Apparatus for hydrocarbon vapor recovery
AssigneeCalgon Carbon Corporation
InventorsMichael GREENBANK, Michael E. LUTZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) includes a VRU heat exchanger and a sorbent material for the recovery of hydrocarbon vapors from the ullage of tanks. The VRU heat exchanger and sorbent material are useful in conjunction with a thermal transfer fluid to control the temperatures of the sorbent material during endothermic and exothermic reactions that occur when hydrocarbon vapors are adsorbed and desorbed, which increases performance and reduces the amount of sorbent material required to recover hydrocarbon vapors.
Claims17
A vapor recovery unit heat exchanger (VRU heat exchanger), comprising:
- at least one sorbent material chamber that includes a sorbent material,
- a heat transfer fluid chamber,
- a manifold in communication with the ullage space of a tank,
- wherein during operation, the sorbent material captures or releases fluids that originated in the ullage space of the tank.
A vapor recovery unit (VRU), comprising:
- a first VRU heat exchanger that comprises at least one sorbent material chamber that includes a sorbent material, a heat transfer fluid chamber, a manifold in communication with the ullage space of a tank, wherein during operation, the sorbent material captures or releases fluids that originated in the ullage space of the tank;
- and
- a second VRU heat exchanger that comprises at least one sorbent material chamber that includes a sorbent material, a heat transfer fluid chamber, a manifold in communication with the ullage space of a tank, wherein during operation, the sorbent material captures or releases fluids that originated in the ullage space of the tank;
- and
- a thermal transfer fluid connection between the first VRU heat exchanger and the second VRU connection, wherein the thermal transfer fluid connection permits thermal transfer fluid to be exchanged between the first VRU heat exchanger and the second VRU heat exchanger.
A method for operating a vapor recovery unit (VRU) wherein the VRU includes a first VRU heat exchanger and a second VRU heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- operating the first VRU in an exothermic adsorption mode, thereby generating waste heat,
- operating the second VRU in an endothermic desorption mode, thereby cooling the second VRU;
- removing the waste heat by moving a heat transfer fluid through the first VRU;
- and
- dissipating at least a first portion of the waste heat by moving the heat transfer fluid through the second VRU.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.