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US 7,631,671 B2Granted
Versatile systems for continuous in-line blending of butane and petroleum
AssigneeMCE Blending, LLC
InventorsLarry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims54
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.
9 more elements
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.
7 more elements
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.
6 more elements
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.
6 more elements
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.
8 more elements
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.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.