The present invention relates to automated batch making assemblies where various component materials, at least, some in liquid form, are combined. Specifically, the invention provides a dispensing assembly that adds efficiency by increasing dramatically the speed with which a liquid is dispensed from a container and by providing means and methods to automate the addition of and account for the amount of each component.

A vehicle or machine may include a consumable that requires refilling, such as fuel. Refilling the consumable may occur at a regular interval and the amounts may be recorded. Based on the past intervals and amounts, there may be modifications to future amounts. The weight of the consumable on a vehicle may decrease efficiency. Accordingly, the amount of consumable should be kept to a minimum to avoid carrying excess weight. Reducing an amount of the consumable upon replenishment can improve efficiency of the vehicle.

This disclosure is directed to vehicle fuel fill control systems for anticipating vehicle refueling events in order to control the timing of fuel tank depressurization sequences. In a first embodiment, a global positioning system (GPS) is utilized to anticipate the vehicle refueling event prior to initializing the depressurization sequence. In another embodiment, a camera system is utilized to anticipate the refueling event prior to initializing the depressurization sequence. In yet another embodiment, both the GPS and the camera system may be utilized to anticipate the refueling event. By anticipating refueling events, customer wait time for gaining refueling access may be reduced.

This disclosure is directed to vehicle fuel fill control systems for anticipating vehicle refueling events in order to control the timing of fuel tank depressurization sequences. In a first embodiment, a global positioning system (GPS) is utilized to anticipate the vehicle refueling event prior to initializing the depressurization sequence. In another embodiment, a camera system is utilized to anticipate the refueling event prior to initializing the depressurization sequence. In yet another embodiment, both the GPS and the camera system may be utilized to anticipate the refueling event. By anticipating refueling events, customer wait time for gaining refueling access may be reduced.

A fluid bypass method for controlling the temperature of a non-petroleum fuel, the fluid bypass method includes: providing a fuel at a pressure sufficient to effect a desired flow rate to a vehicle, the fuel being at a liquid or substantially supercritical thermodynamic state requiring further heat addition in a vaporizer; and diverting a bypass stream with partial or no vaporization to a heat exchanger as a cold fluid on a cold side of the heat exchanger. The method further includes providing a remainder stream of the fuel to the vaporizer; mixing the remainder stream outflowed from the vaporizer with the cold fluid outflowed from the cold side of the heat exchanger to form a combined fuel stream; and providing the combined fuel stream to the heat exchanger as a warm fluid on a warm side of the heat exchanger.

A fluid bypass method for controlling the temperature of a non-petroleum fuel, the fluid bypass method includes: providing a fuel at a pressure sufficient to effect a desired flow rate to a vehicle, the fuel being at a liquid or substantially supercritical thermodynamic state requiring further heat addition in a vaporizer; and diverting a bypass stream with partial or no vaporization to a heat exchanger as a cold fluid on a cold side of the heat exchanger. The method further includes providing a remainder stream of the fuel to the vaporizer; mixing the remainder stream outflowed from the vaporizer with the cold fluid outflowed from the cold side of the heat exchanger to form a combined fuel stream; and providing the combined fuel stream to the heat exchanger as a warm fluid on a warm side of the heat exchanger.

A mobile fuel monitoring system (MMU) is disclosed. The fuel monitoring system may be skid mounted and is configured to monitor fuel transfers between a fuel source and a vessel, such as a ship. The disclosed MMU is a stand-alone, self-contained unit that can be easily moved from place to place. The MMU is configured to monitor and remotely report custody transfers of fuel performed at any location. Parameters of the fuel transfer operation, such as the amount of fuel transferred, the flow rate, the fuel density, and fuel temperature can be monitored and alarms may be issued if any of the parameters are out of specification. The parameter values may be transmitted to a remote location, for example, via a satellite link.

A mobile fuel monitoring system (MMU) is disclosed. The fuel monitoring system may be skid mounted and is configured to monitor fuel transfers between a fuel source and a vessel, such as a ship. The disclosed MMU is a stand-alone, self-contained unit that can be easily moved from place to place. The MMU is configured to monitor and remotely report custody transfers of fuel performed at any location. Parameters of the fuel transfer operation, such as the amount of fuel transferred, the flow rate, the fuel density, and fuel temperature can be monitored and alarms may be issued if any of the parameters are out of specification. The parameter values may be transmitted to a remote location, for example, via a satellite link.

A tank simulator apparatus includes: a piping flowpath configured to receive a flow of a gas, the piping flowpath defining a buffer volume and including a receptacle for receiving gas flow at an upstream end thereof; a pressure transducer disposed in flow communication with the piping flowpath, the pressure transducer being configured to measure a pressure of the gas and generate a signal representative thereof; a pressure regulator disposed in flow communication with the piping flowpath and configured to maintain the pressure of the gas at a setpoint value; and an electronic controller operably connected to the pressure transducer and the pressure regulator, the electronic controller programmed to feed a time-varying setpoint value to the pressure regulator, the setpoint value following a tank profile representative of a tank having a predetermined volume.

Data characterizing a fuel storage facility can be received from one or more of a plurality of sensors disposed in the fuel storage facility. A fuel leak prediction for the fuel storage facility can be determined by a server, based on the received data, and further based on at least one predictive model that predicts whether a fuel leak exists in the fuel storage facility. The fuel leak prediction can be provided by the server. Related apparatus, systems, methods, techniques, and articles are also described.