US20200248088A1

US20200248088A1 - Systems and Methods for Blending Hydrocarbons into Gasoline

Info

Publication number: US20200248088A1
Application number: US16/781,709
Authority: US
Inventors: Carlos F. Suastegui
Original assignee: Tas Powered Energy Inc
Current assignee: Tas Powered Energy Inc
Priority date: 2019-02-04
Filing date: 2020-02-04
Publication date: 2020-08-06

Abstract

A system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive the gasoline, a butane inlet configured to receive the butane, and a first mixing section in which the gasoline and the butane mix to thereby form a rough blended gasoline. A second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section further mixes the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section. The final blended gasoline dispenses from the second mixing section via an outlet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/800,875 filed Feb. 4, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the petroleum industry, and specifically to systems and methods for blending hydrocarbons into gasoline.

BACKGROUND

Businesses and consumers are commonly sold blended gasoline that is formed with rough gasoline (e.g., unblended gasoline) and lower cost components, such as hydrocarbons (e.g., butane), to thereby lower the overall cost of the gasoline. The lower cost components added to the rough gasoline often have a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is greater than the RVP of the rough gasoline, and accordingly, the total RVP of the blended gasoline increases as the lower cost components are added to the rough gasoline.
Government and environmental rules and regulations dictate the maximum allowable RVP or range of RVP of the blended gasoline. These rules and regulations can vary state-to-state, be based on geographic location, and/or be based on the calendar season. For instance, the maximum allowable RVP permitted can be seasonally dependent such that greater fractions of the lower cost component and a higher RVP of the blended gasoline is permissible during winter months.
Accordingly, companies that sell blended gasoline attempt to produce the blended gasoline at the maximum allowable RVP to thereby lower the price of the blended gasoline that will be sold. However, these companies must monitor the RVP of the blended gasoline to avoid fines for selling blended gasoline with RVP above the maximum allowable RVP (or outside a required RVP range). If a company does sell blended gasoline having a RVP greater than the maximum allowable RVP, the company can be fined and/or the company's reputation may be damaged. As such, it is advantageous for companies to use systems and methods that blend rough gasoline with lower cost components such that the blended gasoline sold is at (or close too) the maximum allowable RVP. Also, it is advantageous for the systems to quickly and efficiently change RVP of the blended gasoline without causing plant shutdowns or loss of product.
An example of a conventional system for blending gasoline is described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,795,935 (which is incorporated herein by reference in entirety). The system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,795,935 uses two tanks in which rough gasoline and butane are blended to form the blended gasoline. When the blended gasoline mixed in the two tanks is off-specification (e.g., the RVP of the blended gasoline exceeds the maximum allowable RVP), the contents of the tanks must be circulated back through both tanks while additional amounts of the rough gasoline and/or the butane is added to the blended gasoline. The circulation process can be time-consuming and lead to inefficiencies in the system.
This Background is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with the present disclosure to thereby assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that this Background should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Disclosure. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In certain examples, a system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive the gasoline, a butane inlet configured to receive the butane, and a first mixing section in which the gasoline and the butane mix to thereby form a rough blended gasoline. A second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section further mixes the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section. The final blended gasoline dispenses from the second mixing section via an outlet.
In certain examples, a system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive gasoline such that the gasoline is conveyed along a first gasoline flow path and a second gasoline flow path and a butane inlet configured to receive the butane such that the butane is conveyed along a first butane flow path and a second butane flow path. A first mixing section receives gasoline from the first gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the first butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and the butane to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, and dispenses the rough blended gasoline. A second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section, receives the gasoline from the second gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the second butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and/or the butane with the rough gasoline to thereby form a final blended gasoline, and dispenses the final blended gasoline. The final blended gasoline dispenses through an outlet, and a check valve is configured to permit the rough blended gasoline to flow downstream into the second mixing section and prevent the blended gasoline in the second mixing section from flowing upstream into the first mixing section. A gasoline analyzer is configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to characteristics of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section. A controller is configured to open and close a first valve and a second valve based on the data from the gasoline analyzer. The controller closes the first valve and opens the second valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section; and opens the first valve and closes the second valve such that the blended gasoline in the second mixing section circulates therein. The final blended gasoline is formed when the blended gasoline in the second mixing section has a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is within a threshold less than a maximum allowable RVP. The blended gasoline in the second mixing section can be circulated in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline.
In certain examples, a method for forming blended gasoline includes the steps of receiving at a gasoline inlet gasoline from a gasoline supply, receiving at a butane inlet butane from a butane supply, mixing the gasoline and the butane in a first mixing section to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, and dispensing the rough blended gasoline to a second mixing section. The method can further include mixing the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section and dispensing, via an outlet, the final blended gasoline from the second mixing section.
Various other features, objects, and advantages will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is described with reference to the following FIGURE.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system according to one example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

The present inventor has observed that existing conventional systems for blending rough gasoline with another component, such as hydrocarbons (e.g., butane), are ineffective at forming blended gasoline at a maximum allowable RVP. Furthermore, the present inventor has observed that existing conventional systems are often large and require an extended period of time to form the blended gasoline and adjust the RVP of the blended gasoline to the maximum allowable RVP. As such, the present inventor has endeared to develop improved systems for blending rough gasoline with another component, such as hydrocarbons (e.g., butane), to produce blended gasoline at or near a maximum allowable RVP. Accordingly, the present inventor has developed improved systems and methods, described hereinbelow, for quickly and efficiently producing blended gasoline that conforms with (or closely matches) applicable rules and regulations, including a maximum allowable RVP of the blended gasoline.
In certain examples, the systems and methods described hereinbelow allow for greater blending precision to maximize the butane content in the blended gasoline while providing assurances that the blended gasoline remains in compliance with the applicable RVP rules and regulations. The systems and methods described hereinbelow can also increase or decrease the RVP in a second stage or section of the blending process such that only on-specification blended gasoline is loaded onto tanker trucks and sold to consumers. The systems and methods described hereinbelow can also provide volume buffers to smooth out changes as the composition of the blended gasoline changes and increase precision (e.g. closely match the specification) of the blended gasoline. The systems and methods described hereinbelow can also quickly react to adjust the amount of rough gasoline and butane added to the system to reduce downtime. Furthermore, the systems and methods described hereinbelow can quickly stop flow of the blended gasoline to the tanker trucks when the blended gasoline is off-specification and/or not at the maximum allowable RVP. In certain examples, the system of the present disclosure have smaller footprints than conventional systems.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example system 10 that blends rough gasoline with a hydrocarbon, such as butane, to form a blended gasoline. The system 10 includes a rough gasoline inlet 14 that receives gasoline from a gasoline supply 15 and an additive inlet 44 that receives an additive, such as butane, from an additive supply 45. Note that while the system 10 depicted in FIG. 1 and described hereinbelow blends rough gasoline with butane to thereby form the blended gasoline, other additive fluids may be received into the system 10 and blended together (e.g., different types of hydrocarbons, etc.) to form the blended gasoline.
The rough gasoline is conveyed downstream from the rough gasoline inlet 14 to a rough gasoline dispensing section 16 that dispenses the rough gasoline to a first mixing section 71 and a second mixing section 82. Similarly, the butane is conveyed downstream from the butane inlet 44 to a butane dispensing section 46 that dispenses the butane to the first mixing section 71 and the second mixing section 82. The rough gasoline and the butane are mixed together in each of the mixing sections 71, 82 (described further herein) to form the blended gasoline which is conveyed to and dispensed from a blended gasoline outlet 100. In particular, the first mixing section 71 forms an initial or rough blended gasoline, and the second mixing section 82 mixes additional amount of rough gasoline and/or butane into the rough blended gasoline from by the first mixing section 71 to thereby further refine and/or fine-tune the rough blended gasoline into a finished or final blended gasoline that is blended to the required specification (e.g., on-specification) and/or the maximum allowable RVP or within a range of the maximum allowable RVP (e.g., 1.0%-5.0% lower than the maximum allowable RVP). The system is designed to accurately achieve the RVP target; however, additional analyzers and sensors may be included in the system 10 that are dedicated to specific target constituents and operate under the same control philosophy to allow the control and manipulation of additional specification targets, such as sulfur or renewable streams (e.g., bio-butanol or ethanol). In one example, information from analyzer 150 may be used to control pumping and modulating of ethanol.
The final blended gasoline is then dispensed from the second mixing section 82 to one or more truck racks 102 such that the final blended gasoline can be loaded onto tanker trucks. In the depicted example, the system 10 also includes one or more ethanol injectors 11 that inject ethanol into the blended gasoline upstream of the truck racks 102. Details of the various sections and components of the systems 10 that are briefly described above are described in greater detail hereinbelow.
As is briefly mentioned above, the rough gasoline dispensing section 16 conveys and dispenses the rough gasoline to each mixing section 71, 82. The rough gasoline conveys past a rough gasoline analyzer 18 that is configured to analyze the characteristics (e.g., RVP, etc.) of the rough gasoline. The rough gasoline is then conveyed through a T-pipe 19 to one of two parallel branches or flow paths, namely a first branch 21 and a second branch 22. The first branch 21 includes a pump 25 that conveys (e.g., pumps) the rough gasoline, a flow meter 26 that monitors flow of the rough gasoline through the first branch 21, and a valve 27 that selectively opens and closes to thereby permit or modulate or control or prevent conveyance of the rough gasoline to a first rough gasoline check valve 74 in the first mixing section 71. Similarly, the second branch 22 includes a pump 35 that conveys (e.g., pumps) the rough gasoline, a flow meter 36 that monitors flow of the rough gasoline through the second branch 22, and a valve 37 that selectively opens and closes to thereby permit or modulate or control or prevent conveyance of the rough gasoline to a second rough gasoline check valve 84 in the second mixing section 82. Valves 27, 37, 57, 67 generally act as control valves that can modulate between 0% and 100% flow as system 10 may require.
The butane dispensing section 46 is similar to the rough gasoline dispensing section 16 and has similar components. The butane dispensing section 46 conveys and dispenses the butane to the first mixing section 71 and the second mixing section 82. The butane from the butane inlet 44 is conveyed through a T-pipe 49 to one of two parallel branches, namely a first branch 51 and a second branch 52. The first branch 51 includes a pump 55 that conveys (e.g., pumps) the butane, a flow meter 56 that monitors flow of the butane through the first branch 51, and a valve 57 that selectively opens and closes to thereby permit or modulate or control or prevent, conveyance of the butane to a first butane check valve 75 in the first mixing section 71. Similarly, the second branch 52 includes a pump 65 that conveys (e.g., pumps) the butane, a flow meter 66 that monitors flow of the butane through the second branch 52, and a valve 67 that selectively opens and closes to thereby permit or modulate or control or prevent conveyance of the butane to a second butane check valve 85 in the second mixing section 82.
The rough gasoline and the butane conveyed to first mixing section 71 from the rough gasoline dispensing section 16 and the butane dispensing section 46, respectively, are mixed together in the first mixing section 71 to form the preliminary or rough blended gasoline. The rough gasoline and the butane are mixed together with a first mixing device 77 (e.g., a static inline mixer) to thereby form the rough blended gasoline. The rough blended gasoline is then dispensed from the mixing device 77 to an inlet check valve 88 of the second mixing section 82. The rough blended gasoline dispensed to the inlet check valve 88 is mixed to have certain characteristics (e.g., RVP, etc.) that are close to the specification and/or the maximum allowable RVP of the blended gasoline that should be formed by the system 10 and will be dispensed from the outlet 100. In one non-limiting example, the rough blended gasoline dispensed to the inlet check valve 88 has an RVP that is slightly lower than the maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline to be formed by the system 10.
As is briefly mentioned above, the rough blended gasoline is further refined or fine-tuned in the second mixing section 82 by adding additional amounts of rough gasoline and/or butane to thereby fine-tune the characteristics and the RVP of the rough blended gasoline to conform with or closely match the specification and/or the maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline that will be dispensed through the outlet 100. During operation of the system 10, the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section 71 is conveyed through the inlet check valve 88 of the second mixing section 82 and then circulated in a loop by a pump 89 through T-pipe 91, a second mixing device 90 (e.g., a static inline mixer), a finishing tank 92 (e.g., a pressure tank), a second T-pipe 93, and/or a check valve 94. As the rough blended gasoline circulates through the loop of the second mixing section 82, additional amounts of the rough gasoline are added to the rough blended gasoline via the second rough gasoline check valve 84 when the valve 37 opens. Similarly, additional amounts of the butane are added to via the second butane check valve 85 as the valve 67 opens. Note that in certain examples, the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 may include volumes of the rough blended gasoline, the final blended gasoline, and/or an intermediate blended gasoline that has characteristics between the rough blended gasoline and the final blended gasoline. The amounts/volumes of the different blended gasolines may change as rough gasoline and/or butane is added, as noted above. Also, in certain examples the number of circulations of the blended gasoline through the second mixing section 82 may vary. For example, the blended gasoline may circulate once through the second mixing section 82. In another example, the blended gasoline may circulate more than once through the second mixing section 82. In still another example, the blended gasoline may not circulate through the second mixing section 82 (e.g., the rough blended gasoline is mixed with the gasoline and/or butane such that the final blended gasoline forms and flows directly through the second valve 99 and does not flow through the first valve 89).
The valves 37, 67 are controlled by a controller 120 (described further hereinbelow) which receives feedback signals (e.g., a closed feedback loop) from a first analyzer 96 that is configured to analyze the blended gasoline upstream of the second rough gasoline check valve 84 and the second butane check valve 85 and a second analyzer 97 that analyzes the blended gasoline downstream of the second rough gasoline check valve 84, the second butane check valve 85, and the second mixing device 90. Based on the feedback from the analyzers 96, 97, the valves 37, 67 open and close such that the additional amounts of the rough gasoline and/or the butane are dispensed into the second mixing section 82, as described above. Accordingly, the characteristics and/or the maximum allowable RVP of the blended gasoline being circulated in the second mixing section 82 can be fine-tuned to specification of the final blended gasoline.
Once the blended gasoline circulating through the second mixing section 82 conforms with or closely matches the required specification and/or the maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline, a first valve 98 closes and a second valve 99 opens such that the final blended gasoline is conveyed through the second T-pipe 93 and the second valve 99 to the outlet 100 (note that further details of the valves 98, 99 are described hereinbelow). The final blended gasoline is then conveyed to the truck racks 102 and is loaded into tanker trucks.
Operation of the components in the rough gasoline dispensing section 16, the butane dispensing section 46, the first mixing section 71, and/or the second mixing section 82 are controlled by at least one programmable logic controller 120 (hereinafter referred to as “controller”). The controller 120 is depicted in FIG. 1 with a first stage section and a second stage section, each of which is connected, via wired or wireless links 122, to different components of the system 10. The controller 120 includes a memory and a processor and may be connected to a user input device 124 (e.g., touchscreen display, personal computer terminal) that receives inputs from an operator. In certain examples, the first and second stage sections of the controller 120 are separated into two separate programmable logic controllers. In certain examples, the controller 120 is in communication with an existing site automation system 126.
An example operational sequence of the system 10 for forming and dispensing the final blended gasoline having or closely matching the required specification of the final blended gasoline to be dispensed via the outlet 100 is described hereinbelow. Note that a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various equivalents, alternatives, and/or modifications may be made to the operation of the system 10 based on the types of fluids mixed by the system 10 and required specification and the maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline.
In operation, the operator inputs the required specification for the final blended gasoline into the user input device 124. The required specification for the final blended gasoline can include required characteristics (e.g., amounts of specified chemicals, percentage of specified chemical, etc.) and/or a maximum allowable RVP that are dictated by applicable rules and/or regulations, the type of components (e.g., butane) that are blended with the gasoline, the amount or volume of the final blended gasoline to be dispensed, and/or includes other regulated or targeted components such as sulfur or proprietary additive streams. In the example described below, the system 10 is designed to form the final blended gasoline with the maximum allowable RVP. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the system 10 is capable of forming the final blended gasoline such that the final blended gasoline has any number desired characteristics based on any type and/or number of factors, rules, and/or regulations.
Based on the user input, the controller 120 controls the pump 25 of the rough gasoline dispensing section 16 and the pump 55 of the butane dispensing section 46 to thereby convey the rough gasoline and the butane through the first rough gasoline check valve 74 and the first butane check valve 75, respectively, to the first mixing device 77. The amount or volume of the rough gasoline and the butane conveyed to the first mixing device 77 is based on the characteristics (e.g., chemical properties, approximate RVP of each fluid, viscosity) of the rough gasoline and the butane. These characteristics are stored on the memory of the controller 120 and/or are determined based on feedback received from the rough gasoline analyzer 18 and/or flow meters 26, 56. Based on the characteristics of the rough gasoline and the butane and/or the feedback received from the rough gasoline analyzer 18 and/or flow meters 26, 56, the controller 120 controls (e.g., opens, closes) the valves 27, 57 such that the rough gasoline and the butane mix at a ratio that is projected or estimated by the controller 120 to closely match the required specification and/or maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline and thereby form a preliminary or rough blended gasoline. In certain examples, the controller 120 is configured to control the amount of the rough gasoline and/or the butane mixed in the first mixing device 77 such that the blended gasoline is slightly below the required specification and/or the maximum allowable RVP. In certain examples, the controller is configured to conduct a threshold analysis based on data from the analyzer(s) and determine if the blended gasoline within the second mixing section 82 is within a predetermined threshold of the final blended gasoline. In one instance, the predetermined threshold of the final blended gasoline is less than the maximum allowable RVP.
The rough blended gasoline is then dispensed into the second mixing section 82 via the inlet check valve 88, as noted above, circulated through the second mixing section 82, and possibly stored in the tank 92. The tank 92 is configured to further mix the blended gasoline within itself, and in some examples, the tank 92 acts as a “buffer” that stores a volume of the blended gasoline. Furthermore, the volume of the blended gasoline in the tank may fluctuate (e.g., the volume of the blended gasoline in the tank 92 increases and/or decreases) based on the amount or volume of the final blended gasoline dispensed via the outlet 100, as noted above. For example, the volume of the blended gasoline in the tank 92 increases when the second valve 99 is closed and as the rough blended gasoline is continuously received from the first mixing device 77. In another example, the amount of the blended gasoline in the tank 92 decreases when the first valve 98 is closed and the amount of the final blended gasoline dispensed via the outlet 100 is greater than the amount of the rough blended gasoline is received from the first mixing device 77. Note that in periods of plant closure and/or maintenance the blended gasoline may not circulate through the second mixing section 82.
As the blended gasoline is circulated through the second mixing section 82, the first analyzer 96 and/or the second analyzer 97 provided feedback to the controller 120 pertaining to the characteristics of the blended gasoline being circulated. Based on the feedback, the controller 120 is configured to either dispense the final blended gasoline to the outlet 100 (when the specification of the final blended gasoline has been met) or add additional amounts of the rough gasoline and/or the butane to the blended gasoline to thereby change the characteristics and/or the RVP of the blended gasoline being circulated. Specifically, if the controller 120 determines that the blended gasoline being circulated in the second mixing section 82 is the final blended gasoline (that is the blended gasoline being circulated is at the required specification and/or at the maximum allowable RVP and thereby the final blended gasoline), the controller 120 will close the first valve 98 and open the second valve 99 such that the final blended gasoline does not circulate through the second mixing section 82 and is instead dispensed via the outlet 100. As the final blended gasoline is dispensed, the volume of the final blended gasoline in the tank 92 may decrease and/or additional amounts of the rough blended gasoline may be formed by the first mixing device 77 and added to the second mixing section 82. As the final blended gasoline dispenses, the first analyzer 96 and/or the second analyzer 97 continuously provided feedback to controller 120 regarding the characteristics of the blended gasoline dispensing via the outlet 100
If the controller 120 determines, based on feedback from the first analyzer 96 and/or the second analyzer 97, that the blended gasoline is no longer at the required specification (or within a threshold range) and/or the maximum allowable RVP relative to the final blended gasoline, the controller 120 closes the second valve 99 to immediately stop the flow of the blended gasoline to the outlet 100 and open the first valve 98 such that the blended gasoline is not dispensed via the outlet 100. Instead, the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is circulated therein. The controller 120 then determines how to best adjust the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 to the specification and/or increase or decrease the RVP of the blended gasoline to the maximum RVP. For example, the controller 120 can be configured to add additional amounts of rough gasoline and/or butane to the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 to thereby adjust (e.g., “fine-tune”) the blended gasoline to the required specification and the maximum RVP such that the final blended gasoline is once again formed and can be dispensed via the outlet 100.
In one example, if the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is lower than the maximum RVP, the controller opens the valve 67 and controls the pump 65 of the butane dispensing section 46 to convey additional amount of butane directly into the second mixing section 82 via the second butane check valve 85. The controller 120 may also receive feedback from the flow meter 66 such that the amount of the butane added is continuously monitored. After an amount of additional butane estimated by the controller 120 to increase the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 to the maximum RVP is added to the second mixing section 82, the controller 120 monitors feedback from the first analyzer 96 and/or the second analyzer 97 to determine if the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is now at the maximum RVP and thus meet the speciation of the final blended gasoline. If RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is at the maximum RVP (e.g., the blended gasoline being circulated in the second mixing section 82 is the final blended gasoline), the controller 120 closes the first valve 98 and opens the second valve 99 to thereby dispense the final blended gasoline via the outlet 100, as described above. However, if the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is still lower than the maximum allowable RVP, additional amounts of butane can be added, as described above, until the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is at or closely matches the maximum RVP.
In another example, if the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is higher than the maximum RVP, the controller 120 opens the valve 37 and controls the pump 35 of the rough gasoline dispensing section 16 to thereby convey additional amounts of the rough gasoline directly into the second mixing section 82 via the second rough gasoline check valve 84. The controller 120 receives feedback from the flow meter 36 so that the amount of rough gasoline added is continuously monitored. After an amount of additional rough gasoline estimated by the controller 120 to decrease the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 to the maximum RVP is added to the second mixing section 82, the controller 120 monitors feedback from the first analyzer 96 and/or the second analyzer 97 to determine if the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is now at the maximum RVP and thus meet the speciation of the final blended gasoline. If the RVP of the blended gasoline is at the maximum RVP, the controller 120 closes first valve 98 and opens the second valve 99 such that the final blended gasoline dispenses via the outlet 100, as described above. However, if the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82 is still higher than the maximum allowable RVP, additional amount of the rough gasoline is added to the blended gasoline the second mixing section 82, as noted above.
By opening and closing the second valve 99 based on continuous feedback from the analyzers 96, 97, the system 10 is capable of quickly forming the final blended gasoline at the required specification and/or with the maximum RVP. Furthermore, the system 10 is thereby capable of reducing or minimizing the amount of off-specification blended gasoline and/or blended gasoline not at the maximum RVP dispensed through the outlet 100. Likewise, this system 10 can provide an improved ability to attain and/or control at the target to a tighter tolerance and is better able to provide a more robust delivery reliability through the use of the finishing tank 92 and the associated control logic, and being able to run control valves in a tighter range of their best control range.
In certain examples, the system 10 includes a blanketing system 140 is used with the tank 92 and a pressure relief valve 141 are used to further adjust and fine-tune the blended gasoline in the second mixing section 82. Conventional tanks without the blanketing system 140 would require a floating roof which has limitations related to maximum RVP that are dictated by additional rules and regulations. In addition, the blanketing system 140 can reduce the risk of environmental emissions and allow the pressure in the tank 92 to be greater than the vapor pressure of the gasoline and the butane and thus reduce the vaporization rate of the blended gasoline in the tank 92.
In certain examples, the analyzers 96, 97 can be positioned in different positions in the second mixing sections 82 than what is shown in FIG. 1. For example, the first analyzer 96 can be positioned between the T-pipe 91 and the second mixing device 90 or upstream of inlet check valve 88. In another example, the first mixing device 77 is downstream from the inlet check valve 88. The present inventor has also contemplated that components of the first mixing section 71 may be included into the second mixing section 82, and vice versa.
In certain examples, the system 10 can include a final analyzer 150 downstream of the outlet 100 that is in communication with the controller 120 to provide additional feedback to the controller 120. According, this additional feedback permits for more precise blending of the blended gasoline and accounts for effects to the RVP caused when the ethanol injects into the final blended gasoline just before being conveyed to the truck racks 102.
In certain examples, a system is for forming a blended gasoline from gasoline and butane. The system includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive the gasoline, a butane inlet that receives the butane, a first mixing section that receives the gasoline and the butane and mixes the gasoline and the butane to form a rough blended gasoline, and a second mixing section that receives the rough blended gasoline from the first gasoline mixing section and further receives additional amounts of the gasoline and/or additional amounts of the butane which are further mixed into the rough blended gasoline. An outlet dispenses a final blended gasoline from the second gasoline mixing section. The second gasoline mixing section is downstream of the first gasoline mixing section, and the second mixing section circulates the blended gasoline therein as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane are added to the second mixing section. In certain examples, the rough blended gasoline formed in the first mixing section has a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is less than a maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline, and additional amounts of the butane can be added into the rough blended gasoline circulating in the second mixing section to thereby increase the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section such that the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section approaches or is closer to the maximum allowable RVP.
In certain examples, a method of forming a blended gasoline formed with gasoline and butane includes the steps of receiving the gasoline with a gasoline inlet, receiving the butane with a butane inlet, mixing the gasoline and the butane in a first mixing section to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, dispensing the rough blended gasoline into a second mixing section that is downstream from the first mixing section, circulating the rough blended gasoline in the second mixing section, and adding additional amounts of the gasoline or an the butane into the blended gasoline as the blended gasoline circulates in the second mixing section.
In certain examples, a system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive the gasoline, a butane inlet configured to receive the butane, and a first mixing section in which the gasoline and the butane mix to thereby form a rough blended gasoline. A second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section further mixes the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section. The final blended gasoline dispenses from the second mixing section via an outlet.
In certain examples, the second mixing section receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet. In certain examples, the second mixing section continuously receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet. The rough blended gasoline formed by the first mixing section may have a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is less than a maximum allowable RVP that is present in the final blended gasoline. In certain examples, additional amounts of the butane are added to the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to thereby increase the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section. In certain examples, the blended gasoline in the second mixing section circulates in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline.
The system can include a first valve configured to close when the final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section and open when the blended gasoline in the second mixing section has not yet formed in the second mixing section. In certain examples, a second valve configured to open when the final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section such that the final blended gasoline flows to the outlet. In certain examples, the rough blended gasoline flows through a check valve to the second mixing section and prevents the blended gasoline in the second mixing section from flowing upstream into the first mixing section. In certain examples, a controller is configured to close the first valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section. In certain examples, a gasoline analyzer is configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to the controller; and wherein the controller closes the first valve based on the data. The controller can be configured to close the first valve and open the second valve when the final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section. The gasoline analyzer configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to the controller and the controller opens or closes the first valve and the second valve based on the data.
In certain examples, a system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane includes a gasoline inlet configured to receive gasoline such that the gasoline is conveyed along a first gasoline flow path and a second gasoline flow path and a butane inlet configured to receive the butane such that the butane is conveyed along a first butane flow path and a second butane flow path. A first mixing section receives gasoline from the first gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the first butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and the butane to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, and dispenses the rough blended gasoline. A second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section, receives the gasoline from the second gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the second butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and/or the butane with the rough gasoline to thereby form a final blended gasoline, and dispenses the final blended gasoline; The final blended gasoline dispenses through an outlet, and a check valve is configured to permit the rough blended gasoline to flow downstream into the second mixing section and prevent the blended gasoline in the second mixing section from flowing upstream into the first mixing section. A gasoline analyzer is configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to characteristics of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section. A controller is configured to open and close a first valve and a second valve based on the data from the gasoline analyzer. The controller closes the first valve and opens the second valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section; and opens the first valve and closes the second valve such that the blended gasoline in the second mixing section circulates therein. The final blended gasoline is formed when the blended gasoline in the second mixing section has a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is within a threshold less than a maximum allowable RVP. The blended gasoline in the second mixing section can be circulated in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline.
In certain examples, a method for forming blended gasoline includes the steps of receiving at a gasoline inlet gasoline from a gasoline supply, receiving at a butane inlet butane from a butane supply, mixing the gasoline and the butane in a first mixing section to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, and dispensing the rough blended gasoline to a second mixing section. The method can further include mixing the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section and dispensing, via an outlet, the final blended gasoline from the second mixing section.
In certain examples the method includes dispensing additional amounts of the rough blended gasoline to the second mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet. In certain examples the method includes dividing the gasoline received via the gasoline inlet such that the gasoline flow along a first flow path to the first mixing section and a second flow path to the second mixing section and dividing the butane received via the butane inlet such that the butane flow along a third flow path to the first mixing section and a fourth flow path to the second mixing section. In certain examples, the second mixing section continuously receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline continuously dispenses to the outlet. In certain examples the method includes circulating the blended gasoline in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline. In certain examples the method includes analyzing, with an gasoline analyzer, composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and outputting, with the gasoline analyzer, data corresponding the composition of the blended gasoline to a controller and determining, with the controller, based on the data from the gasoline analyzer if the composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section corresponds to the formation of the final blended gasoline in the second mixing section. The method can further includes closing a first valve, with the controller, when the final blended gasoline has formed in the second mixing section and opening a second valve, with the controller, when the final blended gasoline has formed in the second mixing section.
In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different apparatuses, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other apparatuses, systems, and methods. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane, the system comprising:

a gasoline inlet configured to receive the gasoline;

a butane inlet configured to receive the butane;

a first mixing section that mixes the gasoline and the butane to thereby form a rough blended gasoline;

a second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section that mixes the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section;

an outlet through which the final blended gasoline dispenses from the second mixing section.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second mixing section receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second mixing section continuously receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rough blended gasoline formed by the first mixing section has a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is less than a maximum allowable RVP of the final blended gasoline.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein additional amounts of the butane are added to the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to thereby increase the RVP of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blended gasoline in the second mixing section circulates in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a first valve configured to close when the final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section and open when the blended gasoline in the second mixing section has not yet formed in the second mixing section.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a second valve configured to open when the final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section such that the final blended gasoline flows to the outlet.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a check valve through which the rough blended gasoline is received from the first mixing section, wherein the check valve prevents the blended gasoline in the second mixing section from flowing upstream into the first mixing section.

10. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a controller is configured to close the first valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a gasoline analyzer configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to the controller; and wherein the controller closes the first valve based on the data.

12. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a controller operably coupled to the first valve and the second valve, wherein the controller is configured to close the first valve and open the second valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section.

13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a gasoline analyzer configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section to the controller; and wherein the controller opens or closes the first valve and the second valve based on the data.

14. A system for forming blended gasoline from gasoline and butane, the system comprising:

a gasoline inlet configured to receive gasoline, wherein the gasoline is conveyed along a first gasoline flow path and a second gasoline flow path;

a butane inlet configured to receive the butane, wherein the butane is conveyed along a first butane flow path and a second butane flow path;

a first mixing section that receives gasoline from the first gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the first butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and the butane to thereby form a rough blended gasoline, and dispenses the rough blended gasoline;

a second mixing section downstream from the first mixing section that receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section, receives the gasoline from the second gasoline flow path, receives the butane from the second butane flow path, mixes the gasoline and/or the butane with the rough gasoline to thereby form a final blended gasoline, and dispenses the final blended gasoline;

an outlet through which the final blended gasoline dispenses;

a check valve configured to permit the rough blended gasoline to flow downstream into the second mixing section and prevent the blended gasoline in the second mixing section from flowing upstream into the first mixing section;

a gasoline analyzer configured to analyze the blended gasoline in the second mixing section and further output data pertaining to characteristics of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section; and

a controller configured to open and close a first valve and a second valve based on the data from the gasoline analyzer, wherein the controller:

opens the first valve and closes the second valve such that the blended gasoline in the second mixing section circulates therein; and

closes the first valve and opens the second valve when the final blended gasoline is formed in the second mixing section; and

wherein the final blended gasoline is formed when the blended gasoline in the second mixing section has a Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) that is within a threshold less than a maximum allowable RVP.

15. A method for forming blended gasoline, the method comprising:

receiving at a gasoline inlet gasoline from a gasoline supply;

receiving at a butane inlet butane from a butane supply;

mixing the gasoline and the butane in a first mixing section to thereby form a rough blended gasoline;

dispensing the rough blended gasoline to a second mixing section;

mixing the rough blended gasoline with additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane until a final blended gasoline forms in the second mixing section; and

dispensing, via an outlet, the final blended gasoline from the second mixing section.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

dispensing additional amounts of the rough blended gasoline to the second mixing section as the final blended gasoline dispenses to the outlet.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

dividing the gasoline received via the gasoline inlet such that the gasoline flow along a first flow path to the first mixing section and a second flow path to the second mixing section; and

dividing the butane received via the butane inlet such that the butane flow along a third flow path to the first mixing section and a fourth flow path to the second mixing section.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second mixing section continuously receives the rough blended gasoline from the first mixing section as the final blended gasoline continuously dispenses to the outlet.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

circulating the blended gasoline in the second mixing section as the additional amounts of the gasoline or the butane mix with the rough blended gasoline.

20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

analyzing, with an gasoline analyzer, composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section;

outputting, with the gasoline analyzer, data corresponding the composition of the blended gasoline to a controller;

determining, with the controller, based on the data from the gasoline analyzer if the composition of the blended gasoline in the second mixing section corresponds to the formation of the final blended gasoline in the second mixing section;

closing a first valve, with the controller, when the final blended gasoline has formed in the second mixing section; and

opening a second valve, with the controller, when the final blended gasoline has formed in the second mixing section.