Loading patent…
AssigneeVeeder-Root Company
InventorsRobert P. Hart, Richard K. Lucas
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.
A system for monitoring vapor recovery in a liquid fuel dispensing facility having at least one fuel dispensing point connected to a main fuel storage system by a means for supplying liquid fuel to the dispensing point and a means for returning vapor from the dispensing point, said monitoring system comprising:
A system for monitoring vapor recovery in a liquid fuel dispensing facility having at least two fuel dispensing points connected to a main fuel storage system by a vapor return pipeline, said monitoring system comprising:
A method of monitoring vapor recovery in a liquid fuel dispensing facility having at least one fuel dispensing point connected to a main fuel storage system by a means for supplying liquid fuel to the dispensing point and a means for returning vapors from the dispensing point, said monitoring method comprising the steps of:
A system for monitoring vapor containment in a liquid fuel dispensing facility having a main fuel storage system connected by a vent pipe-pressure relief valve arrangement to atmosphere, said monitoring system comprising:
A method of monitoring vapor containment in a liquid fuel dispensing facility having at least one main fuel storage tank connected by a vent pipe-pressure relief valve arrangement to atmosphere, said monitoring method comprising the steps of:
A method of determining vapor recovery system failures associated with a single fuel dispensing point, said method comprising the steps of:
A system for monitoring vapor recovery in a liquid fuel dispensing facility comprising:
A vapor recovery monitoring system that monitors vapor recovered during refueling of a vehicle and returned back to an underground storage tank in a service station environment, comprising:
A method of monitoring a vapor recovery system that recovers vapors expelled from a vehicle during refueling and returns the vapors back to an underground storage tank in a service station environment, comprising:
A vapor recovery monitoring system that monitors vapor recovered during refueling of a vehicle and returned back to an underground storage tank in a service station environment, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
By using fluid or vacuum: by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
Using pumps driven at different flow rates: pumps driven in response to electric signals indicative of pressure, temperature or liquid flow
Vapour recovery systems: performance test devices therefor
Adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir: judging failure of purge control system
Term end not estimated
The present invention relates to a vapor recovery performance monitor for use in connection with gasoline dispensing facilities.
Gasoline dispensing facilities (i.e. gasoline stations) often suffer from a loss of fuel to the atmosphere due to inadequate vapor collection during fuel dispensing activities, excess liquid fuel evaporation in the containment tank system, and inadequate reclamation of the vapors during tanker truck deliveries. Lost vapor is an air pollution problem which is monitored and regulated by both the federal government and state governments. Attempts to minimize losses to the atmosphere have been effected by various vapor recovery methods. Such methods include: “Stage-I vapor recovery” where vapors are returned from the underground fuel storage tank to the delivery truck; “Stage-II vapor recovery” where vapors are returned from the refueled vehicle tank to the underground storage tank; vapor processing where the fuel/air vapor mix from the underground storage tank is received and the vapor is liquefied and returned as liquid fuel to the underground storage tank; burning excess vapor off and venting the less polluting combustion products to the atmosphere; and other fuel/air mix separation methods.
A “balance” Stage-II Vapor Recovery System (VRS) may make use of a dispensing nozzle bellows seal to the vehicle tank filler pipe opening. This seal provides an enclosed space between the vehicle tank and the VRS. During fuel dispensing, the liquid fuel entering the vehicle tank creates a positive pressure which pushes out the ullage space vapors through the bellows sealed area into the nozzle vapor return port, through the dispensing nozzle and hose paths, and on into the VRS.
The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fueling system vapor recovery performance monitor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a fueling system vapor recovery performance monitor in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
A first embodiment of the invention is described in connection with FIG. 1, which shows a vapor recovery and containment monitoring system for use in a liquid fuel dispensing facility 10. The dispensing facility 10 may include a station house 100, one or more fuel dispenser units 200, a main fuel storage system 300, means for connecting the dispenser units to the main fuel storage system 400, and one or more vapor (or air) flow sensors (AFS's) 500.
The station house 100 may include a central electronic control and diagnostic arrangement 110 that includes a dispenser controller 120, dispenser current loop interface wiring 130 connecting the dispenser controller 120 with the dispenser unit(s) 200, and a combined data acquisition system/in-station diagnostic monitor 140. The dispenser controller 120 may be electrically connected to the monitor 140 by a first wiring bus 122. The interface wiring 130 may be electrically connected to the monitor 140 by a second wiring bus 132. The monitor 140 may include standard computer storage and central processing capabilities, keyboard input device(s), and audio and visual output interfaces among other conventional features.
The fuel dispenser units 200 may be provided in the form of conventional “gas pumps.” Each fuel dispenser unit 200 may include one or more fuel dispensing points typically defined by the nozzles 210. The fuel dispenser units 200 may include one coaxial vapor/liquid splitter 260, one vapor return passage 220, and one fuel supply passage 230 per nozzle 210. The vapor return passages 220 may be joined together before connecting with a common vapor return pipe 410. The units 200 may also include one liquid fuel dispensing meter 240 per nozzle 210. The liquid fuel dispensing meters 240 may provide dispensed liquid fuel amount information to the dispenser controller 120 via the liquid fuel dispensing meter interface 270 and interface wiring 130.