US 12,404,467 B2
Systems and methods for automated tank monitoring and blending
Larry D. Mattingly, Sanford, FL (US)
Assigned to Texon Midstream, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Texon Midstream, LLC (f/k/a Texon BlendTech, LLC), Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/838,300.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/212,154, filed on Jun. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0403267 A1, Dec. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. C10L 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC C10L 1/1608 (2013.01) [C10L 1/1616 (2013.01); C10L 2200/0423 (2013.01); C10L 2230/14 (2013.01); C10L 2270/10 (2013.01); C10L 2300/20 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for automated tank monitoring and butane blending comprising:
a) a fuel storage tank comprising a volume of tank fuel, a withdrawal port, a return port, and a plurality of monitoring units, wherein:
i) the tank fuel is characterized by a type and a physical property selected from volatility, butane content, and density; and
ii) each of the tank fuel monitoring units is capable of measuring the physical property of the tank fuel via absorption spectroscopy and generating a physical property signal corresponding to the measured physical property;
b) a variable rate butane blending unit under the control of an information processing unit;
c) a tank fuel circulating line comprising:
i) a tank fuel withdrawal line in fluid communication with the storage tank, configured to withdraw fuel from the storage tank through the storage tank withdrawal port;
ii) a junction providing fluid communication between the tank fuel recirculating line and the butane blending unit, configured to transmit butane from the butane blending unit into the circulating line to produce butane enriched fuel having a ratio of butane to fuel; and
iii) a tank fuel return line in fluid communication with the storage tank, configured to return the butane enriched fuel to the storage tank through the storage tank return port;
d) the information processing unit (“IPU”) comprising programming for receiving the physical property signal, performing a comparison of the physical property corresponding to the physical property signal to a physical property limit, and adjusting the ratio of butane to fuel in response to the comparison.