Versatile systems for continuous in-line blending of butane and petroleum
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method for in-line blending of gasoline and a volatility modifying agent comprising:
- a) providing a continuously flowing gasoline stream that comprises;
i) a plurality of batches of different gasoline types;
ii) a gasoline flow rate that varies over time; and
iii) a plurality of gasoline vapor pressures;
b) providing an allowable vapor pressure;
c) providing a stream of said agent that comprises an agent vapor pressure;
d) periodically determining said gasoline vapor pressure;
e) periodically determining said gasoline flow rate;
f) calculating a blend ratio based upon said agent vapor pressure, said gasoline vapor pressure, and said allowable vapor pressure; and
g) blending said agent stream and said gasoline stream at a blending unit at said blend ratio to provide a blended gasoline stream having a blended vapor pressure less than or equal to said allowable vapor pressure.
3 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.
47 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for in-line blending of gasoline and a volatility modifying agent comprising:
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a) providing a continuously flowing gasoline stream that comprises; i) a plurality of batches of different gasoline types; ii) a gasoline flow rate that varies over time; and iii) a plurality of gasoline vapor pressures; b) providing an allowable vapor pressure; c) providing a stream of said agent that comprises an agent vapor pressure; d) periodically determining said gasoline vapor pressure; e) periodically determining said gasoline flow rate; f) calculating a blend ratio based upon said agent vapor pressure, said gasoline vapor pressure, and said allowable vapor pressure; and g) blending said agent stream and said gasoline stream at a blending unit at said blend ratio to provide a blended gasoline stream having a blended vapor pressure less than or equal to said allowable vapor pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for in-line blending of gasoline and a volatility modifying agent comprising:
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a) a continuously flowing gasoline stream that comprises; i) a plurality of batches of different types of gasoline; ii) a gasoline flow rate that varies over time; and iii) a plurality of gasoline vapor pressures; b) an agent stream that comprises an allowable agent vapor pressure; c) a blending unit for blending said gasoline stream and said agent stream at an actual blend ratio and an actual blend rate to yield a blended gasoline stream; d) an upstream vapor pressure sensor in sensory communication with said gasoline stream upstream of said blending unit; and e) one or more information processing units (IPUs) in informational communication with said upstream vapor pressure sensors, logically programmed to calculate a calculated blend ratio and calculated blend rate based upon vapor pressure and volumetric flow rate of said gasoline stream, and for communicating said calculated blend ratio and calculated blend rate to said blending unit; f) wherein said blending unit periodically accesses said calculated blend ratio and calculated blend rate from said one or more IPUs, and adjusts the actual blend ratio and actual blend rate to coincide with said calculated blend ratio and calculated blend rate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for in-line blending of petroleum and a volatility modifying agent comprising:
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a) providing a petroleum stream that comprises a petroleum vapor pressure and a flow rate; b) providing an agent stream that comprises an agent vapor pressure; c) providing an allowable vapor pressure; d) calculating a blend ratio based upon a blended petroleum vapor pressure, said agent vapor pressure, said flow rate and said allowable vapor pressure; e) blending said agent stream and said petroleum stream at said blend ratio to provide a blended petroleum stream wherein the blended vapor pressure is less than or equal to said allowable petroleum vapor pressure; and f) measuring vapor pressure of the blended petroleum stream. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification