Pipeline Interchange Blending With Real-Time Product Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipeline systems face challenges in managing and analyzing the blending of different petroleum products with unique physical and chemical characteristics, requiring frequent sampling and analysis to meet product specifications, which is inefficient and costly due to the need to stop the pipeline flow or take samples from flowing pipelines.
Innovation Solution
Implementing automated analyzers in pipelines to continuously analyze products and generate data, allowing for real-time interpretation and adjustment of product flow to achieve optimal blended characteristics, enabling near-instantaneous analytical results and improved pipeline operations without the need for frequent shutdowns or manual sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual sampling and analysis is used to meet product specifications, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to pipeline shutdowns and frequent sampling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sampling operations with automated online analyzers that continuously monitor product properties in real-time. This substitution eliminates the need for pipeline shutdowns and manual sampling, maintaining measurement precision while preserving continuous pipeline operation and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous online analysis systems that operate without interruption throughout the pipeline process. This continuity allows real-time monitoring of product specifications while maintaining uninterrupted pipeline flow, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and productivity
2Measurement precision
If pipeline flow is stopped for sampling, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual sampling operations with automated online analyzers that provide real-time results without requiring pipeline shutdowns, thereby maintaining analytical accuracy while eliminating downtime
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements advance product characterization through continuous online analysis, allowing the system to predict product properties before they reach the interchange point. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming shutdowns and manual sampling operations
3Productivity
If automated analyzers are implemented for continuous analysis, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multi-functional automated analyzers that can characterize multiple product properties simultaneously using a single integrated system. This universality reduces the number of separate devices needed, thereby decreasing overall system complexity while maintaining high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical and electromagnetic sensing methods that create information copies of product properties without physical contact or intervention. This copying approach simplifies the analyzer design by eliminating complex mechanical sampling and handling systems
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a process is taught where the process begins by flowing a first product through a first pipeline and flowing a second product through a second pipeline. In this embodiment, the first product in the first pipeline is analyzed with a first product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the first product in the first pipeline and generating a first product data. Additionally, in this embodiment, the second product in the second pipeline is analyzed with a second product automated analyzer that is capable of physical and/or chemically analyzing the second product in the second pipeline and generating a second product data. The process then produces a blended product by mixing both the first product and the second product within a pipeline interchange which is connected downstream to both the first pipeline and the second pipeline. The blended product then flows from the pipeline interchange to a third pipeline that is connected downstream of pipeline interchange. The first product data and the second product data is then interpreted in a data analyzer by comparing the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the first data to an optimal first data and the physical and/or chemical characteristics of the second data to an optimal second data. The data analyzer then determines the adjustments in the flow of the first product and the flow of the second product to achieve optimal blended data from the blended product. The adjustments are then communicated to adjust the flow of the first product in the first pipeline and the flow of the second product in the second pipeline.