US 11,752,472 B2
Methods and systems for spillback control of in-line mixing of hydrocarbon liquids
Kyle E. Miller, Findlay, OH (US)
Assigned to MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP, Findlay, OH (US)
Filed by MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP, Findlay, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 31, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/566,768.
Application 17/566,768 is a continuation of application No. 17/247,880, filed on Dec. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,247,184.
Application 17/247,880 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/247,700, filed on Dec. 21, 2020.
Application 17/247,700 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/247,704, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, granted, now 10,990,114, issued on Apr. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/198,356, filed on Oct. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/705,538, filed on Jul. 2, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/954,960, filed on Dec. 30, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0118413 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01F 23/40 (2022.01); B01F 35/83 (2022.01); B01F 25/53 (2022.01); B01F 25/00 (2022.01)
CPC B01F 23/49 (2022.01) [B01F 25/53 (2022.01); B01F 35/833 (2022.01); B01F 2025/919 (2022.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An in-line liquid mixing system to admix one or more of hydrocarbon liquids, petroleum liquids, or renewable liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline, the in-line liquid mixing system comprising:
a first set of tanks, at least one tank of the first set of tanks containing a first liquid of the one or more hydrocarbon liquids, petroleum liquids, or renewable liquids therein, each tank in the first set of tanks connected to and in liquid flow communication with a first header, the first header configured to transport a flow of the first liquid from the first set of tanks;
a second set of tanks, at least one tank containing a second liquid of the one or more hydrocarbon liquids, petroleum liquids, or renewable liquids therein, each tank in the second set of tanks connected to and in liquid flow communication with a second header, the second header configured to transport a flow of the second liquid from the second set of tanks;
a first pump having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the first pump connected to a first booster pipe and the inlet of the first pump connected to the first header to increase pressure of liquid flow therethrough;
a first meter connected to the first booster pipe and configured to measure a first flow rate;
a first spillback pipe having a first connection to the first booster pipe between the first meter and the first pump and a second connection to the first header upstream of the first set of tanks, the first spillback pipe including a first control valve disposed therein, the first control valve configured to adjust a flow rate of liquid flow through the first spillback pipe between the first booster pipe and the first header;
a second pump having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the second pump connected to a second booster pipe and the inlet of the second pump connected to the second header to increase pressure of the liquid flow therethrough;
a second spillback pipe having a first connection to the second booster pipe downstream of the second pump and a second connection to the second header upstream of the second set of tanks, the second spillback pipe including a second control valve disposed therein, the second control valve configured to adjust a flow rate of liquid flow through the second spillback pipe between the second booster pipe and the second header;
a blend pipe configured to admix liquid that flows from the first booster pipe downstream of the first meter with liquid that flows through the second booster pipe downstream of the first connection of the second spillback pipe to create a blend flow; and
a blend meter connected to the blend pipe that measures flow rate of the blend flow through the blend pipe.