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US 12,398,334 B2Granted
Controlled blending of transmix fractions into defined hydrocarbon streams
AssigneeTexon Midstream, LLC
InventorsJohn Colin Robbins, Gary S. Wawak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Automated methods and systems for blending high sulfur hydrocarbons, particularly those derived from transmix, into low sulfur hydrocarbon streams are provided. Also provided are methods for splitting transmix into usable hydrocarbon fractions and blending the fractions back into defined hydrocarbon streams.
Claims17
A system for blending hydrocarbon sulfur into a defined hydrocarbon stream without violating a pre-determined sulfur concentration limit comprising:
- a) a defined hydrocarbon stream comprising a defined hydrocarbon sulfur concentration and a defined hydrocarbon flow rate;
- b) a second hydrocarbon stream in fluid communication with the defined stream, comprising a second sulfur concentration higher than the defined hydrocarbon sulfur concentration and a second flow rate;
- c) a blended stream comprising a combination of the defined stream and the second hydrocarbon stream;
- d) an IPU on which is stored a maximum sulfur concentration for the defined stream, programmed to calculate a ratio or rate at which the second hydrocarbon stream can be added to the defined stream based on the maximum sulfur concentration and a measured sulfur concentration of the defined stream, the second hydrocarbon stream, or the blended stream;
- e) a sampler and a sulfur analyzer at a defined stream, second hydrocarbon stream or blended stream sampling point in electronic communication with the IPU, electronically configured to withdraw samples from the defined stream, second hydrocarbon stream or blended stream, measure the sulfur concentration of the defined stream, second hydrocarbon or blended stream, and transmit or make accessible the measured sulfur concentration to the IPU;
- and
- f) a flow regulator interposed between the defined hydrocarbon and second hydrocarbon streams, in electronic communication with the IPU, electronically configured to receive or access the rate or ratio from the IPU and adjust the second flow rate without exceeding the ratio or rate;
- wherein the defined hydrocarbon stream, the second hydrocarbon stream, and the blended stream comprise distillate;
- and
- wherein the sampler is located on the blended stream downstream of the flow regulator, or the second hydrocarbon stream upstream of the flow regulator.
7 more elements
A system for blending sulfur into a hydrocarbon stream without violating a pre-determined sulfur limit comprising:
- a) a first hydrocarbon stream comprising a first sulfur concentration and a first flow rate;
- b) a second hydrocarbon stream in fluid communication with the first stream, comprising a second sulfur concentration higher than the first sulfur concentration and a second flow rate;
- c) a blended stream comprising all or a portion of the first and second hydrocarbon streams;
- d) an IPU on which is stored a maximum sulfur concentration for the first stream, programmed to calculate a rate or ratio at which the second stream can be added to the first stream based on the maximum sulfur concentration and a measured sulfur concentration of the first hydrocarbon stream, the second hydrocarbon stream, or the blended stream;
- e) a sulfur analyzer on the first stream, the second stream, or the blended stream, in electronic communication with the IPU, configured to measure a sulfur concentration, and transmit or make accessible the sulfur concentration to the IPU;
- and
- f) a flow regulator interposed between the first and second hydrocarbon streams, in electronic communication with the IPU, electronically configured to receive or access the rate or ratio from the IPU and adjust the second flow rate without exceeding the rate or ratio.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.