Alcohol-Gasoline Blending Control for Accurate Net Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of accurately distributing alcohol-containing gasoline is exacerbated by volume changes due to interactions between ethanol and gasoline blendstocks, leading to inaccurate volume measurements and potential contamination from water contact during transport.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes monitoring and controlling the mixing of gasoline blendstock and alcohol sources using flow meters and a control system, with a volume correction computer to determine the net volume of the finished gasoline product, accounting for temperature and alcohol content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ethanol-containing gasoline is transported through distribution systems, then the gasoline can be distributed to customers, but water contamination occurs and gasoline specifications are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts ethanol from the gasoline blend at the terminal before distribution, leaving only hydrocarbon blendstock in the storage tanks. This eliminates water contamination risks during storage and transport while allowing ethanol to be added at the point of sale where water contact is minimized. The system separates the ethanol component from the distribution system entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary blending of ethanol with hydrocarbon blendstocks at the terminal before distribution. By pre-mixing ethanol with the blendstock in controlled ratios and storing this preliminary blend separately from water-contact areas, the system prevents water contamination while enabling ethanol-containing gasoline distribution.
2Measurement precision
If volume measurements are taken of ethanol-containing gasoline, then distribution quantities can be reported, but volume accuracy is compromised due to ethanol-gasoline interactions and thermal expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the measurement parameter from volume to mass (weight). Flow meters measure the mass of hydrocarbon blendstock and ethanol separately, and the control system calculates the total energy content based on mass rather than volume. This eliminates measurement errors caused by thermal expansion and ethanol-gasoline volume interactions, providing accurate distribution reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors temperature, flow rates, and composition data from sensors, and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust blending ratios and calculate accurate energy content. The system compensates for thermal expansion and volume changes by using real-time temperature data to adjust mass-to-energy calculations, maintaining measurement precision despite composition instability.
3Ease of manufacture
If ethanol is blended into gasoline at the refinery, then the finished product can be produced, but water solubility causes phase separation and specification changes during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the gasoline production process into two distinct stages: (1) Refinery produces hydrocarbon blendstock without ethanol, ensuring stability during bulk transport; (2) Terminal blends ethanol with blendstock in controlled ratios just before distribution. This segmentation isolates ethanol from water-contact scenarios during storage and transport while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized blending procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrocarbon blendstock serves as an intermediary between the refinery and the final ethanol-containing gasoline product. The refinery produces stable hydrocarbon blendstock that can be transported without water contamination risks. The terminal then uses this intermediary blendstock as the base for adding ethanol, ensuring specification stability while maintaining production efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures accurate distribution and reporting of net volume, reducing errors and maintaining gasoline specifications by accounting for ethanol's impact on volume and thermal expansion.
Implementation Method 1
A flow meter determines a gross quantity of contents of the gasoline blendstock source and a flow meter determines a gross quantity of contents of the alcohol source
Implementation Method 2
a volume correction computer is in connection with system components and is configured to determine the net volume of finished gasoline product at the distribution point
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to methods for distributing alcohol-containing gasoline. The methods herein facilitate the combination of gasoline blendstocks and alcohols to create finished gasoline products. The methods herein also measure the volumes and other characteristics of the gasoline blendstocks and alcohols and employ computers and controllers that calculate the gross and net volumes of liquids, including the net volume of finished gasoline products.