BOSS minimizes product cost, quality giveaway, and/or recipe deviation, subject to:

• all pump, line, and tank constraints
• component inventory constraints
• analyzer validity/header property constraints
• integrated final (or on-spec volume) tank specifications

Equipment-specific, expert operator advice is provided in the event of any operational infeasibilities.  An optional, automated pump selection feature can be used to optimally balance component delivery capacities.

The system can be applied to any fuel product or crude inline blenders and handles traditional tank-to-tank, tank-to-pipeline/ship, and continuous rundown operations with both controlled and “wild” component streams.  Tank swings and component changes are accommodated.  BOSS can also simultaneously optimize multiple, parallel blend headers that produce different products from shared components. 

The package includes a library of standard conventional, RFG, and CARB blend models and provides a convenient software framework for the addition of site-specific, custom models.  Blend model predictions are biased using online analyzer (or lab) header feedback and used directly if analyzer signals fail validation.  Component property feed-forward can be provided from lab sampling, online analyzers, and/or OMM-based component tank quality integrations.

The Blend Planning Optimizer (BPO) module provides multi-period, multi-blend offline planning and online optimization.  Unlike other blend planners developed as completely independent software products, BPO is truly an extension of BOSS, with consistent user interface, database, models, biases, objectives, constraints, and solver engine.  In addition to providing traditional offline planning capability, BPO also runs online to continuously update and improve the multi-blend plan and rigorously enforce current and future inventory constraints.

BPO generates optimal recipes, rates, and  start-times for a series of blends.  The optimization is subject to inventory constraints forecasted across the planning horizon, considering component rundowns, imports, and exports, as well as product tank mixing, certification, and lifting time constraints.  In the event of infeasibilities, current blend constraints are prioritized. 

In the offline mode, BPO allows the user to generate and store a series (monthly and/or weekly) of blends to be executed by BOSS.      In the online mode, BPO runs in concert with BOSS, using online measurements to fully exploit the potential for economic optimization –    without compromising the multi-blend plan by ignoring long-term inventory constraints.  

The Digital Blender System (DBS) is a standard DCS application for the base regulatory, ratio, and sequential control of in-line blenders.  DBS includes a complete set of operator displays for the creation and stand-alone execution of blend orders. When operated with BOSS, blend orders, start/stop commands, and optimal recipe updates are downloaded automatically.  DBS automatically opens valves, starts pumps, ramps the total blend rate, and regulates the individual component loops to achieve the pre-set recipe. 

DBS and BOSS close blend loops to:

• Reduce re-blends, missed shipments, and demurrage
• Minimize component stock and product inventories
• Allow the elimination (or service change) of unnecessary blend tanks
• Ensure products meet quality and regulatory agency specifications
• Minimize giveaway and component cost

BOSS/BPO’s unique offline/online multi-blend optimization technology offers the opportunity to maximize overall blend production profit against the true, long-term operational constraints of the refinery.