Fuel blending using blend component octane levels

A fuel dispensing installation comprising

• a) first and second fuel tanks containing first and second fuels of different octane levels,
• b) first and second octane level sensors mounted in the first and second fuel tanks respectively for measuring fuel octane levels and generating output signals indicative of the octane levels of the first and second fuels;
• c) conduits from the first and second tanks to at least one fuel dispenser,
• d) a blending system located in the at least one fuel dispenser for receiving the output signals and blending the first and second fuels to form at least one mixture having an intermediate octane based on the output signals.

A method for controlling the blending of a low octane fuel and a high octane fuel to create at least one blended fuel grade or at least one non-blended fuel grade comprising:

• a) determining inside a first tank the actual octane level of the low octane fuel source therein;
• b) determining inside a second tank the actual octane level of the high octane fuel source therein;
• c) comparing the actual octane levels determined in steps a) and b) to predetermined levels for each fuel source to determine if the difference between the actual levels and predetermined levels are within predetermined limits;
• d) determining the amount of each said high and low fuel source required to create at least one blended or at least one non-blended fuel grade based on the results of the comparison of step c);
• and
• e) permitting the dispensing of each blended fuel grade and non-blended fuel grade that the result of comparison of step c) indicates may be created.

A method for controlling the blending of a low octane fuel and a high octane fuel by a fuel dispenser blending system to create at least one blended fuel grade comprising:

• a) determining inside a first tank the actual octane level of the low octane fuel therein;
• b) determining inside a second tank the actual octane level of the high octane fuel therein;
• c) comparing the actual octane levels determined in steps a) and b) to predetermined levels for each fuel source to determine if the difference between the actual levels and predetermined levels are within set limits;
• d) providing the results of comparison of step c) to the fuel dispenser blending system;
• and
• e) modifying the operation of the blending system as needed depending on the results of step d).