Patent · US Expired

Process for recovering hydrocarbons from air-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures

US5154735A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 25, 1991
Grant dateOct 13, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 25, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D2259/4516
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An improved process for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline, benzene or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbon-free air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed. The regeneration of the bed is accomplished by evacuating the bed by means of liquid seal pump vacuum pumping whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are desorbed therefrom and subsequently subjecting the bed to further evacuation by both positive displacement booster pump vacuum pumping and by liquid seal pump vacuum pumping whereby additional hydrocarbons are desorbed therefrom.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.