Near infrared analysis of piano constituents and octane number of hydrocarbons

In a process for the control of octane number, or cetane number of a complex mixture comprising hydrocarbons and/or substituted hydrocarbons by near infrared spectroscopy, the improvement comprising predicting said octane number or cetane number by:

• a. measuring the near infrared absorbance at at least one wavelength, in two or more bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 2064-2234, 1092-1156, 824-884, 1656-1692, 880-974, 1152-1230, 1320-1380, 1470-1578, 1614-1644, 1746-1813, 1940-2000, and/or 2058-2130 nanometers (nm).
• b. periodically or continuously outputting a periodic or continuous signal indicative of the intensity of said absorbance in said wavelength, or wavelengths in said two or more bands or a combination of mathematical functions thereof;
• and
• c. mathematically converting said signal to an output signal indicative of the octane number or cetane number of said mixture;
• d. controlling a blending or other process which correlates with octane number or cetane number by apparatus responsive to said output signal;
• wherein said mathematically converting includes taking a first or higher derivative and wherein said output signal is used to control proportioning pumps, automatic control valves, or other flow control means to control the addition rate of each of a series of components fed from different sources to provide a target octane number or, cetane number in a finished blended mixture.

In a process for the control of octane number, or cetane number of a complex mixture comprising hydrocarbons and/or substituted hydrocarbons by near infrared spectroscopy, the improvement comprising predicting said octane number, or cetane number by:

• a. measuring the near infrared absorbance at at least one wavelength, in one or more bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 1656-1692, 1320-1380, 1470-1578, 1614-1644, 1746-1810, 1940-2000, and/or 2058-2130 nanometers (nm).
• b. outputting a periodic or continuous signal indicative of the intensity of said absorbance in said wavelength, or wavelengths in said one or more bands or a combination of mathematical functions thereof;
• and
• c. mathematically converting said signal to an output signal indicative of the octane number or cetane number of said mixture,
• d. controlling a blending or other process which correlates with octane number or cetane number by apparatus responsive to said output signal.

A system for blending hydrocarbon and/or substituted hydrocarbon feeds having various values of octane or cetane comprising in combination:

• A. NIR absorbance sensing means for emitting a signal indicative of absorbance in at least two bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 2064-2234, 1092-1156, 824-884, 1656-1692, 880-974, 1320-1380, 1470-1578, 1614-1644, 1746-1810, 1940-2000, and/or 2058-2130 nanometers (nm);
• B. computer means for mathematically converting said signal to an output indication of octane or other measure of fuel quality;
• C. flow control means responsive to said output, for controlling respective flows of said feeds to produce a blended mixture having substantially a preset value of said octane or cetane.

In a process for the control of octane number, or cetane number, of a complex mixture comprising hydrocarbons and/or substituted hydrocarbons, by near infrared spectroscopy, the improvement comprising predicting said octane number, or cetane number by:

• a. measuring the near infrared absorbance at least one wavelength in one or more bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 1656-1692, 1320-1380, 1614-1644, 1746-1810, and/or 1940-2000 nanometers (nm);
• b. outputting a periodic or continuous signal indicative of a derivative of said absorbance in said wavelength, or wavelengths in said one or more bands or a combination of mathematical functions comprising a derivative thereof;
• c. mathematically converting said signal to an output signal indicative of the octane number or cetane number of said mixture;
• and
• d. controlling a blending or other process which correlates with octane number or cetane number by apparatus responsive to said output signal.

In a process for the control of octane number, or cetane number of a complex mixture comprising hydrocarbons and/or substituted hydrocarbons by near infrared spectroscopy, the improvement comprising predicting said octane number or cetane number by:

• a. measuring the near infrared absorbance at at least one wavelength, in two or more bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 1656-1692, 1320-1380, 1470-1578, 1614-1644, 1746-1810, and/or 1940-2000 nanometers (nm).
• b. periodically or continuously outputting a periodic or continuous signal indicative of the intensity of said absorbance in said wavelength, or wavelengths in said two or more bands or a combination of mathematical functions thereof;
• and
• c. mathematically converting said signal to an output signal indicative of the octane number or cetane number of said mixture;
• d. controlling a blending or other process which correlates with octane number or cetane number by apparatus responsive to said output signal;
• wherein said mathematically converting includes taking a first or higher derivative and wherein said output signal is used to control proportioning pumps, automatic control valves, or other flow control means to control the addition rate of each of a series of components fed from different sources to provide a target octane number or, cetane number in a finished blended mixture.

A system for blending hydrocarbon and/or substituted hydrocarbon feeds having various values of octane or cetane comprising in combination:

• A. NIR absorbance sensing means for emitting a signal indicative of absorbance in at least two bands selected from the group consisting essentially of:
• 1672-1698, 1700-1726, 1622-1650, 1656-1692, 1320-1380, 1470-1578, 1614-1644, 1746-1810, and/or 1940-2000 nanometers (nm);
• B. computer means for mathematically converting said signal to an output indication of octane or other measure of fuel quality;
• C. flow control means responsive to said output, for controlling respective flows of said feeds to produce a blended mixture having substantially a preset value of said octane or cetane.