Fuel blending process

A process for blending a fuel which includes a first fuel component and a second fuel component, said first fuel component providing a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) lowering a temperature of a second fuel component sample of said second fuel component from a predetermined temperature to successively lower temperatures;
• (b) detecting a level of viscosity of said second fuel component sample at least as great as a predetermined level thereof, said predetermined level corresponding to a level indicating initial substantial formation of solid particles in said second fuel component;
• (c) obtaining a temperature measurement indicating a temperature of said second fuel component sample when at least said predetermined level of viscosity is detected;
• (d) determining a percentage amount of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component based on said temperature determined in step (c) to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature;
• and
• (e) blending said first and second fuel components in accordance with said percentage amount determined in step (d).

A process for blending a fuel which includes a first fuel component and a second fuel component, said first fuel component providing a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) lowering a temperature of a second fuel component sample of said second fuel component from a predetermined temperature to successively lower temperatures;
• (b) sensing changes in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample;
• (c) providing output signals representing said changes;
• (d) comparing said output signals with a reference signal representing a predetermined change in said solid particle concentration to detect said predetermined change in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample;
• (e) obtaining a temperature measurement indicating a temperature of said second fuel component sample when said predetermined change is detected;
• (f) determining a percentage amount of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component based on said temperature determined in step (e) to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature;
• and
• (g) blending said first and second fuel components in accordance with said percentage amount determined in step (f).

An apparatus for use in blending a fuel which includes a first fuel component and a second fuel component, said first fuel component providing a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for lowering a temperature of a second fuel component sample of said second fuel component from a predetermined temperature to successively lower temperatures;
• (b) viscometer means for detecting a rate of change in viscosity of said second fuel component sample at least as great as a predetermined rate of change thereof, said predetermined rate of change corresponding to a rate indicating initial substantial formation of solid particles in said second fuel component;
• (c) means responsive to a detection of at least said predetermined rate of change in viscosity by said viscometer means, for generating a temperature signal indicating the temperature of said second fuel component sample when at least said predetermined rate of change in viscosity is detected;
• and
• (d) storage means storing data representing respective percentage amounts of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above respective given fluidity control temperatures, said storage means receiving a first input comprising said temperature signal and a second input comprising data representing a particular said given fluidity control temperature, said storage means generating an output responsive to said first and second inputs, for indicating a particular percentage amount of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above said particular fluidity control temperature.

An apparatus for use in blending a fuel which includes a first fuel component and a second fuel component, said first fuel component providing a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for lowering a temperature of a second fuel component sample of said second fuel component from a predetermined temperature to successively lower temperatures;
• (b) means for sensing changes in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample and for providing output signals representing said changes;
• (c) processing means receiving a first input comprising said output signals and a second input comprising a reference signal representing a predetermined change in said solid particle concentration, said processing means comparing said first and second inputs to generate an output signal when said first input is at least as great as said second input indicating occurrence of said predetermined change in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample;
• (d) means for generating a temperature signal representing a temperature of said second fuel component sample responsive to a said signal from said processing means;
• and
• (e) storage means storing data representing respective percentage amounts of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above respective given fluidity control temperatures, said storage means receiving a first input comprising said temperature signal and a second input comprising data representing a particular said given fluidity control temperature, said storage means generating an output responsive to said first and second inputs, for indicating a particular percentage amount of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fuel component to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above said particular fluidity control temperature.

An apparatus for use in blending a fuel which includes a first fuel component and a second fuel component, said first fuel component providing a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above a predetermined temperature, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for lowering a temperature of a second fuel component sample of said second fuel component from a predetermined temperature to successively lower temperatures;
• (b) means for sensing changes in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample and for providing output signals representing said changes;
• (c) processing means receiving a first input comprising said output signals and a second input comprising a reference signal representing a predetermined change in said solid particle concentration, said processing means comparing said first and second inputs to generate an output signal when said first input is at least as great as said second input indicating occurrence of said predetermined change in solid particle concentration of said second fuel component sample;
• (d) means for generating a temperature signal representing a temperature of said second second fuel component responsive to a said signal from said processing means;
• and
• (e) percentage indicating means receiving a first input comprising said temperature signal and a second input comprising data representing a particular fluidity control temperature, said percentage indicating means generating an output responsive to said first and second inputs, for indicating a particular percentage amount of said first fuel component to be mixed with said second fluid component to obtain a fuel mixture which will not form solid particles above said particular fluidity control temperature.