Gaseous Fuel Blending With Heating Value Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic fracturing systems face inefficiencies in utilizing multiple gaseous fuel sources with varying qualities and pressures, leading to suboptimal combustion properties and increased emissions, while lacking precise control over energy content and supply flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A fuel blending system that combines gaseous fuels from multiple sources, using real-time measurement and control to adjust the fuel properties, ensuring a blended fuel with desired energy content and quality for hydraulic fracturing and power generation equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If gaseous fuels from multiple sources with varying qualities and pressures are used directly, then supply flexibility is improved, but combustion stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply flexibilityVSAvoidcombustion stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameters of the gaseous fuels by blending them in controlled proportions to achieve a target heating value. Different fuel sources with varying heating values are mixed to produce a blended fuel with consistent combustion properties, resolving the contradiction between using diverse fuel sources and maintaining combustion stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs real-time measurement of the blended fuel's heating value and uses feedback control to adjust the blending ratios. This ensures that despite variations in individual fuel source qualities, the final blended fuel maintains stable combustion characteristics while allowing flexibility in fuel source selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If gaseous fuels from multiple sources are blended without precise control, then supply flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision of fuel properties deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupply flexibilityVSAvoidenergy content control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Real-time measurement devices monitor the heating value of the blended fuel, and control systems automatically adjust the flow rates of individual fuel sources to maintain the desired energy content. This feedback loop ensures precise manufacturing control over fuel properties while maintaining the ability to use multiple fuel sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The blending system is designed to handle multiple types of gaseous fuels with varying properties through a universal blending platform. This multi-functional system can accommodate different fuel sources while maintaining precise control over the output fuel specifications through standardized measurement and control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time measurement and control systems are implemented, then manufacturing precision of fuel properties is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy content controlVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical control methods with electronic measurement and control systems. Sensors and digital controllers monitor and adjust fuel blending in real-time, providing precise energy content control while reducing the need for complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms and manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Stability of the object's composition

If fuel blending with precise energy content control is implemented, then combustion stability is improved, but loss of time in measurement and adjustment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion stabilityVSAvoidmeasurement and adjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement and control operations are performed continuously rather than intermittently. Real-time monitoring of heating value and continuous adjustment of blending ratios ensures combustion stability is maintained without periodic disruptions or delays, eliminating time losses associated with batch-wise measurement and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20250361840A1Blending gaseous fuels for energy conversion systems

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 PWRTEK LLC

AI summary

In a general aspect, gaseous fuels are blended. In some cases, a fuel blending method includes receiving a flow of a first gaseous fuel in a first flow path of a fuel blending system and receiving a flow of a second gaseous fuel from a second fuel source in a second flow path of the fuel blending system. The heating value of the second gaseous fuel is lower than the heating value of the first gaseous fuel. The first and second gaseous fuels are combined from the first and second flow paths to form a blended gaseous fuel in a third flow path. A heating value of the blended gaseous fuel is measured, and the flow of the first gaseous fuel in the first flow path is adjusted to modify a content of blended gaseous fuel. The blended gaseous fuel can be provided, for example, to an energy conversion system.