TacFuels® Tactical Fuel Management

Automated fuel intelligence for expeditionary operations.

What It Is & How It Works

TacFuels® is a complete fuel gauging, computation, and inventory management system purpose-built for collapsible storage tanks (CSTs) in military, expeditionary, and disaster-response environments. Where conventional tank gauging assumes permanent steel tanks and established infrastructure, TacFuels assumes none of it, delivering automated fuel accountability from bare ground to auditable inventory records.

The system operates as a four-component chain. A 7660 Tactical Fuel Gauge installs into each CST’s existing vent pipe opening, measuring hydrostatic pressure and temperature via a ceramic-capacitive sensor immersed in fuel. Up to four gauges daisy-chain via 4–20 mA (HART) to a single 8240 Tactical Data Unit mounted on a ground rod in the fuel farm. The TDU performs automated tank strapping, building a 1,000-point gauge chart for each CST that compensates for collapsible-tank geometry, then applies API Table 5b/6b temperature correction to calculate volumes to 60°F. An 8250 Tactical Interface Converter in the command post bridges TDUs to the 9760 Tactical Mobile Computer via RS485-to-RS232 translation while powering all field TDUs over the same cable. The 9760 TMC runs FuelsManager® Defense for real-time inventories, transaction records, daily accountability reports, and enterprise data transfer.

Every component is designed for rapid deployment: tool-free mounting, military-style quick-disconnect cables (MIL-C-5015), and hazardous-area certification to ISA/CSA Class 1 Division 2 and ATEX/IECEx across field devices. The 9760 TMC is MIL-STD-810G rated and IP65 sealed. Varec factory-configures the software for each fuel point before shipment, so operators connect, power on, and have full visibility with no on-site setup.

TacFuels vs. Fixed-Installation Gauging

Conventional radar, servo, and float & tape gauges are engineered for rigid steel tanks with known, fixed dimensions. Collapsible storage tanks flex, bulge, and change geometry with every fill cycle and redeployment, making standard strapping tables unreliable. TacFuels solves this with automated in-situ strapping that maps each CST’s actual shape, combined with field hardware rated for expeditionary conditions. Choose fixed-installation gauging for permanent steel tanks. Choose TacFuels for collapsible tanks and deployable fuel points.

When to Choose TacFuels

TacFuels is the right choice when fuel operations depend on collapsible storage tanks or rapidly deployable infrastructure:

Forward Operating Base Fuel Points — Automated gauging replaces manual dip-stick accountability, providing verified inventory data to command without additional personnel.
Expeditionary Aviation Fuel Farms — JIG and DoD standards require accurate quantities at every transfer point; TacFuels delivers continuous measurement and per-aircraft issue tracking at remote airstrips.
Disaster Relief Fuel Depots — Temporary fuel setups need rapid deployment; vent-pipe installation and tool-free mounting bring the system online in minutes.
Military Logistics & Accountability — DoD Directive 4140.25 and service-level regulations demand auditable fuel records; FuelsManager® Defense provides timestamped custody-transfer documentation.
Remote Oil & Gas Sites — Unmanned locations depend on autonomous data collection; daisy-chained TFGs supply tank inventory without operator presence.

Varec 7660

Why It Excels

Fuel Storage in Tanks That Change Shape

Collapsible tanks flex with fill level, ground conditions, and temperature. Automated 1,000-point strapping compensates for geometry that would make manual volume estimates unreliable.

Operations Without Permanent Infrastructure

Every component installs without tools, permanent wiring, or fixed power. One RS485 cable from TIC to TDU carries both data and 24 VDC power.

Fuel Accountability Under Military Standards

API Table 5b/6b volume correction, timestamped transaction records, and enterprise data transfer satisfy DoD custody-transfer and daily accountability requirements.

Extreme Environmental Conditions

Field devices operate from –40°F to +167°F. The TMC is MIL-STD-810G tested for drop, vibration, humidity, and temperature. IP65 and IP68 ratings protect against dust, water, and full fuel immersion.

Rapid Setup and Teardown

A complete fuel point deploys in minutes. Gauge charts persist in non-volatile TDU memory, so redeployment requires no re-strapping.

TacFuels System Components

	7660 TFG	8240 TDU	8250 TIC	9760 TMC
Role	Field sensor	Computation hub	Communications bridge & power source	Operator interface & software
Location	In-tank (CST vent pipe)	Fuel farm (ground rod)	Command post (desktop)	Command post (operator)
Key function	Pressure & temperature measurement	Tank strapping, API volume correction	RS485-to-RS232 translation, 24 VDC field power	FuelsManager® Defense: inventory, transactions, reports
Capacity	1 tank per gauge	4 gauges + 4 flow meters	Up to 7 TDUs (28 tanks)	Full fuel-point visibility
Haz-area rating	Class 1 Div 2 / ATEX IIB T5	Class 1 Div 2 / ATEX IIB T5	Normal locations only	Normal locations only
Ruggedization	IP68 sensor, powder-coated enclosure	–40°F to +167°F operating range	Lightning protection, sealed LEDs	MIL-STD-810G, IP65
Connectivity	4–20 mA (HART) to TDU	RS485 Modbus to TIC	RS232/USB to TMC	RS232/USB from TIC
Recommendation	TacFuels deploys as a complete system. The 7660 TFG provides measurement, the 8240 TDU provides computation, the 8250 TIC provides communications and field power, and the 9760 TMC provides the operator interface. All four are required for a functioning fuel point. Capacity scales by adding TDUs and gauges, supporting 4 to 28 tanks per system.

What to Consider Alongside It

Consider an alternative when…

Tanks are permanent welded-steel construction with known dimensions. See Radar Level Gauges or Servo Level Gauges.
The facility has established power, Ethernet, and SCADA infrastructure. See Field Interface Devices & RTUs..
Inventory management requires third-party DCS, ERP, or terminal-wide batch tracking. See Fuels Manager.

How TacFuels fits into a larger system

Enterprise Reporting: TacFuels data transfers from FuelsManager® Defense to FuelsManager® Enterprise, consolidating tactical fuel-point inventories into command-level visibility across multiple sites. See Fuels Manager.
Complementary Protection Hardware: Fuel farms handling volatile products benefit from flame arresters and conservation vents on fixed storage alongside TacFuels-equipped CSTs. See Flame & Detonation Arresters and Conservation Vents.