Background

[0001 ] Typically, an additive pump such as an ADD150 pump is used with a flowmeter to measure the amount of fuel that is pumped or discharged from a truck into an underground storage tank (“UST”) or other tank such as a heating oil tank for home fuel delivery. There, the additive pump pulses specific amounts of additive at set intervals, proportional to the amount of fuel that passes through the flowmeter. Such configuration is meant to ensure that, at any given time, the final product (in the UST or the customer tank in general) meets quality specifications for the fuel. This setup is relatively complicated because variable volumes might be delivered to the customer. In this system, for a fuel station application, the driver typically keys in the amount of fuel to be delivered into a controller, indicting the grade (regular, premium, etc.). The grade selected by the driver determines the amount of additive needed per volume of fuel. The controller is connected to the additive pump which doses the required amount of additive to the fuel, as it is discharged from the truck. There is a need to dose correctly and create a bill of laden (BOL) directly off the truck. All of this so that, in the event the delivery is halted midway, the product delivered still meets the relevant specifications for the fuel.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0002] In one embodiment, a system may be configured to mix an additive with an unbranded fuel to provide a branded fuel. The system includes a branded fuel compartment, an additive tank fluidly connected to the branded fuel compartment by a line, a flow meter in the line between the additive tank and the branded fuel compartment, a first valve configured to permit introduction of the unbranded fuel into the line and to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the line, a second valve configured to permit introduction of the unbranded fuel and the additive from the line into the branded fuel compartment and to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the branded fuel compartment into the line, and a controller configured to selectively permit passage of the additive from the additive tank into the line. The flow meter may be sized to measure the flow of the additive from the additive tank but not to measure flow of the unbranded fuel. Optionally, there may be no pump in the line and the flow of the additive from the additive tank is assisted only by gravity. Optionally, the additive tank has a level sensor. Optionally, the branded fuel compartment is a first branded fuel compartment and the system further includes a second branded fuel compartment. Optionally, the system further includes a third branded fuel compartment. Optionally, the system further includes a fourth branded fuel compartment.

[0003] In an embodiment, a method of providing a branded fuel includes providing a system including a branded fuel compartment, an additive tank fluidly connected to the branded fuel compartment by a line, a flow meter in the line between the additive tank and the branded fuel compartment, a first valve configured to permit introduction of an unbranded fuel into the line and to permit the offloading of a branded fuel from the line, a second valve configured to permit introduction of the unbranded fuel and the additive from the line into the branded fuel compartment and to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the branded fuel compartment into line, and a controller configured to selectively permit passage of the additive from the additive tank into the line. The flow meter may be sized to measure the flow of the additive from the additive tank but not to measure flow of the unbranded fuel. The method further includes providing input to the controller, opening the second valve, permitting gravity to move the additive from the additive tank into the line, through the flow meter, into a gravitationally lower portion of the line until the controller indicates sufficient additive has passed through the flow meter, connecting an unbranded fuel source to the first valve via coupler, and pumping the unbranded fuel from the unbranded fuel source through the first valve and into the portion of the line containing the additive, such that the unbranded fuel and the additive begin to mix and move together through the rest of the line, through the second valve and into the branded fuel compartment for transport. Optionally, the method also includes transporting the system with the unbranded fuel and the additive in the branded fuel compartment and allowing the unbranded fuel and the additive to mix further during transport to yield a branded fuel. Optionally, the method includes connecting the system to an end use site, opening the first valve and the second valve, and allowing the branded fuel mixture to flow from the branded fuel compartment through the second valve, through the line, through the first valve and to the end use site.

[0004] In an embodiment, a method of providing a branded fuel includes providing a system having a branded fuel compartment, an additive tank fluidly connected to the branded fuel compartment by a line, a flow meter in the line between the additive tank and the branded fuel compartment, a first valve configured to permit introduction of an unbranded fuel into the line and to permit the offloading of a branded fuel from the line, a second valve configured to permit introduction of the unbranded fuel and the additive from the line into the branded fuel compartment and to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the branded fuel compartment into line, and a controller configured to selectively permit passage of the additive from the additive tank into the line. The flow meter may be sized to measure the flow of the additive from the additive tank but not to measure flow of the unbranded fuel. The method also includes providing input to the controller, opening the second valve, permitting gravity to move the additive from the additive tank into the line, through the flow meter, and into a gravitationally lower portion of the line until the controller indicates sufficient additive has passed through the flow meter, and pumping the unbranded fuel through the line containing the additive, such that the unbranded fuel and the additive begin to mix and move together.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0006] Figure 2A is a side view of a trailer incorporating the system of the present disclosure.

[0007] Figure 2B is an end view of the trailer incorporating the system of Figure 2A.

[0008] Figure 2C illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the trailer incorporating the system of Figure 2A, taken along line A-A of Figure 2A.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

[0009] Throughout this specification and in the drawings, various elements are indicated with a numeral followed by a letter. Generally, reference to the numeral without reference to the letter is intended to refer generically to the element when elements are similar. Thus, for example, reference to element 2 is meant to refer to any of 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d without specificity. Similarly, reference to element 4 is meant to refer generically to an entire line while specific elements 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4f, 4g, 4h, and 4i provide for specific portions of the element 4. [0010] Referring to Figure l, a system 1 in accordance with the present disclosure may include a branded fuel compartment 2. As illustrated, there are four branded fuel compartments, 2a,

2b, 2c, and 2d. However, one compartment 2 may be used in place of the illustrated four compartments. Similarly, two or three or more compartments may be used. The number and size of the fuel compartments 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d will depend on several factors such as type of fuel and customer requirements. For example, the four illustrated compartments 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d may each carry a separate grade of fuel such as standard gasoline, a premium grade of gasoline, an ultra-premium grade of gasoline and a standard diesel. Alternatively, each compartment 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d may include a particular volume of a similar product but destined for different customers. Alternatives which might be carried and mixed in the compartment 2 include various grades of gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, biofuels, heating oils, and the like.

[0011] Generally, unbranded fuel from a terminal or other unbranded fuel source may be combined with an additive from an additive tank 3 to form a branded fuel. While only one additive tank 3 is illustrated, additional additives could be provided by use of a similar tank in parallel with the additive tank 3 shown.

[0012] The additive tank 3 is fluidly connected to the branded fuel compartment 2 by a line 4. This line 4 may be a pipe, tube, hose, or any other conduit that allows the additive to flow from the additive tank to the branded fuel compartment 2. A flow meter 5 may sit between the additive tank 3 and the branded fuel compartment 2. Preferably, the flow meter 5 is between the additive tank 3 and the branded fuel compartment 2. In the embodiment shown, the flow meter 5 is gravitationally lower than the additive tank 3 and gravitationally lower than the branded fuel compartment 2. The flow meter 5 ideally will be sized such that it accurately measures flow from the additive tank 3. However, the flow meter 5 need not be sized to measure flow of the unbranded fuel through portions of the line 4 downstream from a point where the additive and the unbranded fuel begin to comingle or mix. This measuring of the flow of only the additive without measuring the flow of the fuel allows for the flow meter 5 to be smaller, which may provide cost savings by reduction in capital cost of the flow meter 5 but also in enhanced fuel efficiency for transport because of reduced weight. Additionally, the smaller flow meter 5 may allow for other necessary equipment to be included in the design of the system 1. The flow meter 5 may be an INVALCO Liquid Turbine Meter or a Smith meter or any other suitable flow meter.

[0013] The system 1 also includes a first valve 6, illustrated as a group of valves 6a, 6b, 6c, and 6d, corresponding, respectively to the compartments 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. The first valve 6 is configured to permit the introduction of the unbranded fuel into the line 4 during loading of the compartment 2 at a loading point such as a terminal (not shown) and also to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the line 4 during offloading at an end use site. Similarly, the system includes a second valve 12, illustrated as a group of valves 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d, corresponding, respectively to the compartments 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. The second valve 12 is configured to permit introduction of the unbranded fuel and the additive from the line 4 into the branded fuel compartment 2 at the loading point and also to permit the offloading of the branded fuel from the branded fuel compartment 2 into the line 4 during offloading at the end use site.

[0014] A controller 7 is configured to selectively permit passage of the additive from the additive tank 3 into the line 4. The controller 7 relies on information provided about absolute amount of additive to be added per compartment or alternatively the fuel volume to be added with the particular selected recipe, combined with feedback from the flow meter 5 to determine when sufficient additive has been provided to the line 4 for introduction into the branded fuel compartment 2. When enough additive is present in the line 4, the controller 7 causes a valve to stop the flow of additive from the additive tank 3.

[0015] In addition to entering the relevant information or otherwise providing input to the controller, the user connects to an unbranded fuel source such as a terminal with an associated fuel pump to the first valve 6 via a coupler 13. Stated otherwise, unbranded fuel may be picked up from a terminal. The fuel may be pumped from one or more holding tanks (sometimes via a blender system e.g. to combine gasoline and ethanol) onto a truck. One exemplary coupler 13 is an API coupler. The coupler 13 may be configured to connect to the unbranded fuel source such as a terminal. Multiple branded fuel compartments 2 might require a corresponding number of couplers 13. The user may also open the second valve 12 associated with the relevant branded fuel compartment 2, either manually or otherwise. The user permits gravity to move the additive from the additive tank 3 into the line 4, and through the flow meter 5 to a gravitationally lower portion of the line 4 until the controller 7 indicates enough additive has passed through the flow meter 5. Because of the configuration of the line 4, with a section that is lower than the additive tank 3, gravity alone is sufficient to cause the flow of the additive into the line 4 and no pump for movement of additive from the additive tank 3 is needed. Stated otherwise, there is no pump in the line 4 and the flow of the additive from the additive tank 3 is assisted only by gravity or, by gravity combined with the flow of unbranded fuel through the line 4. While the illustrated configuration shows portions 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e, and a portion of 4f being lower than the additive tank 3, as long as a portion of the line 4 is lower than the additive tank 3, other configurations could also be suitable.

[0016] With additive in a portion of the line 4, the user may begin pumping the unbranded fuel from the unbranded fuel source (e.g., terminal) through the first valve 6 and into the portion of the line 4 containing the additive. The unbranded fuel and the additive will begin to mix and the pressure of the unbranded fuel will move it, along with the additive, through the portions of the line 4 that are higher than the additive tank 3, moving the additive and the unbranded fuel together through the second valve 12 and into the branded fuel compartment 2 for transport. In other words, the pump from the terminal will move the unbranded fuel and the additive upward to the branded fuel compartment even though such unbranded fuel compartment may be gravitationally higher than the additive tank 3. Notably, however, an embodiment where the inlet of the branded fuel compartment 2 is gravitationally lower than the additive tank 3 is also envisioned and adequate mixing of the additive and unbranded fuel will likely still occur during transport and later discharge of the branded fuel from the branded fuel compartment 2. However, it is important that some portion of the line 4 is gravitationally lower than the additive tank 3 to allow for gravity to assist the flow of additive from the additive tank 3 without use of a pump.

[0017] In one embodiment, the additive is sent to the line 4 before the unbranded fuel is introduced. However, in some instances it might be preferred to also or alternatively allow for additive to flow simultaneously with the flow of the unbranded fuel into the branded fuel compartment 2.

[0018] Optionally, the method described above may also include transporting the system 1 with the unbranded fuel and the additive in the branded fuel compartment 2 and allowing the unbranded fuel and the additive to mix further during transport to yield a branded fuel. It is expected that the mixing in line 4 and upon introduction to the branded fuel compartment 2, combined with additional mixing that occurs when the branded fuel is introduced to the end use site will account for most mixing. Nonetheless, the added step of mixing during transport provides an additional advantage of ensuring complete mixing.

[0019] Once the system 1 has arrived at the end use site, the user may connect the system 1 to the end use site. Such connection might be in the form of a hose or other conduit being connected to the coupler 13 at one end of the hose and to an opening of a storage tank (not shown) at another end of the hose. The user may open the first valve 6 and the second valve 12 and simply allow the branded fuel mixture to flow from the branded fuel compartment 2 through the second valve 12, through the line 4, through the first valve 6 and to the end use site (e.g. into the storage tank). The end use site might be an underground storage tank such as at a retail fuel station and the system 1 might be included on a tanker truck with the compartments 2 forming the tank portion of the tanker. However, the end use site could also be other delivery points such as airports, homes with tanks for heating oil, or any of a number of other delivery locations where branded fuel is desired.

[0020] In some cases, the user may neglect to add the additive to the branded fuel compartment 2 until after the unbranded fuel has been introduced into the branded fuel compartment 2. This might be for a variety of reasons. For example, mistake, or unavailability of enough additive in the additive tank 3. Regardless of the cause, neglecting to introduce additive from the additive tank 3 into the line 4 before the unbranded fuel passes through the line 4 will result in the additive being unable to overcome gravity to pass from a gravitationally lower point than the branded fuel compartment 2. Because there is no pump provided in line 4, the user cannot easily pump the additive into the branded fuel compartment 2. However, in such cases, the system 1 can still be used to provided branded fuel. The additive can be provided directly to the end use site via the portion of the line 4 upstream of the relevant first valve 6 and relevant connector 13. The controller 7 and the flow meter 5 can function in a similar manner as described above but the mixing will not occur in the line 4 or the branded fuel compartment 2 but instead mixing will occur in the storage tank or other end use site. Alternatively, additive can be introduced to the line 4 after the unbranded fuel is present in the branded fuel compartment 2 but before the unbranded fuel is offloaded from the branded fuel compartment 2. In such a scenario, the offloading of the unbranded fuel through the line 4 will result in mixing during offloading but in a manner similar to the mixing that would occur during onloading when the line 4 is provided with additive before loading of the branded fuel compartments 2.

[0021] More specifically, the system 1 provided above may be provided as described. The user may provide input to the controller 7, open the second valve 12, permit gravity to move the additive from the additive tank 3 into the line 4, through the flow meter 5, and into a gravitationally lower portion of the line 4 until the controller 7 indicates sufficient additive has passed through the flow meter 5. The user may pump the unbranded fuel through the line 4 containing the additive, such that the unbranded fuel and the additive begin to mix and move together. The unbranded fuel and the additive might pass one after the other, with either leading and either following, or they may flow partially or wholly simultaneously. In most configurations, both will flow and mix as they pass through the line 4. However, it is also possible that one passes before the other or that each flow through only a portion of line 4. For example, the additive might flow through portions 4a and 4b before gravitationally exiting system 1 via valve 6a and coupler 13a. Regardless of how the unbranded fuel and the additive mix, once mixed, they will form branded fuel.

[0022] In addition to the elements described above, the additive tank 3 may have a level sensor 8 to provide feedback, via the controller 7 or otherwise, regarding a level of additive remaining in the additive tank 3. This may be advantageous in that it can prevent depletion of additive during a loading of the system 1 at a terminal. Specifically, the level sensor 8 might provide feedback after the user has inputted information into the controller 7 and it is known the amount of additive that will be required for each of the branded fuel compartments 2. If there is enough additive in the additive tank 3, the controller may permit flow of additive from the additive tank to the respective compartments 2. However, if there is insufficient additive in the additive tank 3, the controller may provide a display indicating that there is insufficient supply of additive to fulfil the request. The user may then optionally opt to refill the additive tank 3 and/or select different branded fuel options or different quantities of branded fuels for the branded fuel compartments 2.

[0023] In the case of multiple branded fuel compartments 2, a first branded fuel compartment 2a and a second branded fuel compartment 2b may be provided with functionality as generically described above with respect to compartment 2. Similarly, a third branded fuel compartment 2c might be included. And, if desired, a fourth branded fuel compartment 2d may also be included. Other branded fuel compartments (not shown) can be included if desired or useful to the particular circumstances.

[0024] While shown as being at a lower elevation than the branded fuel compartments 2, the additive tank 3 may alternatively have an outlet that is at a higher elevation than the inlet of the branded fuel compartment 2 with similar advantages as described above. In such case, flow of unbranded fuel through the line may occur before, after or simultaneously with the flow of unbranded fuel into the branded fuel compartments 2, with only gravity and no mechanical pump required to move the additive to the branded fuel compartments. Alternatively, a small electric pump, powered by the vehicle, may be provided to provide the necessary movement of the additive.

[0025] Referring now to Figures 2A-2C, the system 1 may be mounted on a skid or chassis, such as a tanker truck as shown.

[0026] The design disclosed herein omits the use of the conventional pump for dispensing known amounts of additive, e.g. the ADD150 pump. Such modification reduces both cost and complexity as compared to traditional designs.

[0027] Broadly, because the total amount of unbranded fuel and additive are typically proportional, so long as the branded fuel meets the final fuel specs, the additive pump can be eliminated with the currently proposed design and methods.

[0028] To achieve enough pressure to load the additive in the absence of a pump, the additive tank may be positioned above the API couplers on the truck. Potential positions of the additive tank may include (1) on top of the trailer; (2) behind the cab; and (3) on the side of the trailer, or other such configurations.

[0029] While all additive tank placements are viable, the third option is preferred, since it reduces the amount of piping that is required to connect to the line behind the API couplers. Moreover, the system can readily be retrofitted onto an existing trailer by bolting it onto trailer. Moreover, the additive system can also easily be removed if it is no longer needed. Figures 2A-2C illustrate the position of the additive tank on the side of the truck.

[0030] “Additive” in the context described above is meant to cover any traditional additive in a fuel such as gasoline, diesel, heating, aviation oil performance additives as well as NOx reducing additives, dyes, etc. Additionally, the concepts and designs described could be useful for addition of dyes, markers or other less traditional additives. Similarly, “unbranded fuel” is meant to cover traditional fuels which do not yet include at least some portion of the additive found in a final branded fuel.