Abstract: Frozen carbonated beverage apparatus and method is illustrated, and has a freeze chamber in which beverage is frozen wherein the addition of beverage to the freeze chamber is controlled in response to pressure in the freeze chamber. Controlling the addition of unfrozen beverage to the freeze chamber in response to the pressure provides a method of controlling the beverage in the freeze chamber. As freeze chamber pressure falls to a pre-determined lower pressure, beverage is added to the freeze chamber until a pre-determined upper pressure. Beverage may be added to the freeze cylinder at a rate that matches the cooling rate of the beverage within the freeze chamber so that unfrozen beverage added to the freeze chamber is rapidly frozen and does not significantly alter the viscosity (consistency) of the frozen carbonated beverage.

Abstract: A computer system for a zone fired furnace generates a plurality of temperature set point signals for a plurality of furnace zones. The set point signals are derived from a master controller acting on the measured temperature of fluid that is heated in the plurality of furnace zones and then combined to form a heated stream. The master signal, which is a velocity type signal, is provided to a plurality of zone control stations corresponding to the plurality of furnace zones. Each zone control station integrates the master signal, and then biases the master signal for use as a zone temperature set point. The zone control station can be used to bias the individual coils so as to balance the temperature of the coils with respect to each other, or to intentionally unbalance one or more coils, as desired, so as to improve furnace operations.

Abstract: A computer control system for automatically optimizing the temperature of the feed supplied to a distillation column from a fuel fired preheat furnace, wherein the furnace temperature is manipulated in response to a measured ratio of distillate flow (D) from the tower to fuel flow (F) to the furnace. The D/F ratio is maximized by periodically comparing the present value of D/F to the previous value and incrementally increasing the furnace temperature as long as the D/F ratio increases. When no change is detected or the D/F ratio starts to decrease the furnace temperature is incrementally decreased until the D/F ratio again increases and reverses the control action once more.

Abstract: The Reid Vapor Pressure of a hydrocarbon mixture consisting essentially of hydrocarbons selected from the same series is determined based on the actual temperature and vapor pressure of the hydrocarbons mixture. The thus determined Reid Vapor Pressure may be compared to a set point for the Reid Vapor Pressure with the results of the comparison being utilized to maintain the actual Reid Vapor Pressure substantially equal to the desired Reid Vapor Pressure.

Abstract: The Reid Vapor Pressure of a hydrocarbon mixture consisting essentially of hydrocarbons selected from the same series is determined based on the actual temperature and vapor pressure of the hydrocarbon mixture. The thus determined Reid Vapor Pressure may be compared to a set point for the Reid Vapor Pressure with the results of the comparison being utilized to maintain the actual Reid Vapor Pressure substantially equal to the desired Reid Vapor Pressure.