US 7,741,525 B2 · Blending processes and systems

Abstract

Processes and systems are provided for monitoring and blending a first stream and a second stream to produce a third stream of desired compositional characteristics. The processes and systems are found to be particularly useful for the blending of two or more hydrocarbon streams to economically produce a targeted hydrocarbon product stream meeting prescribed compositional specifications. Specifically, the processes and systems are found to be especially useful to blend a propane containing stream, having a vapor pressure lower than the vapor pressure of a targeted vapor pressure for a propane product, with an ethane containing stream. The blending processes and systems allow for production of an “on-spec” propane product stream while at the same time maximizing the value of the ethane stream. The processes and systems may incorporate continuous real-time analysis and flow control of the various streams to effectuate precise control the blending processes.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of blending a first stream comprising propane and a second stream comprising ethane to produce a third stream comprising ethane and propane, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) generating a first signal representative of a flow volume of the first stream;
(ii) generating a second signal representative of a targeted concentration of ethane in the third stream;
(iii) generating a third signal representative of the concentration of propane in the first stream;
(iv) generating a fourth signal representative of the concentration of propane in the second stream;
and
using the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal to generate a fifth signal representative of a flow rate of the second stream necessary to produce a desired composition comprising ethane and propane in the third stream produced by blending the first and second stream, wherein the first stream comprises at least 90 volume percent propane, the second stream comprises at least 60 volume percent ethane, and the third stream has a vapor pressure of about 198 psig at 100° F. to about 208 psig at 100° F.

3 more elements

A method of blending a first stream comprising propane and a second stream comprising ethane to produce a third stream comprising ethane and propane, the method comprising the steps of:

(i) generating a first signal representative of a flow volume of the first stream;
(ii) generating a second signal representative of the concentration of propane in the first stream;
(iii) generating a third signal representative of the concentration of propane in the second stream;
and
using the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal to generate a fourth signal representative of a flow rate of the second stream necessary to produce a desired composition comprising ethane and propane in the third stream produced by blending the first and second streams, wherein the first stream comprises at least 90 volume percent propane, the second stream comprises at least 60 volume percent ethane, and the third stream has a vapor pressure of about 198 psig at 100° F. to about 208 psig at 100° F.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blending processes and systems

Life of this patent

Blending processes and systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17