Predictive Gasoline Blending for Vapor Pressure Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current gasoline blending processes face challenges in accurately and efficiently meeting government vapor pressure specifications, leading to operational costs and margin giveaways due to the need for real-time monitoring of volatility in all blendstock streams, particularly for butane and ethanol additions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising pipes for neat gasoline, ethanol, and butane, with analyzers for vapor pressure and distillation temperature measurements, and a programmable logic controller that calculates and implements a volumetric blend ratio to produce finished gasoline, utilizing standard assumptions for butane and ethanol volatility to maximize butane content while adhering to vapor pressure limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time contemporaneous monitoring of volatility for all blendstock streams (including butane and ethanol) is implemented, then accuracy of meeting vapor pressure specifications is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the volatility monitoring requirement from all blendstock streams and applies it only to the neat gasoline stream. By removing the monitoring burden from butane and ethanol streams while maintaining it on the neat gasoline, the system achieves the necessary specification compliance at reduced operational cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The neat gasoline volatility measurement serves multiple functions: it characterizes the base stream properties, enables predictive blending calculations, and ensures final specification compliance. This single measurement replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate measurements of all individual blendstocks.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time contemporaneous monitoring of volatility for all blendstock streams is implemented, then accuracy of meeting vapor pressure specifications is improved, but margin giveaway increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of the neat gasoline stream's volatility properties before blending occurs. This advance knowledge allows for predictive calculation of the optimal blend composition that will meet specifications, eliminating the need for conservative blending approaches that result in margin giveaway.
Solution Approach 2:
The neat gasoline volatility measurement provides feedback to the blending control system, enabling real-time adjustment of blend ratios to maximize butane content while ensuring specification compliance. This closed-loop control prevents both over-blending (which would exceed specs and cause margin loss) and under-blending (which would leave production potential untapped).
3Loss of energy
If standard assumptions are used for butane and ethanol volatility, then operational cost decreases, but measurement precision for finished gasoline volatility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the monitoring parameter from individual blendstock volatilities to neat gasoline stream volatility. By measuring the actual neat gasoline properties and using these real parameters in predictive calculations, the system maintains high accuracy even when using standard assumptions for the oxygenate components.
Data Source
AI summary
Processes for blending at least one finished gasoline from a refined petroleum product comprising at least one neat gasoline with ethanol and optionally butane utilizing a blend model that calculates a volumetric blend ratio comprising at least one neat gasoline, ethanol and optionally, butane. The blend model utilizes estimated values for the octane number and the volatility of the ethanol and butane when calculating the volumetric blend ratio.