Crude oil measurement system and method
First Claim
1. A system for measuring crude oil as it is transported from a storage tank to a transport vessel of a transport vehicle, the system comprising:
- an oil conveying line adapted to convey oil from the storage tank to the transport vessel;
a pump associated with said line to convey oil from the tank to the transport vehicle;
a mass meter associated with said line, said mass meter capable of sensing characteristics of the conveyed oil;
a microprocessor controlling said mass meter and utilizing said sensed characteristics so as to calculate the volume of oil transferred from the storage tank to the transport vessel;
a recirculation conduit having a first end in fluid communication with said line on an input side of said mass meter and a second end in fluid communication with said line on an output side of said mass meter; and
a diverting valve controlled by said microprocessor and coupling said conduit second end to said line, said diverting valve having a first position allowing flow into the transport vessel and blocking flow into said conduit and a second position blocking flow to the transport vessel and allowing flow into said conduit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring crude oil as it is transported from a storage tank to a transport vessel. The transport vehicle includes a fluid conveying line adapted to extend from the storage tank to the transport vessel. A pump is connected to the line to convey the oil from the tank to the vessel. A mass meter is disposed in the line. A microprocessor is electrically connected to and controls the mass meter so as to calculate the volume of liquid transferred from the storage tank to the transport vessel. A sample pot device is connected to the line and capable of taking an oil sample from the line that is representative of the entire amount of oil that is transferred.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system for measuring crude oil as it is transported from a storage tank to a transport vessel of a transport vehicle, the system comprising:
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an oil conveying line adapted to convey oil from the storage tank to the transport vessel;
a pump associated with said line to convey oil from the tank to the transport vehicle;
a mass meter associated with said line, said mass meter capable of sensing characteristics of the conveyed oil;
a microprocessor controlling said mass meter and utilizing said sensed characteristics so as to calculate the volume of oil transferred from the storage tank to the transport vessel;
a recirculation conduit having a first end in fluid communication with said line on an input side of said mass meter and a second end in fluid communication with said line on an output side of said mass meter; and
a diverting valve controlled by said microprocessor and coupling said conduit second end to said line, said diverting valve having a first position allowing flow into the transport vessel and blocking flow into said conduit and a second position blocking flow to the transport vessel and allowing flow into said conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
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8. A method for measuring crude oil as it is transported from a storage tank to a transport vessel of a transport vehicle, the method comprising:
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directing the oil through a mass meter as it is transferred from the storage tank to the transport vessel, said mass meter sensing predetermined parameters of the oil;
conveying said sensed parameters to a microprocessor where a volume value is computed;
determining based upon the sensed parameters whether water is present in the oil being conveyed to the transport vessel; and
diverting the oil being conveyed through a recirculation conduit if water is present.
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9. A method for measuring crude oil as it is transported from a storage tank to a transport vessel of a transport vehicle, the method comprising:
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directing the oil through a mass meter as it is transferred from the storage tank to the transport vessel, said mass meter sensing predetermined parameters of the oil;
conveying said sensed parameters to a microprocessor where a volume value is computed; and
recirculating the oil through a recirculation conduit and an air eliminator structure prior to loading of the oil into the transport vessel.
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Specification