Additive blending controller
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a blending system process, including the addition of at least two different additives, comprising the steps of:
- (i) defining in an additive controller desired ratios of at least two additives to a main product;
(ii) providing a flow of main product;
(iii) measuring the volume of said main product flow and determining when a user defined volume of main product flow has occurred, said user-defined volume being less than a pre-selected volume;
(iv) adding predefined amounts of each of said at least two additives to said measured main product flow to substantially achieve said desired ratio of each of said at least two additives to said main product after said user-defined amount has occurred;
(v) creating a non-volatile record in said additive controller indicating the time, date, amount and type of each of said at least two additives added in step (iv); and
(vi) repeating steps (iii) and (v) as necessary until the process is terminated.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling an additive blending process includes determining the volume of main product and blending an amount of additive thereto to obtain a predefined ratio of additive to main product. The method includes the step of creating a non-volatile record of each significant event which occurs during blending operations and includes an extensive error checking and safety regime. A controller for accomplishing this method includes the ability to blend multiple additives simultaneously and with different types of blending systems such as piston injectors and streaming. The controller monitors status signals from the system and removes enabling signals from various components to effect a safe shut down in the event of an error condition being detected.
41 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a blending system process, including the addition of at least two different additives, comprising the steps of:
-
(i) defining in an additive controller desired ratios of at least two additives to a main product; (ii) providing a flow of main product; (iii) measuring the volume of said main product flow and determining when a user defined volume of main product flow has occurred, said user-defined volume being less than a pre-selected volume; (iv) adding predefined amounts of each of said at least two additives to said measured main product flow to substantially achieve said desired ratio of each of said at least two additives to said main product after said user-defined amount has occurred; (v) creating a non-volatile record in said additive controller indicating the time, date, amount and type of each of said at least two additives added in step (iv); and (vi) repeating steps (iii) and (v) as necessary until the process is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A controller for an additive blending system including at least two additives which are blended to a main product, each additive having a predefined ratio at which it is blended, comprising:
-
main product volume measurement means; program storage means; non-volatile memory means; at least two additive supply control means each operable to supply a different one of said at least two additives; and processing means operable in accordance with a program stored in said program storage means and responsive to said main product volume measurement means and operating each of said at least two additive supply control means to provide a volume of each of said at least two additives to said main product volume to achieve each said predefined ratio, each volume of said at least two additives being provided to said main product volume after at least two respective user-defined volumes of main product have been measured by said main product volume measurement means, said processing means creating a record in said non-volatile memory means including the date and time each of said at least two additive volumes were provided and the volume of each of said at least two additives provided. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification