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US 2006/0048490 A1Published application
Vapour recovery systems in a storage tank filling pipe
AssigneePetroman Limited
InventorRodney Carter
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AssigneePetroman Limited
InventorRodney Carter
Estimating the term…
A vapor recovery system for use during filling of a tank installation with a volatile liquid. The tank has a fill-pipe for the introduction of the liquid into the tank wherein the exit to which fill-pipe is normally below the liquid level in the tank. The vapor recovery system includes a reduced cross-sectional area region of the fill-pipe and a duct extending from that region through the side wall of the fill-pipe into the ullage space above the liquid level in the tank. The system further has a valve assembly associated with the duct which valve assembly normally closes off the duct, but which valve assembly is opened by flow of liquid along the fill-pipe into the tank, such that vapor in the tank may be drawn along the duct from the ullage space by the reduced static pressure in the region of reduced cross-sectional area of the fill-pipe. A method of recovering vapor using such a system is also described.
In a tank installation for a volatile liquid and having a fill-pipe for the introduction of the liquid into the tank wherein the exit to which fill-pipe is normally below the liquid level in the tank, a vapour recovery system for use during filling of the tank which system comprises:
A vapour recovery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional area of the fill-pipe is defined by an insert fitted to the internal wall of the fill-pipe.
A vapour recovery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the region of reduced cross-sectional area of the fill-pipe serves to define a venturi within which the speed of liquid in-flow will be increased.
A vapour recovery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the system is formed as a separate integral unit adapted for fitting to a fill-pipe.
A method of recovering vapour displaced from the ullage space of a tank installation during the introduction of a volatile liquid into the tank through a fill-pipe wherein the exit from the fill-pipe is normally below the liquid level in the tank, there being a reduced cross-sectional area region provided within the fill pipe, in which method vapour is drawn by a reduced pressure generated in the region of reduced cross-sectional area of the fill-pipe by the in-flow of liquid, the vapour being drawn through the side wall of the fill-pipe along a duct communicating between the ullage space and the region of reduced cross-sectional area, a normally-closed valve assembly being associated with the duct and which normally closes off the communication of the region of reduced cross-sectional area and the ullage space, which valve assembly is opened by the in-flow of liquid along the fill-pipe into the tank, such that the reduced static pressure in the region of reduced cross-sectional area draws vapour in the tank into the opened duct to be entrained in the in-flowing liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.