Expansion of fuel streams using mixed hydrocarbons
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for making fuel enriched by mixed pentanes comprising the steps:
- a) providing a fuel blending unit characterized by;
i) a first enclosed conduit transmitting a fuel stream, andii) a second enclosed conduit transmitting an additive stream, wherein the additive stream comprises n-pentane and isopentane, andiii) an outlet in the second enclosed conduit forming a fluid connection with an inlet in the first enclosed conduit,b) providing;
i) a volatility for the additive stream (the “
additive stream volatility”
),ii) a flow rate for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream flow rate”
),iii) an octane value for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream octane value”
), andiv) a maximum blended volatility for the fuel stream (the “
maximum blended volatility”
),c) measuring the fuel stream for its actual volatility (the “
fuel stream volatility”
),d) calculating a rate (the “
additive stream flow rate”
) at which the additive stream can be added to the fuel stream so as not to exceed the maximum blended volatility, wherein the calculating is based upon;
i) the fuel stream volatility,ii) the additive stream volatility, andiii) the fuel stream flow rate, ande) adding the additive stream to the fuel stream at the additive stream flow rate at the fluid connection to make pentane enriched fuel having a final octane value,wherein the additive stream comprises isopentane and n-pentane in a ratio and quantity that will not cause the final octane value to drop below the fuel stream octane value.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for blending multiple batches of mixed hydrocarbons into fuel streams downstream of the refinery are provided that do not compromise the octane value of the fuel and do not cause the volatility of the fuel to exceed volatilities imposed by government regulation.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for making fuel enriched by mixed pentanes comprising the steps:
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a) providing a fuel blending unit characterized by; i) a first enclosed conduit transmitting a fuel stream, and ii) a second enclosed conduit transmitting an additive stream, wherein the additive stream comprises n-pentane and isopentane, and iii) an outlet in the second enclosed conduit forming a fluid connection with an inlet in the first enclosed conduit, b) providing; i) a volatility for the additive stream (the “
additive stream volatility”
),ii) a flow rate for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream flow rate”
),iii) an octane value for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream octane value”
), andiv) a maximum blended volatility for the fuel stream (the “
maximum blended volatility”
),c) measuring the fuel stream for its actual volatility (the “
fuel stream volatility”
),d) calculating a rate (the “
additive stream flow rate”
) at which the additive stream can be added to the fuel stream so as not to exceed the maximum blended volatility, wherein the calculating is based upon;i) the fuel stream volatility, ii) the additive stream volatility, and iii) the fuel stream flow rate, and e) adding the additive stream to the fuel stream at the additive stream flow rate at the fluid connection to make pentane enriched fuel having a final octane value, wherein the additive stream comprises isopentane and n-pentane in a ratio and quantity that will not cause the final octane value to drop below the fuel stream octane value. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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2. A method for making mixed pentane enriched fuel without depressing the octane of the fuel, comprising the steps:
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a) providing a fuel blending unit characterized by; i) a first enclosed conduit transmitting a fuel stream, ii) a second enclosed conduit transmitting an additive stream, wherein the additive stream comprises mixed pentanes, and i) an outlet in the second enclosed conduit forming a fluid connection with an inlet in the first enclosed conduit, b) providing; i) a volatility for the additive stream (the “
additive stream volatility”
),ii) a flow rate for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream flow rate”
),iii) an octane value for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream octane value”
), andiv) a maximum blended volatility for the fuel stream (the “
maximum blended volatility”
),c) measuring the fuel stream for its actual volatility (the “
fuel stream volatility”
),d) calculating a rate (the “
additive stream flow rate”
) at which the additive stream can be added to the fuel stream so as not to exceed the maximum blended volatility, wherein the calculating is based upon;i) the fuel stream volatility, ii) the additive stream volatility, and iii) the fuel stream flow rate, e) adding the additive stream to the fuel stream at the additive stream flow rate at the fluid connection to make pentane enriched fuel, and f) adding ethanol to the pentane enriched fuel in an amount sufficient to overcome the depression in octane caused by n-pentane in the mixed pentanes.
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3. A method for blending heterogeneous batches of mixtures of light hydrocarbons into a primary fuel stream (the “
- fuel stream”
) comprising;a) providing; i) a mixed hydrocarbon stream (the “
additive stream”
) comprising a plurality of heterogeneous batches of light hydrocarbons,ii) a fuel blending unit characterized by a first enclosed conduit transmitting the fuel stream, a second enclosed conduit transmitting the additive stream, and an outlet in the second enclosed conduit forming a fluid connection with an inlet in the first enclosed conduit, b) providing; i) a flow rate for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream flow rate”
),ii) an octane value for the fuel stream (the “
fuel stream octane value”
),iii) a designated volatility for the additive stream for each of the plurality of light hydrocarbon batches that exceeds the actual volatility of the batches, iv) a maximum blended volatility for the fuel stream (the “
maximum blended volatility”
),c) measuring the fuel stream for its actual volatility (the “
fuel stream volatility”
),d) calculating a rate (the “
additive stream flow rate”
) at which the additive stream can be added to the fuel stream so as not to exceed the maximum blended volatility, wherein the calculating is based upon;i) the fuel stream volatility, ii) the designated volatility of the additive stream, and iii) the fuel stream flow rate, e) adding the additive stream to the fuel stream at the additive stream flow rate at the fluid connection to make fuel enriched by mixed light hydrocarbons.
- fuel stream”
Specification