Versatile systems for continuous in-line blending of butane and petroleum

• US 9,494,948 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (Energy Transfer Operating, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (Energy Transfer Operating, L.P.)
• Inventors: Mattingly, Larry D., Vanderbur, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, TIMOTHY PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/856,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20160068775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 141/9, 141/104, 141/105, 141/83, 137/486, 137/625.41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/02 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2400/28 Propane and butane
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/06 for spark ignition
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/16 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1608 Well defined compounds, e.g. hexane, benzene
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/00 Use of additives to fuels or fires for particular purposes additives for liquid carbonaceous fuels characterised by their chemical nature C10L1/10; using binders for briquetting solid fuels C10L5/10; using additives to improve the combustion of solid fuels C10L9/10
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2200/0423 Gasoline
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2270/023 for gasoline engines
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/141 of additive or catalyst
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/24 Mixing, stirring of fuel components
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/58 Control or regulation of the fuel preparation of upgrading process
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 2290/60 Measuring or analysing fractions, components or impurities or process conditions during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4166 Controlling feed or in-feed G05B19/4163 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37371 Flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/41303 Flow rate valve controls speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/131 by measuring the values related to the quantity of the individual components G05D11/139 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/132 by controlling the flow of the individual components G05D11/133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/133 with discontinuous action
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/139 by measuring a value related to the quantity of the individual components and sensing at least one property of the mixture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 : Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86823 : Rotary valve

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.

Claims

1. A system for blending butane with gasoline in a pipe, wherein the gasoline has a vapor pressure, comprising:

a) a butane reservoir in fluid connection with said gasoline;

b) an injector valve for discharging butane into said gasoline;

c) a vapor pressure analyzer connected to said pipe, said analyzer configured to determine the vapor pressure of the gasoline and to transmit said vapor pressure to a processor;

d) a programmable logic controller governing the flow of butane through said injector valve; and

e) a processor programmed to receive the vapor pressure from the analyzer, calculate an amount of butane to inject into the gasoline based on seasonal and/or regional data and a maximum preprogrammed volatility limit, and provide a control signal to said programmable logic controller according to said seasonal and/or regional data and maximum preprogrammed volatility limit;

wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to adjust the injector valve to govern the flow of butane through said injector valve into said gasoline based on the signal from the processor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor receives the vapor pressure from said analyzer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor receives the vapor pressure of a blend of gasoline and butane.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is accessible at a remote location.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is programmed to provide a stop control signal that directs said flow of butane to stop for an interval of time, and the programmable logic controller is configured to adjust the injector valve to stop the flow of butane through said injector valve into said gasoline in response to said stop control signal.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said injector valve is operated by a solenoid.

7. A system for blending butane with gasoline in a pipe to form a blend of butane and gasoline, wherein the gasoline and the blend of gasoline and butane each have a vapor pressure, comprising:

a) a butane reservoir in fluid connection with said gasoline;

b) an injector valve for discharging butane into said gasoline;

c) a vapor pressure analyzer connected to said pipe, said analyzer configured to determine the vapor pressure of the blend of gasoline and butane, and to transmit said vapor pressure to a processor;

d) a programmable logic controller governing the flow of butane through said injector valve; and

e) a processor programmed to receive the vapor pressure from the analyzer, calculate an amount of butane to inject into the gasoline based on a maximum preprogrammed volatility limit, and provide a control signal to said programmable logic controller according to said maximum preprogrammed volatility limit;

wherein the programmable logic controller is configured to adjust the injector valve to govern the flow of butane through said injector valve into said gasoline based on the signal from the processor.