmission from the cylinder scale into a local area network. Any computer on that network can now access the scale data. With additional software packages, that same data can become available over the Internet.