Methods and apparatus to automatically control oil burning operations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to automatically control oil burning operations are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first control valve to control a flow of a first fluid into a fluid mixture to be burned; and a second control valve to control a flow of a second fluid into the fluid mixture. The example apparatus further includes a meter to monitor a property of the fluid mixture in substantially realtime, the property indicative of a flammability of the fluid mixture, at least one of the first control valve or the second control valve to be automatically adjusted based on a measured value of the property of the fluid mixture

1 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring a property of a fluid mixture being pumped to a burner, the property indicative of a flammability of the fluid mixture; and   automatically adjusting at least one of a first control valve or a second control valve based on the monitored property of the fluid mixture, the first control valve controlling flow of a first fluid into the fluid mixture, the second control valve controlling a flow of a second fluid into the fluid mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid corresponds to production fluid from an oil well. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid is a flammable fluid with known properties. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second fluid is diesel fuel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the property of the fluid mixture is density monitored using a Coriolis meter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first control valve, the second control valve, and the Coriolis meter are mounted on a skid framework. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , where the first control valve is adjusted to a valve position complementary to the second control valve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing a single control signal to both the first control valve and the second control valve, the first and second control valves to move complementary amounts in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first control valve to control a flow of a first fluid into a fluid mixture to be burned;   a second control valve to control a flow of a second fluid into the fluid mixture; and   a meter to monitor a property of the fluid mixture in substantially real-time, the property indicative of a flammability of the fluid mixture, the at least one of the first control valve or the second control valve to be automatically adjusted based on a measured value of the property of the fluid mixture.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the property of the fluid mixture is density. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first fluid corresponds to production fluid from an oil well. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second fluid is a flammable fluid with known properties. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a skid framework, the first control valve, the second control valve, and the meter mounted on the skid framework. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first control valve is actuated in an opposite direction to the second control valve. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein both the first control valve and the second control valve are adjusted in response to a single control signal. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second control valves are adjusted complementary amounts. 
     
     
         17 . A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 monitor a property of a fluid mixture being pumped to a burner, the property indicative of a flammability of the fluid mixture; and   automatically adjust at least one of a first control valve or a second control valve based on the monitored property of the fluid mixture, the first control valve controlling flow of a first fluid into the fluid mixture, the second control valve controlling a flow of a second fluid into the fluid mixture.   
     
     
         18 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the property of the fluid mixture is density monitored using a Coriolis meter. 
     
     
         19 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to automatically adjust both the first control valve and the second control valve in response to a single control signal provided to both the first and second control valves. 
     
     
         20 . The storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein an opening of the first control valve is increased a first proportion when an opening of the second control valve is decreased a second proportion, the first proportion substantially equivalent to the second proportion.