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

• US 7,631,671 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. (Energy Transfer Operating, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: MCE Blending, LLC
• Inventors: Mattingly, Larry D., Vanderbur, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas; Steven O
• Application Number:
  US11/407,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20060278304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 141/9, 141/100, 141/104, 141/105, 141/94, 141/83, 141/192, 141/198, 222/25, 222/26, 222/71, 222/72, 137/486, 137/625.41
• US Class Current: 141/9
• 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 method for in-line blending of gasoline and butane 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 butane stream that comprises a butane vapor pressure;

d) periodically determining said gasoline vapor pressure;

e) periodically determining said gasoline flow rate;

f) calculating a blend ratio based upon said butane vapor pressure, said gasoline vapor pressure, and said allowable vapor pressure; and

g) blending said butane 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.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring vapor pressure of the blended gasoline stream.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said bended gasoline to an in-ground storage tank, wherein said blending is performed on a parcel of land shared by said in-ground storage tank.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising calculating a blend rate based upon said flow rate.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) providing a first information processing unit (IPU) on which said calculating is performed;

b) providing a second IPU which generates pulses of flow rate data;

c) transmitting said flow rate data to said first IPU; and

d) calculating a blend rate on said first TPU based upon said flow rate data from said second IPU.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) providing a first information processing unit (IPU) on which said calculating is performed;

b) providing a second IPU on which is stored batch data selected from;

i) batch codes;

ii) batch start and end times;

iii) gasoline type;

or

iv) batch destination;

c) transmitting said batch data to said first IPU; and

d) recording a quantity of butane blended with said gasoline stream and a particular batch; and

e) associating said quantity of butane with said batch data in an informational database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of batches comprise unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of batches comprise two or more gasoline types selected from:

unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 87, unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 93, transmix, jet fuel, BOB, and diesel fuel.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said gasoline stream comprises a consolidation of gasoline batches from multiple sources at disparate locations.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) periodically or continuously withdrawing butane from said butane stream; and

b) periodically or continuously measuring sulfur content of said butane withdrawn from said butane stream.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein, when said gasoline comprises BOB, further comprising:

a) providing an allowable T_D for said BOB,

b) measuring the T_D of said BOB, and

c) calculating the blend ratio based upon said T_D and said allowable T_D.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) storing, in one or more informational databases, seasonal data that prescribes (i) said allowable vapor pressure on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates, or (ii) whether butane blending is allowed on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates; and

b) calculating said blend ratio based upon current date information and said seasonal data.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) recording a start time when a recorded batch begins to flow past said blending unit;

b) recording an end time when said recorded batch finishes flowing past said butane blending unit;

c) recording a quantity of butane blended with said gasoline stream between said start time and said end time; and

d) associating said quantity of butane with said recorded batch in an informational database.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of gasoline; and

b) correlating a quantity of butane blended into said batch with said batch code;

wherein said batch code encodes the type of gasoline in said batch.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of gasoline, wherein said batch code encodes the type of gasoline in said batch;

b) accessing an informational database on which is stored gasoline types for which blending is not permitted; and

c) determining whether blending is permitted based upon said gasoline type encoded by said batch code.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a) recording values that represent one or more of (i) vapor pressure and/or T_D of gasoline upstream of the blending unit at particular times;

(ii) vapor pressure and/or T_D of gasoline downstream of the blending unit at particular times;

(iii) settings for daily calibration of the gasoline vapor pressure sensor(s);

(iv) the date(s) of blending covered by the dataset;

(v) batch start and end times;

(vi) the quantity of butane blended into a gasoline batch (i.e. the quantity of gasoline created in the batch);

(vii) the type of gasoline in a batch;

(viii) batch destination;

(ix) butane quantity stored in any butane storage units, given by date and time;

(x) vapor pressure of butane at prescribed sampling times;

(xi) sulfur content of butane blended into the gasoline;

(xii) metered volumes of butane withdrawn from any butane storage units for defined periods of time;

(xiii) volumes of butane blended into the gasoline stream, calculated from butane blend rates, for defined periods of time;

(xiv) the pressure of butane at two or more points between the butane storage unit and the butane blending unit; and

(xv) the temperature of any butane storage tank that supply butane to the blending unit;

b) storing said values in an informational database; and

c) providing remote access to said values through an information processing unit optionally with access to an Internet connection.

17. A method for in-line blending of gasoline and butane comprising:

a) providing 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) accessing a batch code for a batch of gasoline, wherein said batch code encodes the type of gasoline in said batch;

c) accessing an informational database on which is stored gasoline types for which blending is not permitted;

d) determining whether blending is permitted based upon said gasoline type encoded by said batch code; and

e) if blending is permitted, blending said butane stream and said gasoline stream at a blending unit to provide a blended gasoline stream.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of batches comprise unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said plurality of batches comprise two or more gasoline types selected from:

unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 87, unleaded gasoline having an octane rating of 93, transmix, jet fuel, BOB, and diesel fuel.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising measuring vapor pressure of the blended gasoline stream.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising calculating a blend rate based upon said flow rate.

22. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

a) periodically or continuously withdrawing butane from said butane stream; and

b) periodically or continuously measuring sulfur content of said butane withdrawn from said butane stream.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein, when said gasoline comprises BOB, further comprising:

a) providing an allowable T_D for said BOB,

b) measuring the T_D of said BOB, and

c) calculating the blend ratio based upon said T_D and said allowable T_D .

24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

a) storing, in one or more informational databases, seasonal data that prescribes (i) said allowable vapor pressure on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates, or (ii) whether butane blending is allowed on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates; and

b) calculating said blend ratio based upon current date information and said seasonal data.

25. The method of claim 17 further comprising correlating a quantity of butane blended into said batch with said batch code.

26. A method for in-line blending of gasoline and butane comprising:

a) providing a gasoline stream that comprises a gasoline vapor pressure and a flow rate;

b) providing a butane stream that comprises a butane vapor pressure;

c) providing an allowable vapor pressure;

d) periodically determining said gasoline vapor pressure;

e) calculating a blend ratio based upon said gasoline vapor pressure, said butane vapor pressure, and said allowable vapor pressure;

f) blending said butane stream and said gasoline stream at said blend ratio to provide a blended gasoline stream having a blended vapor pressure less than or equal to said allowable gasoline vapor pressure;

g) withdrawing butane from said butane stream; and

h) measuring sulfur content of said butane withdrawn from said butane stream.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising measuring vapor pressure of the blended gasoline stream.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising calculating a blend rate based upon said flow rate.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein, when said gasoline comprises BOB, further comprising:

a) providing an allowable T_D for said BOB,

b) measuring the T_D of said BOB, and

c) calculating the blend ratio based upon said T_D and said allowable T_D.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

a) storing, in one or more informational databases, seasonal data that prescribes (i) said allowable vapor pressure on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates, or (ii) whether butane blending is allowed on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates; and

b) calculating said blend ratio based upon current date information and said seasonal data.

31. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

a) recording a start time when a recorded batch begins to flow through said blending unit;

b) recording an end time when said recorded batch finishes flowing through said butane blending unit;

c) recording a quantity of butane blended with said gasoline stream between said start time and said end time; and

d) associating said quantity of butane with said recorded batch in an informational database.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of gasoline; and

b) correlating a quantity of butane blended into said batch with said batch code;

wherein said batch code encodes the type of gasoline in said batch.

33. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of gasoline, wherein said batch code encodes the type of gasoline in said batch;

b) accessing an informational database on which is stored gasoline types for which blending is not permitted; and

c) determining whether blending is permitted based upon said gasoline type encoded by said batch code.

34. A method for in-line blending of petroleum and butane comprising:

a) providing a petroleum stream that comprises a petroleum vapor pressure and a flow rate;

b) providing a butane stream that comprises a butane vapor pressure;

c) providing an allowable vapor pressure;

d) periodically determining said petroleum vapor pressure;

e) calculating a blend ratio based upon said petroleum vapor pressure, said butane vapor pressure, and said allowable vapor pressure;

f) blending said butane stream and said petroleum stream at said blend ratio to provide a blended petroleum stream having a blended vapor pressure less than or equal to said allowable petroleum vapor pressure;

g) withdrawing butane from said butane stream; and

h) measuring sulfur content of said butane withdrawn from said butane stream.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising measuring vapor pressure of the blended petroleum stream.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising calculating a blend rate based upon said flow rate.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein, when said petroleum comprises BOB, further comprising:

a) providing an allowable T_D for said BOB,

b) measuring the T_D of said BOB, and

c) calculating the blend ratio based upon said T_D and said allowable T_D.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

a) storing, in one or more informational databases, seasonal data that prescribes (i) said allowable vapor pressure on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates, or (ii) whether butane blending is allowed on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates; and

b) calculating said blend ratio based upon current date information and said seasonal data.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

a) recording a start time when a recorded batch begins to flow through said blending unit;

b) recording an end time when said recorded batch finishes flowing through said butane blending unit;

c) recording a quantity of butane blended with said petroleum stream between said start time and said end time; and

d) associating said quantity of butane with said recorded batch in an informational database.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of petroleum; and

b) correlating a quantity of butane blended into said batch with said batch code;

wherein said batch code encodes the type of petroleum in said batch.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

a) accessing a batch code for a batch of petroleum, wherein said batch code encodes the type of petroleum in said batch;

b) accessing an informational database on which is stored petroleum types for which blending is not permitted; and

c) determining whether blending is permitted based upon said petroleum type encoded by said batch code.

42. A system for in-line blending of gasoline and butane comprising:

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) a butane stream that comprises an allowable butane vapor pressure;

c) a blending unit for blending said gasoline stream and said butane 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;

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.

43. The system of claim 42 further comprising a downstream vapor pressure sensor in sensory communication with said gasoline stream downstream of said blending unit.

44. The system of claim 42 further comprising one or more informational databases in informational communication with said downstream vapor pressure sensor, wherein said one or more informational databases periodically access and store vapor pressure measurements from said downstream vapor pressure sensor.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein said one or more IPUs are further logically programmed to calculate said calculated blend ratio based upon the date.

46. The system of claim 42 wherein said blending unit comprises:

a) an on/off valve between said gasoline stream and said butane stream; and

b) a modulating valve that modulates rate of flow of said butane stream toward said on/off valve.

47. The system of claim 42 further comprising:

a) one or more informational databases on which is stored seasonal data that prescribes (i) allowable vapor pressures on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates, or (ii) whether butane blending is allowed on two or more prescribed dates or ranges of dates; and

b) one or more information processing units (IPUs) in informational communication with said upstream vapor pressure sensors and said informational databases, logically programmed to retrieve the date and to calculate a calculated blend ratio and calculated blend rate based upon the stored seasonal data and 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;

wherein said blending unit periodically accesses said calculated blend ratio from said IPU, and adjusts the actual blend ratio to coincide with said calculated blend ratio.

48. The system of claim 42 further comprising a butane sampling unit for periodically or continuously withdrawing butane from said butane stream, wherein:

a) said butane sampling unit is under the command of one or more information processing units (IPUs), wherein said one or more IPUs command said butane sampling unit to withdraw into a reservoir at least one sample of butane from said butane stream at least every 500,000 gallons of butane; and

b) said reservoir is manually withdrawn periodically from said butane sampling unit, and any butane contained in said reservoir is tested for sulfur content.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said butane sampling unit and said butane vapor pressure sensor are located on a platform in proximity to said petroleum pipeline.

50. The system of claim 42 further comprising:

a) a butane storage unit;

b) underground piping for transmitting said butane stream from said butane storage unit to said butane blending unit;

c) a first butane pressure sensor in sensory communication with said butane stream at or near said butane storage unit;

d) a second butane pressure sensor in sensory communication with said butane stream at or near said butane blending unit; and

e) a remote information processing unit in informational communication with said first and second butane pressure sensors, for remotely monitoring and displaying butane pressures detected by said first and second butane pressure sensors.

51. The system of claim 42 further comprising:

a) a butane storage unit;

b) a temperature gauge for measuring the temperature of butane in said butane storage unit; and

c) a remote information processing unit in informational communication with said temperature gauge, for remotely monitoring and displaying temperatures detected by said temperature gauge.

52. The system of claim 42 wherein said blending unit comprises:

a) an on/off valve between said gasoline stream and said butane stream; and

b) a modulating valve that modulates rate of flow of said butane stream toward said on/off valve.

53. A method for in-line blending of petroleum and butane comprising:

a) providing a petroleum stream that comprises a petroleum vapor pressure and a flow rate;

b) providing a butane stream that comprises a butane vapor pressure;

c) providing an allowable vapor pressure;

d) periodically determining said petroleum vapor pressure;

e) calculating a blend ratio based upon said petroleum vapor pressure, said butane vapor pressure, said flow rate and said allowable vapor pressure;

f) blending said butane stream and said petroleum stream at said blend ratio to provide a blended petroleum stream having a blended vapor pressure less than or equal to said allowable petroleum vapor pressure; and

g) measuring vapor pressure of the blended petroleum stream.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

a) withdrawing butane from said butane stream; and

b) measuring sulfur content of said butane withdrawn from said butane stream.