Spectral Qualification of Fuel Properties

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for monitoring and estimating fuel properties during refining and blending operations are insufficient, leading to difficulties in predicting property changes and ensuring quality, especially when adding components at different stages of the distribution chain, resulting in inaccurate or labor-intensive processes.

Innovation Solution

Spectrographic testing of fuels to obtain spectral data, combining it with data from fuel components to construct representative spectra, and comparing these to calibration data to determine property values, allowing for the qualification of fuels and optimization of blending operations to minimize property shifts and reduce waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current methods for monitoring and estimating fuel properties are used during refining and blending operations, then the process can be completed with existing infrastructure, but the accuracy of property prediction is insufficient and leads to quality issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel property prediction accuracyVSAvoidfuel quality assurance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/chemical testing methods with spectrographic analysis. Spectroscopic techniques (NIR, MIR, Raman) are used to obtain spectral data that correlates with fuel properties, eliminating the need for time-consuming physical tests while improving measurement accuracy and reliability simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual model of fuel properties by correlating spectral data with actual fuel properties through calibration. The spectral fingerprints serve as copies that represent the complex chemical composition, allowing property prediction without direct measurement of each component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If extensive testing and sample preparation are performed to accurately determine fuel properties, then measurement accuracy improves, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefuel property determination accuracyVSAvoidtesting and sample preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Spectrographic analysis replaces extensive physical testing and sample preparation procedures. The technique requires minimal sample preparation (often just placing a sample in the instrument) and provides rapid property determination, reducing testing time from hours or days to seconds or minutes while maintaining or improving accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs calibration in advance by correlating spectral data with reference property measurements for various fuel samples. This preliminary action creates prediction models that can be applied to future samples without repeating the extensive testing, enabling rapid property determination while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If fuel components are added at different stages of the distribution chain to adjust properties, then flexibility in property adjustment is improved, but predicting the final property values becomes more difficult and inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproperty adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidfinal property value prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses spectral data as a fingerprint copy that represents the complete chemical composition of the fuel blend. By analyzing the spectral characteristics of individual components and their mixtures, the system can predict the spectral (and thus property) outcome of blending operations at any stage, maintaining accuracy regardless of when components are added

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where spectral analysis provides real-time information about fuel composition and properties. This feedback allows operators to predict the effects of adding components at different stages and make informed decisions to achieve target properties, improving both flexibility and prediction accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach enables more efficient fuel production with reduced time and waste, while maintaining production efficiency and quality, by accurately determining fuel properties without the need for extensive testing or sample preparation, and allowing for confident transportation and blending of fuels.

Implementation Method 1

spectrographically testing a first fuel to obtain spectral data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption Spectroscopy: Absorption Spectroscopy

Implementation Method 2

spectral data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10295521B2Methods and apparatuses for spectral qualification of fuel properties

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 TESORO REFINING & MARKETING CO LLC

AI summary

A method for determining property values of fuels may include using spectral data collected from one or more other fuels or fuel components. The method may include construction of spectral data representative of a fuel by weighting spectral data for another fuel and spectral data for one or more fuel components.