# US 5,344,313 A · Fugitive volatile organic compound vapor collection system

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- Number: US 5,344,313 A
- Document ID: US5344313A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/055,604
- Filed: 1993-04-30
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-04-30
- Assignees: Chevron Research and Technology Company
- Inventors: Cortland W. Johnsen, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5344313A

## CPC

- F04C 28/28: Safety arrangements; Monitoring
- A62C 4/02: in gas-pipes (safety valves F16K17/00)
- F04D 29/108: {the sealing fluid being other than the working liquid or being the working liquid treated}
- F04D 29/128: {with special means for adducting cooling or sealing fluid}
- F16J 15/3404: {and characterised by parts or details relating to lubrication, cooling or venting of the seal}
- F23G 7/06: of waste gases or noxious gases, e.g. exhaust gases (exhaust apparatus for engines with means for rendering the exhaust innocuous, e.g. by thermal or catalytic conversion, F01N3/08; combustion of uncombusted material from primary combustion within apparatus for combustion of solid or fluent fuel F23B {, of non combusted material from primary combustion of solid fuels; of gases produced by primary combustion of solid fuels F23B90/04}, F23C)
- F05D 2260/6022: of leakage having past a seal
- F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F23G: CREMATION FURNACES; CONSUMING WASTE PRODUCTS BY COMBUSTION
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A system is provided for controlling volatile organic compound emissions from rotating and reciprocating mechanical equipment. The system comprises a vapor flow, a combustor, and a device for preventing combustion of the volatile organic compound within the system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A collection system for controlling fugitive organic compound vapor emissions from a pump comprising:
a. vapor flow means for drawing sufficient air into a seal region of said pump to dilute an organic compound vapor located therein to a concentration below the lower explosion limit of said organic compound vapor, and for withdrawing an air/organic compound vapor mixture from said seal region;
b. a combustion means in fluid communication with said vapor flow means for disposal of said air/organic compound vapor mixture; and
c. a flow control means in fluid communication with both said seal region and said vapor flow means for preventing combustion of said air/organic compound vapor mixture within said collection system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vapor flow means is an eductor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vapor flow means is a vacuum pump.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vapor flow means is a furnace.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vapor flow means is an oxidizer.

### Claim 6

A collection system for controlling fugitive organic compound vapor emissions from a pump comprising:
a. vapor flow means for drawing sufficient air into a seal region of said pump to dilute an organic compound vapor located therein to a concentration below the lower explosion limit of said organic compound vapor, and for withdrawing an air/organic compound vapor mixture from said seal region;
b. a combustion means in fluid communication with said vapor flow means for disposal of said air/organic compound vapor mixture; and
c. a flow control means in fluid communication with both said seal region and said vapor flow means for preventing combustion of said air/organic compound vapor mixture within said collection system, said flow control means comprising:
(1) means for arresting passage of a flame front;
(2) means for monitoring and controlling vapor flow; and
(3) means for preventing liquid flow through said collection system.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vapor flow means is an eductor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vapor flow means is a vacuum pump.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the combustion means is a furnace.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the combustion means is an oxidizer.