1. A token-management system, in which tokens are credits offerable by a user in exchange for products of a specified kind, the token credit being issued to users by an issuer, the system comprising:
memory means for storing user account data for each user;
input means for receiving an order, said order specifying an amount of token credit to be allocated to a user;
memory update means adapted to update user account data held in the memory means whereby to add to the user account the amount of token credit allocated to said user in said order;
input means for receiving a reimbursement authorization from a user, said reimbursement authorization including data indicating the amount of token credit to be reimbursed, and data identifying a redeemer to whom reimbursement is to be made; and
verification means adapted to consult the user account data held in the memory means whereby to verify that the user issuing the reimbursement authorization has token credit sufficient to pay the token credit amount specified in the reimbursement authorization and, when the token credit in the user account is sufficient, to validate the received reimbursement authorization;
wherein the memory update means is further adapted, when a reimbursement authorization is validated, to update the user account data whereby to debit from the user account the amount of token credit specified in the reimbursement authorization; and
wherein the system further comprises means for issuing a payment command in response to the verification means validating a reimbursement authorization, said payment command ordering a payment to the redeemer specified in the validated reimbursement authorization of an amount based on the token credit specified in the validated reimbursement authorization.
2. The token-management system according to claim 1, and comprising means for determining the payment status of an order received by the input means, said payment status having a value selected from the group consisting of: order not yet paid for, order paid for, order within credit limit of ordering party, and order without charge; wherein the memory update means is adapted to update user account data held in the memory means in response to a received order only when the payment status determined for said order takes a predetermined value.
3. The token-management system according to claim 1 or 2, and comprising means for determining a release date applicable to an order received by the input means, said release date indicating a date at which token credit can be released to the user(s) specified in said order; wherein the memory update means is adapted to update user account data held in the memory means in response to a received order only when the release date determined for said order has been reached or passed.
4. The token-management system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the input means is adapted to receive orders and reimbursement authorizations by electronic means selected in the group consisting of telephone communications, electronic file transfer and communications on the worldwide web.
5. The token-management system according to any previous claim, wherein the tokens are credits offerable in exchange for products having a predetermined nature.
6. The token-management system according to any previous claim, wherein the tokens are credits offerable in exchange for products provided by a predetermined set of merchants andor service providers.
7. The token-management system according to any previous claim, wherein token credit is denominated in units of product, and the system further comprises calculation means for processing a reimbursement authorization whereby to convert the specified token credit into a monetary amount to be paid to the redeemer.
8. The token-management system according to any previous claim, wherein a unit of token credit has different monetary equivalents in different currencies, and the system comprises:
means for storing indications of said monetary equivalents in different currencies; and
means for calculating the monetary equivalent, in a specified currency, of a specified number of units of token credit.
9. The token-management system according to any previous claim, wherein the products consist in at least one item selected in the group consisting of goods and services.
10. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising means for verifying the identity of a user, said user-identity verification means requiring, in a first mode, input of at least an identification code and a personal identification number (PIN), wherein the system is adapted to validate a reimbursement authorization only when the user-identity verification means has successfully verified the identity of the user issuing the reimbursement authorization.
11. The token-management system according to claim 10, wherein the input means is adapted to receive reimbursement authorizations via telephone calls, there is provided means for detecting calling-line identification data included in a received telephone call and for determining whether the detected calling-line identification data matches a telephone number stored for one user, and said user-identity verification means is adapted to skip input of said identification code when the calling-line identification data is determined to match a telephone number stored for one user.
12. The token-management system according to claim according to claim 10, wherein said user-identity verification means is adapted, in a second mode, to verify the identity of the user from said identification number and at least one item of additional data, and there is provided personal identification number setting means adapted to allow the user to set a personal identification number (PIN) when the user identity has been verified by the user-identity verification means operating in said second mode.
13. The token-management system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one item of additional data comprises the value of the current balance of token credit in the user account.
14. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising means for outputting, to a user, data relating to the preceding validated reimbursement authorization received from said user.
15. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising means for outputting, to a redeemer, data relating to the preceding validated reimbursement authorization received for reimbursement of said redeemer.
16. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising means for outputting, to a user, data indicative of the identity of a redeemer reimbursed in response to the preceding reimbursement authorization received from said user, and a user indication of acceptance of the previously-reimbursed redeemer serves as data identifying a redeemer to be reimbursed in response to the current reimbursement authorization.
17. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising means for generating and updating the value of a flag indicative of order status, said flag taking a first value when creation of the order has begun but values of the order data have not been finalized, a second value when values of the order data have been finalized but payment for the order has not yet been received by the issuer, and a third value when payment for the order has been received by the issuer, wherein the memory update means only updates user account data to add token credit specified in an order when the flag for said order takes said third value.
18. The token-management system according to any previous claim, and comprising an automated document-ordering module.
19. A childcare-voucher management system, comprising a token-management system according to any previous claim in which the tokens are credits exchangeable for childcare services.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A dual fuel burner, comprising:
a first fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a first fuel rail, wherein each fuel rail finger comprises a plurality of combustion chambers, and wherein each combustion chamber comprises a combustion tube holder that at least partially envelopes a combustion tube;
a second fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a second fuel rail, and wherein each fuel rail finger of the second fuel burner comprises a plurality of combustion chambers;
wherein the first fuel burner is configured to burn a first fuel, wherein the second fuel burner is configured to burn a second fuel, and wherein the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are configured to integrate with the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner,
wherein the first fuel is wellhead gas,
wherein the second fuel is at least one of propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGL’s) and wellhead gas, and
wherein the second fuel burner is configured to operate when the wellhead gas burner supplies less than about 3,500 British Thermal Units (BTU) per cubic foot.
2. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are interstitially spaced with the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.
3. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, wherein each of the fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are movable relative to the first fuel rail.
4. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of combustion tubes of the first fuel burner extends further from its respective fuel rail finger than each of the respective combustion tube holders.
5. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, further comprising: a separator configured to remove hydrocarbons from the wellhead gas prior to being combusted by the wellhead gas burner.
6. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, wherein the first fuel burner and the second fuel burner are configured to operate simultaneously.
7. The dual fuel burner of claim 1, wherein each of the first fuel burner and the second fuel burner are mounted to at least one of a superheater truck, a trailer, a frac heater unit, and a skid.
8. A dual fuel burner, comprising:
a first fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a first fuel rail, wherein each fuel rail finger comprises a plurality of combustion chambers, and wherein each combustion chamber comprises a combustion tube holder that at least partially envelopes a combustion tube;
a second fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a second fuel rail, and wherein each fuel rail finger of the second fuel burner comprises a plurality of combustion chambers;
wherein the first fuel burner is configured to burn a first fuel, wherein the second fuel burner is configured to burn a second fuel, and wherein the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are configured to integrate with the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner,
wherein the first fuel is wellhead gas,
wherein the second fuel is at least one of propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGL’s) and wellhead gas, and
wherein the second fuel burner is configured to operate when the wellhead gas pressure drops below about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi).
9. A superheater truck, comprising:
a dual fuel burner, comprising:
a first fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a first fuel rail, wherein each fuel rail finger comprises a plurality of combustion chambers, and wherein each combustion chamber comprises a combustion tube holder that at least partially envelopes a combustion tube; and
a second fuel burner comprising a plurality of fuel rail fingers connected in fluid communication with a second fuel rail, and wherein each fuel rail finger of the second fuel burner comprises a plurality of combustion chambers;
wherein the first fuel burner is configured to burn a first fuel, wherein the second fuel burner is configured to burn a second fuel, and wherein the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are configured to integrate with the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner,
wherein the first fuel is wellhead gas,
wherein the second fuel is at least one of propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), and wellhead gas, and
wherein the second fuel burner is configured to operate when the wellhead gas pressure drops below about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi).
10. The superheater truck of claim 9, wherein the fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.
11. The superheater truck of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are configured to be interstitially spaced with the plurality of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.
12. The superheater truck of claim 9, wherein each of the fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are movable relative to the first fuel rail.
13. The superheater truck of claim 9, further comprising: a separator connected in fluid communication with a supply line of the first fuel burner, and wherein the separator is configured to remove hydrocarbons from the wellhead gas prior to being combusted by the wellhead gas burner.
14. The superheater truck of claim 9, wherein the second fuel burner is configured to operate when the wellhead gas burner supplies less than about 3,500 British Thermal Units (BTU) per cubic foot.
15. The superheater truck of claim 9, wherein the first fuel burner and the second fuel burner are configured to operate simultaneously.
16. A method of heating a wellbore treatment fluid, comprising:
receiving wellhead gas from a wellbore in an apparatus comprising a first fuel burner assembly integrated with a second fuel burner assembly;
combusting the wellhead gas in a first fuel burner;
combusting a second fuel in the second fuel burner;
heating a wellbore treatment fluid with heat produced by combusting the wellhead gas in the first fuel burner and the second fuel in the second fuel burner; and
treating a wellbore with the heated wellbore treatment fluid,
wherein the second fuel is at least one of propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids (NGLs).
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wellhead gas is received at a pressure between about 5 pounds per square inch (psi) and about 15,000 psi.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the apparatus comprises a first set of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner interstitially spaced with a second set of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the combustion of the second fuel in the second fuel burner is triggered when combustion of the wellhead gas in the wellhead gas burner supplies less than about 3,500 British Thermal Units (BTU) per cubic foot.
20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: operating the first fuel burner and the second fuel burner simultaneously to heat the wellbore treatment fluid.
21. A method of heating a wellbore treatment fluid, comprising:
receiving wellhead gas from a wellbore in an apparatus comprising a first fuel burner assembly integrated with a second fuel burner assembly;
combusting the wellhead gas in a first fuel burner;
combusting a second fuel in the second fuel burner, wherein combustion of wellhead gas in the first fuel burner is ceased prior to combusting the second fuel in the second fuel burner;
heating a wellbore treatment fluid with heat produced by combusting the wellhead gas in the first fuel burner and the second fuel in the second fuel burner; and
treating a wellbore with the heated wellbore treatment fluid.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wellhead gas is received at a pressure between about 5 pounds per square inch (psi) and about 15,000 psi.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the apparatus comprises a first set of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner interstitially spaced with a second set of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the combustion of the second fuel in the second fuel burner is triggered when combustion of the wellhead gas in the wellhead gas burner supplies less than about 3,500 British Thermal Units (BTU) per cubic foot.
25. A method of heating a wellbore treatment fluid, comprising:
receiving wellhead gas from a wellbore in an apparatus comprising a first fuel burner assembly integrated with a second fuel burner assembly;
combusting the wellhead gas in a first fuel burner;
combusting a second fuel in the second fuel burner;
heating a wellbore treatment fluid with heat produced by combusting the wellhead gas in the first fuel burner and the second fuel in the second fuel burner; and
treating a wellbore with the heated wellbore treatment fluid,
wherein the combustion of the second fuel in the second fuel burner is triggered by the pressure of the wellhead gas dropping below about 1,000 pounds per square inch (psi).
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising: operating the first fuel burner and the second fuel burner simultaneously to heat the wellbore treatment fluid.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the wellhead gas is received at a pressure between about 5 psi and about 15,000 psi.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the combustion of the second fuel in the second fuel burner is triggered when combustion of the wellhead gas in the wellhead gas burner supplies less than about 3,500 British Thermal Units (BTU) per cubic foot.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the apparatus comprises a first set of fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner interstitially spaced with a second set of fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner.