Liquid hydrocarbon fluid transfer system

Abstract

A fluid transfer system within a berm surrounding at least one bulk fluid storage tank includes: a rotary positive displacement pump; and an air motor adapted to be in fluid communication with an air supply and in operable communication with the rotary positive displacement pump, for driving the pump, the air supply provided by an air compressor outside of the berm, wherein the rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump from a first bulk fluid storage tank to a second bulk fluid storage tank, wherein the second bulk fluid storage tank may have a greater potential energy than the first bulk fluid storage tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid transfer system comprising:
 a rotary positive displacement pump, said pump containing an inlet and an outlet; and   an air motor adapted to be in fluid communication with a compressed air supply and in operable communication with said rotary positive displacement pump, for driving said pump,   said rotary positive displacement pump adapted to pump  0 - 250  gallons per minute from a first bulk fluid storage tank to a second bulk fluid storage tank, said pump and at least one of said first and second bulk fluid storage tanks surrounded by a berm,   wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is a hydrocarbon or oil pump, and said compressed air supply is located outside of said berm and spaced away from said rotary positive displacement pump, in operable communication therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 1 , wherein said second bulk storage tank has a greater second potential energy of a second bulk fluid therein as compared to a first potential energy of a first bulk fluid in said first bulk storage tank. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump 0.1-250 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 1  wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump 50-250 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         5 . A fluid transfer system within a berm surrounding at least one bulk fluid storage tank comprising:
 a rotary positive displacement pump; and   an air motor adapted to be in fluid communication with an air supply and in operable communication with said rotary positive displacement pump, for driving said pump, said air supply provided by an air compressor outside of said berm,   wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump from a first bulk fluid storage tank to a second bulk fluid storage tank, and   wherein said second bulk fluid storage tank has a greater second potential energy of a second bulk fluid therein, as compared to a first potential energy of a first bulk fluid in said first bulk fluid storage tank.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 5  wherein said rotary positive displacement pump contains an inlet, adapted to be in fluid communication with said first bulk fluid storage tank, and, said rotary positive displacement pump contains an outlet adapted to be in fluid communication with said second bulk fluid storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 5  wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump 0-250 gallons per minute from a first bulk storage tank to a second bulk storage tank. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 5  wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump 0.1-250 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         9 . A method of pumping a hydrocarbon fluid comprising the following steps:
 providing an air-driven rotary positive displacement pump having a pumping capacity of 0-250 gallons per minute;   providing an air-supply in fluid communication with the pump, to drive the pump;   providing a hydrocarbon fluid to an inlet of the pump; and   pumping the hydrocarbon fluid through the pump and out an outlet of the pump.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the air supply is provided through an air compressor located outside of a berm surrounding the rotary positive displacement pump. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid transfer system comprising:
 a rotary positive displacement pump, said pump containing an inlet and an outlet; and   an air motor adapted to be in fluid communication with a compressed air supply and in operable communication with said rotary positive displacement pump, for driving said pump,   said rotary positive displacement pump adapted to pump 0-250 gallons per minute from a first bulk fluid storage tank to a second bulk fluid storage tank, said pump and at least one of said first and second bulk fluid storage tanks surrounded by a berm,   wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is a hydrocarbon or oil pump, and said compressed air supply is located outside of said berm and spaced away from said rotary positive displacement pump, in operable communication therewith, and   wherein said rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump fluid from a first storage tank to a second storage tank, and said second storage tank may have a greater potential energy as compared to said first storage tank.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein said first storage tank is equal in size, dimensions, and volume to said second storage tank, and wherein the rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump fluid from the first storage tank to the second storage tank as the fluid height of the second storage tank exceeds the fluid height of the first storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 12  wherein during operation of the fluid transfer system, the potential energy of the second storage tank ranges from 10 to 40 times the potential energy of the first storage tank as the fluid from the first storage tank is pumped into the second storage tank. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid transfer system of  claim 11 , wherein said first storage tank is lesser in size, dimensions, and volume as compared to said second storage tank, and wherein the rotary positive displacement pump is adapted to pump fluid from the first storage tank to the second storage tank as the fluid height of the second storage tank exceeds the fluid height of the first storage tank.