METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSPORTING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUID IN A PIPELINE

• US 3,750,687 A
• Filed: 04/28/1972
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jack C. Williams
• Original Assignee: Jack C. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, Jack C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nilson, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/248,411
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 137/1,2,10,111,154,172,567,597,606 166/52
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/05 the different products not being separated separation of contaminants by distillation B01D3/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2564 Plural inflows
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2931 Diverse fluid containing pressure systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A method comprises (a) monitoring the exact rate of flow of a liquid through a pipeline and (b) injecting slugs of a like type of liquid from different tanks of a like type into the pipeline at the precise rate and time dictated by the pipeline flow rate to form a large slug of liquid in the pipeline for transporting to a distant location. The second step may include injecting slugs of like type of liquid different from the first type into the pipeline to form a large slug of the different type of liquid immediately behind the first large slug for transporting to the distant location. Likewise, the second step may include forming large slugs of different types of liquids in accordance to the timing and flow rate dictated from the first step for forming one consecutive large slug of like liquids of one type after another consecutive large slug of like liquids of another type in the pipeline for transporting to the distant location. An apparatus for practicing the method comprises a combination of valves and pumps for each tank and a computer responsive to the rate of liquid flow in the pipeline and distance to travel to the next tank for providing the arrival time.

Claims

1. A method for transporting a plurality of different types of liquids in a pipeline from a plurality of tanks to a distant location comprising the steps of, a. injecting a slug of one type of liquid from one tank into the pipeline, b. monitoring the exact rate of flow of the liquid through the pipeline, and c. injecting succeeding slugs of the same type of liquid from successive tanks into the pipeline according to the monitored flow rate in the pipeline to join each other to form a large slug of the one type of liquid in the pipeline for transporting to the distant location.

2. A method for transporting a plurality of different types of fluids in a pipeline from a plurality of tanks to a distant location comprising the steps of, a. monitoring the exact rate of flow of a fluid through the pipeline, b. injecting slugs of a like type of fluid from different tanks of a like type into the pipeline at the precise rate and time dictated by the pipeline flow rate to form a large slug of like fluid in the pipeline for transporting to the distant location.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the second step includes also, a. injecting slugs of like type of fluid different from the first type into the pipeline to form a large slug of the different type of fluid immediately behind the first slug for transporting to the distant location.

4. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the second step also includes, a. injecting slugs of like type of fluid different from the first type into the pipeline to form a large slug of the different type of fluid contiguous with the first slug for transporting to the distant location.

5. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the second step includes also, a. injecting slugs of different types of liquids in accordance to the timing and flow rate dictated from the monitoring of the pipeline flow rate for forming one consecutive large slug of like liquids of one type after another consecutive large slug of like liquids of another type in the pipeline for transporting to the distant location.

6. A system for gathering and transporting large slugs of different types of liquid in a pipeline from a plurality of Tanks of different types of liquid to a distant location comprising, a. a valve and pump connected between each of said tanks and said pipeline for passing a slug of liquid from each tank into said pipeline at a precise time and rate as controlled, b. computer means responsive to the rate of liquid flow in said pipeline, and c. said computer means is connected to each of said valves and pumps for controlling the flow of all slugs of like liquids into said pipeline for forming a first large slug of like liquid in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

7. A pipeline system as recited in claim 6 wherein, a. said computer means is connected to each of said valves and pumps for controlling the flow of all slugs of a second type of liquid into said pipeline for forming a second large slug of like liquid in said pipeline immediately behind said first slug for transporting to a distant location.

8. A pipeline system as recited in claim 6 wherein, a. each of said valves and pumps is connected to said computer means for forming one consecutive large slug of a different type of liquid after another large slug in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

9. A pipeline system as recited in claim 6 wherein, a. said computer means is connected to said valves and pumps for controlling the flow of all slugs of all different types of liquids for forming one consecutive large slug of like liquids of one type after another consecutive large slug of like liquids of another type in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

10. A system for gathering and transporting large slugs of different types of liquid in a pipeline from a plurality of tanks of a plurality of different types of liquid to a distant location comprising, a. valve and pump means for each of said plurality of tanks for controlling the flow of a slug of liquid from each tank into the pipeline at a precise time and rate as controlled, b. computing means responsive to the rate of flow in said pipeline, and c. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for joining together slugs of the same type of liquid from different tanks of the same type of liquid to form a large slug in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

11. A pipeline system as recited in claim 10 wherein, a. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for joining together slugs of a second type of liquid from different tanks of the second type of liquid to form a large slug of said second type in said pipeline in juxtaposition with said first slug for transporting to said distant location.

12. A pipeline system as recited in claim 10 wherein, a. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for forming one consecutive large slug of a different type of liquid after another in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

13. A system for gathering and transporting large slugs of different types of fluid in a pipeline from a plurality of tanks of a plurality of different types of fluid to a distant location comprising, a. valve and pump means for each of said plurality of tanks for controlling the flow of a slug of fluid from each respective tank into the pipeline at a precise time and rate as controlled, b. computer means for activating said valve and pump means for causing a slug of each different type of fluid from each different tank to flow into said pipeline at a desired and precise rate, and c. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for joining together slugs of a like type of fluid from different tanks of the like type of fluid to form a large slug in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

14. A system for gathering and transporting large slugs of different types of fluid in a pipeline from a plurality of tanks of a plurality of different types of fluid to a distant location comprIsing, a. valve and pump means for each of said plurality of tanks for controlling the flow of a slug of fluid from each tank into the pipeline at a precise time and rate as controlled, b. computing means responsive to the rate of flow in said pipeline, and c. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for joining together slugs of a like fluid from different tanks of a like fluid to form a large slug of like fluid in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.

15. A pipeline system as recited in claim 14 wherein, a. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for joining together slugs of a second type of fluid from different tanks of said second type of fluid to form a large slug of said second type in said pipeline contiguous with said first slug for transporting to said distant location.

16. A pipeline system as recited in claim 14 wherein, a. said valve and pump means being responsive to said computing means for forming one consecutive large slug of a different type of fluid after another in said pipeline for transporting to said distant location.