Mobile Fuel Sampling System with Mixing and Vapor Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sampling systems for fuel are often stationary, requiring permanent installation at specific locations, which limits flexibility and increases operational costs, and lack efficient mechanisms for mixing and safety features like gas return and temperature monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A mobile sampling system with a self-sufficient design, including a sample tank, mixing device, and safety features like gas return and temperature sensors, integrated into a vehicle or trailer, allowing flexible deployment and operation with a controller for automated fuel handling and analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sampling systems are designed as stationary installations at specific locations, then they provide stable sampling operations, but they limit flexibility and increase operational costs due to permanent installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system is designed as mobile rather than stationary, allowing it to be transported to different fuel storage locations. The system includes a mobile platform with integrated sampling equipment that can be deployed at various external fuel tanks, transforming the static installation concept into a dynamic, relocatable system that maintains operational stability while gaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile sampling system is designed to interface with multiple different external fuel tank types and locations through standardized coupling mechanisms. The system can sample from various fuel sources (diesel, gasoline, biofuels) and be deployed at different sites, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple location-specific installations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sampling systems are purchased for different fuel refineries or loading locations, then location-specific sampling needs are met, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sampling system serves multiple fuel refineries and loading locations with a single unit. The system includes interchangeable sampling probes and adaptable coupling mechanisms that work with different tank types, allowing one system to replace multiple location-specific systems and reduce overall operational costs
3Quantity of substance
If fuels from multiple external tanks are combined in the sample tank, then comprehensive sampling is achieved, but fuel uniformity is compromised without mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system incorporates a mixing device with rotating impellers or stirrers that mechanically agitate the fuel in the sample tank. This mechanical action ensures thorough mixing of fuels from multiple external tanks, creating a homogeneous composite sample that accurately represents the total fuel inventory while maintaining compositional uniformity
4Reliability
If sampling operations are performed without temperature monitoring and gas return systems, then system complexity is reduced, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile sampling system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor fuel temperature during sampling operations. The system includes a control unit that receives temperature data and can alert operators or automatically adjust sampling parameters to prevent unsafe conditions, creating a feedback loop that enhances safety without significantly increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes a gas return line that captures fuel vapors generated during sampling and redirects them back to the fuel storage system or a vapor recovery system. This converts the potentially harmful vapor release into a beneficial recycling process, improving safety and environmental compliance while adding only moderate system complexity
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
The mobile system enables efficient sampling and analysis of fuel from multiple locations with reduced operational costs, ensuring safety through gas return and temperature monitoring, and producing uniform samples by mixing fuels from multiple tanks.
Implementation Method 1
The sample tank (3) includes a mixing device (7), by means of which the fuel present in the sample tank (3) can be mixed
Implementation Method 2
In order to increase the safety of the sampling system, it is advantageous if the supply line, the discharge line, the connecting line and/or the transport lines comprise pipelines. This results in a high stability of the addressed lines. Additionally or alternatively, the supply line, the discharge line, the connecting line and/or the transport lines can also include flexible lines. This increases the flexibility of the lines in question.
Implementation Method 3
It is also advantageous if the sampling system has one or more pumps with which the fuel can be pumped from the external fuel tank to the sample tank
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a sampling system (1) for taking fuel samples from an external fuel tank (2), comprising a sample tank (3) for receiving the fuel, at least one inlet (4) by means of which the fuel can be conveyed from the external fuel tank (2) into the sample tank (3), at least one outlet (5) by means of which the fuel can be discharged from the sample tank (3), and at least one sampling device (6) by means of which at least a partial quantity of the fuel can be extracted from the sample tank (3). According to the invention, the sampling system (1) is designed as a mobile system, in particular a self-contained one. The invention further relates to a method for operating the sampling system (1).