Versatile systems for continuous in-line blending of butane and petroleum

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A system for blending butane with a gasoline stream having a gasoline flow rate, comprising;
an injection device injecting the butane into the gasoline stream at a butane flow rate; a volatility measurement device in communication with the gasoline stream, the volatility measurement device configured to output data representative of a volatility measurement; and a processor in connection with the injection device and the volatility measurement device, the processor configured to:receive the volatility measurement; receive a target volatility value;
determine an adjustment to the butane flow rate based on the volatility measurement and the target volatility value; and output a signal representative of the adjustment to the injection device.