Method and apparatus for abatement of gasoline vapor emissions

In a method of abatement of vapor gases emitted from storage containers during transfer of fluids including liquids and gases to or from the containers, said fluids in said storage containers being subject to changes in pressure, temperature, and volume, at least one of said storage containers having a vent means to atmosphere;

• including the steps of:
• sensing the pressure of said gases in said vent means;
• causing the gases in said vent means to be directed along a path to an incinerator means at a preselected below atmospheric pressure;
• causing combustion air to be directed to said incinerator means when said preselected pressure is sensed for mixing with said gas to provide virtually complete combustion;

In an apparatus normally operable at below atmospheric pressure for abatement of gasoline vapor emissions from a vent pipe of a liquid gasoline storage tank, in which gasoline vapors in the storage tank become saturated, the storage tank having a vent pipe to atmosphere and in communication with said vapor, the provision of:

• a vapor gas pressure switch means at said vent pipe for sensing vapor gas pressure in said vent pipe;
• a compressed air source;
• an ejector means in communication with said compressed air source;
• a burner means in communication with said ejector means;
• means for directing vapor gas from said vent pipe to said burner means at selected vapor pressures;
• said ejector means, said burner means, and said directing means being operable in response to said vapor gas pressure switch means to cause said vapor gas to flow to said burner means and to be mixed with a selected amount of air from said air source to provide substantially complete combustion;