Method for removing and recovering volatile organic components
US5678423A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 21, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02C20/20
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method for the recovery of volatile organic components (VOC) released when loading liquid hydrocarbons into a storage or cargo tank, is described. The VOCs issuing from the tank are compressed, and injected into a sidestream taken from the main hydrocarbon stream, which is cooled and used as the absorbing medium, and is conducted to a VOC recovery unit comprising at least a bi-phase rotary separator turbine (BRST). In the BRST the VOC-containing gas is substantially separated into a VOC component and inert gas. The inert gas is vented to the atmosphere. The VOC component or VOC-enriched liquid stream is then returned to the main cargo stream or a cargo tank. Any methane contained in the volatile gases issuing from the cargo tank, instead of being vented to the atmosphere, is recovered or a catalytic process is used to convert methane to carbon dioxide and water for discharge to the atmosphere. The system is particularly intended for the offshore loading of oil into tankers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.