EP0198142A1 - Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours - Google Patents

Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0198142A1
EP0198142A1 EP85400746A EP85400746A EP0198142A1 EP 0198142 A1 EP0198142 A1 EP 0198142A1 EP 85400746 A EP85400746 A EP 85400746A EP 85400746 A EP85400746 A EP 85400746A EP 0198142 A1 EP0198142 A1 EP 0198142A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid
pump
hydrocarbon
tank
product
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EP85400746A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Louis Paugam
Jean-Louis Barré
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Sihi Pompes SA
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Sihi Pompes SA
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Priority to FR8316344A priority Critical patent/FR2553500B1/en
Application filed by Sihi Pompes SA filed Critical Sihi Pompes SA
Priority to EP85400746A priority patent/EP0198142A1/en
Publication of EP0198142A1 publication Critical patent/EP0198142A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C19/00—Rotary-piston pumps with fluid ring or the like, specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C19/001—General arrangements, plants, flowsheets

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a device for recovering hydrocarbons, more particularly a method and a device for recovering hydrocarbon vapors which remain in tanks or reservoirs of liquid hydrocarbons after their emptying.
  • Hydrocarbons for example fuels and fuels of all types
  • Hydrocarbons are stored in tanks or reservoirs where tankers come to supply themselves.
  • a tank is "empty", that is to say that it no longer contains liquid hydrocarbons, it still contains its own volume of hydrocarbon vapors.
  • hydrocarbon vapors are sometimes released into the atmosphere but more often than not we try to recover them to avoid pollution and losses of interesting products.
  • the most used solution at present consists of adsorbing the hydrocarbon vapors on activated carbon and then eluting the activated carbon with water vapor to recover liquid hydrocarbons.
  • the device comprises several adsorption columns operating in the adsorption-elution cycle, a set for producing steam and a set for cooling and separating the water-liquid hydrocarbon mixture.
  • Such a complex device is used for the whole of a depot comprising reservoirs intended for different types of hydrocarbons (for example; regular gasoline, super, fuel oil of different qualities) and the recovered liquid product whose composition corresponds to a mixture of the various qualities is generally recycled into the lower quality product, a distillation of this product recovered offering no economic interest.
  • the present invention provides a simple and efficient method and device for recovering hydrocarbons, and, in practice, the device can be provided for each tank or tank, which will make it possible to recover a liquid product which can be returned to the starting product.
  • the method according to the invention consists in sucking and condensing the hydrocarbon vapors using a liquid ring vacuum pump, this liquid ring pump operating with a liquid of substantially the same composition as the hydrocarbon to be recovered, then separating the liquid product discharged by the vacuum pump from the gases that cannot be condensed under operating conditions, recycling part of the liquid product obtained to supply the vacuum pump and collecting the rest of the liquid product.
  • the recovery device comprises a liquid ring vacuum pump capable of providing an overpressure of a few atmospheres, a decanter-separator where the liquid product separates from the gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions and a set of circulation pipes. comprising circulation pumps, refrigeration means and regulating devices.
  • This device gives an excellent recovery yield, which can reach practically the theoretical value.
  • the single figure schematically represents a device for recovering hydrocarbons according to the invention.
  • the hydrocarbons to be recovered come from a source S 1 .
  • This source is a tank or cistern, of variable capacity going from the car tank to the largest tanks, which will often be 5000 m 3 , containing a particular type of hydrocarbon or more generally a particular mixture of hydrocarbons (regular gasoline, super, diesel, fuel oil do domestic, heavy fuel oil, etc.).
  • this source has been emptied of its liquid content, it still contains its volume (for example 5000 m) of a mixture of gases and hydrocarbon vapors.
  • gas here designates air and gaseous hydrocarbons under ambient conditions of pressure and temperature.
  • hydrocarbon vapors means hydrocarbons which are normally liquid but which, due to their vapor pressure, have vaporized during storage and draining of the liquid product.
  • the mixture of gas and hydrocarbon vapors passes through line 1 in a first exchanger E l which has the role of carrying out a first refrigeration, accompanied by a certain condensation, to avoid the introduction of a product which is too hot in the liquid ring pump.
  • the mixture of gases, hydrocarbon vapors and liquid hydrocarbons then enters via a safety valve 2 into a liquid ring vacuum pump PaL.
  • a liquid ring pump has a vane rotor and at rest contains sufficient working liquid so that, in operation, this liquid forms a liquid ring which traps the product pumped between the rotor blades in increasing and decreasing volumes .
  • the service liquid has substantially the same composition as the particular mixture of hydrocarbons which it is desired to recover. This operating liquid is brought to the pump at a temperature low enough to give the vapor pressure necessary to condense the hydrocarbons contained in the feed gas mixture.
  • the product leaving the PaL pump is a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons (service liquid and recovered liquid) and gases which cannot be condensed under the operating conditions (temperature and pressure) of the PaL pump, i.e. air, gas' carbonic and possibly the first terms of the hydrocarbon series.
  • This product is sent via line 3 to a decanter-separator DS where the liquid product separates and falls to the bottom of the decanter.
  • the coolant will usually be cold water.
  • the hydrocarbon to be recovered is butane or propane, we can use a cooler coolant or use freon expansion heat exchangers to obtain the temperatures of -35 to -40 ° C necessary for the liquefaction of propane .
  • the liquid hydrocarbon is sent via line 5 to the pump PaL as service liquid.
  • a bypass 6 allows this product to be returned to the DS decanter-separator, depending on the needs of the pump in service liquid.
  • a device 7 for regulating the level in the decanter-separator DS ensures a constant level of hydrocarbons in the decanter and the excess hydrocarbon is pumped by the pump P 2 to a recovery tank S 2 of the product or to any other device storage or recycling.
  • the compressed gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions are evacuated from the settling tank D S by means of a valve and a heat exchanger E 2 which cools them and possibly condenses the hydrocarbon vapors contained in the settling tank DS, before the gases are released via regulator 8.
  • liquid ring pump which acts simultaneously as a vacuum pump, compressor, condenser and refrigerant, makes it possible to aspirate, compress and condense the hydrocarbon vapors, under practically isothermal conditions.
  • cold source (not shown) which feeds the exchangers will be chosen as a function of the temperature and vapor pressure desired in the liquid ring pump according to the product that is to be recovered.
  • the level regulation device 7 which causes the evacuation of the recovered liquid when it reaches a predetermined level in the decanter-separator DS also allows correct supply of the liquid ring, both at start-up and in operation.
  • the main advantages of the method and of the device according to the invention are that they are simple, effective, relatively inexpensive having regard to the recovery yields which they allow and are compact. These last two characteristics allow the use of an apparatus for each tank or tank, the capacity of the recovery device being chosen as a function of the capacity of the source of gaseous mixture.
  • the coolant is simply cold water, which at no time comes into contact with the product to be recovered, which avoids the need to vaporize large quantities of water and to carry out a water-hydrocarbon separation imposed by the use of activated carbon recovery of the prior art.
  • each tank or tank can be fitted with such a device according to the invention, this device can be used in addition to a safety valve on a tank.
  • the device according to the present invention can be brought into communication by appropriate means (pipeline, valves, etc.) with the outlet of the safety valve.
  • appropriate means pipeline, valves, etc.
  • a servo device or the like activates the device for recovering hydrocarbons, possibly with a reduced power compared to its normal operation.
  • the entry of air following a drop in pressure into the tank is ensured in a conventional manner.
  • This device can also be used when filling the tanks to recover the hydrocarbon vapors evacuated to the tank vent at this time.
  • a 5000 m 3 tank having contained petrol is connected to a hydrocarbon recovery device according to the invention.
  • the exchanger E 1 lowers the temperature of the gas mixture by approximately 8 ° C before it enters the liquid ring pump with a capacity of 500 m 3 / h.
  • the three heat exchangers E 1 , E 2 and E 3 are supplied with cold water (2 ° C) and the operating liquid enters the pump at a temperature of 5 ° C sufficient to condense most of the gasoline vapors in the liquid ring pump.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)

Abstract

A process and an apparatus for collecting hydrocarbon vapours originating from tanks or reservoirs for liquid hydrocarbons. Under practically isothermal conditions, the hydrocarbon vapours are sucked up and condensed with the aid of a liquid ring vacuum pump (PaL) operating with a service liquid of substantially the same composition as the hydrocarbon to be collected; the liquid obtained is separated, in a decanter/separator (DS), from the gases which cannot be condensed under the operating conditions and a portion of the liquid obtained is recycled as service liquid for the liquid ring pump. A regulation device (7) makes it possible to sample the liquid hydrocarbon collected with a view to its storage. The recycled liquid is cooled at (E3) to a temperature which is sufficiently low to obtain, in the liquid ring pump, the vapour pressure desired for the condensation of the hydrocarbon vapours. <IMAGE>

Description

L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbures, plus particulièrement un procédé et un dispositif de récupération des vapeurs d'hydrocarbures qui restent dans les citernes ou réservoirs d'hydrocarbures liquides après leur vidange.The invention relates to a method and a device for recovering hydrocarbons, more particularly a method and a device for recovering hydrocarbon vapors which remain in tanks or reservoirs of liquid hydrocarbons after their emptying.

Les hydrocarbures (par exemple les combustibles et carburants de tous types) sont entreposés dans des citernes ou réservoirs où des camions-citernes viennent s'approvisionnér. Lorsqu'un réservoir est "vide", c'est-à-dire qu'il ne contient plus d'hydrocarbures liquides, il contient encore son propre volume de vapeurs d'hydrocarbures. Ces vapeurs d'hydrocarbures sont parfois rejetées dans l'atmosphère mais le plus souvent on essaie de les récupérer pour éviter la pollution et des pertes de produits intéressants.Hydrocarbons (for example fuels and fuels of all types) are stored in tanks or reservoirs where tankers come to supply themselves. When a tank is "empty", that is to say that it no longer contains liquid hydrocarbons, it still contains its own volume of hydrocarbon vapors. These hydrocarbon vapors are sometimes released into the atmosphere but more often than not we try to recover them to avoid pollution and losses of interesting products.

Une solution consiste à faire passer les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures dans un compresseur pour les liquéfier à nouveau. C'est la solution qui est la plus souvent utilisée pour la récupération des vapeurs contenues dans un camion-citerne mais le rendement n'est pas très bon et le procédé est assez dangereux.One solution is to pass the hydrocarbon vapors through a compressor to liquefy them again. It is the solution that is most often used to recover the vapors contained in a tank truck, but the performance is not very good and the process is quite dangerous.

La solution la plus utilisée à l'heure actuelle consiste à adsorber les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures sur du charbon actif puis à éluer le charbon actif avec de la vapeur d'eau pour récupérer des hydrocarbures liquides. Le dispositif comporte plusieurs colonnes d'adsorption fonctionnant en cycle adsorption-élution, un ensemble de production de vapeur d'eau et un ensemble de refroidissement et de séparation du mélange eau-hydrocarbures liquides. Un tel dispositif complexe est utilisé pour l'ensemble d'un dépôt comportant des réservoirs destinés à différents types d'hydrocarbures (par exemple ; essence ordinaire, super, fuel-oil de différentes qualités) et le produit liquide récupéré dont la composition correspond à un mélange des diverses qualités est généralement recyclé dans le produit de plus basse qualité, une distillation de ce produit récupéré n'offrant pas d'intérêt sur le plan économique.The most used solution at present consists of adsorbing the hydrocarbon vapors on activated carbon and then eluting the activated carbon with water vapor to recover liquid hydrocarbons. The device comprises several adsorption columns operating in the adsorption-elution cycle, a set for producing steam and a set for cooling and separating the water-liquid hydrocarbon mixture. Such a complex device is used for the whole of a depot comprising reservoirs intended for different types of hydrocarbons (for example; regular gasoline, super, fuel oil of different qualities) and the recovered liquid product whose composition corresponds to a mixture of the various qualities is generally recycled into the lower quality product, a distillation of this product recovered offering no economic interest.

La présente invention fournit un procédé et dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbures simples et efficaces, et, en pratique, le dispositif pourra être prévu pour chaque réservoir ou citerne, ce qui permettra de récupérer un produit liquide qui pourra être renvoyé au produit de départ.The present invention provides a simple and efficient method and device for recovering hydrocarbons, and, in practice, the device can be provided for each tank or tank, which will make it possible to recover a liquid product which can be returned to the starting product.

Le procédé selon l'invention consiste à aspirer et condenser les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures à l'aide d'une pompe à vide à anneau liquide, cette pompe à anneau liquide fonctionnant avec un liquide de sensiblement même composition que l'hydrocarbure à récupérer, puis à séparer le produit liquide refoulé par la pompe à vide des gaz incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement, à recycler une partie du produit liquide obtenu pour alimenter la pompe à vide et à recueillir le reste du produit liquide.The method according to the invention consists in sucking and condensing the hydrocarbon vapors using a liquid ring vacuum pump, this liquid ring pump operating with a liquid of substantially the same composition as the hydrocarbon to be recovered, then separating the liquid product discharged by the vacuum pump from the gases that cannot be condensed under operating conditions, recycling part of the liquid product obtained to supply the vacuum pump and collecting the rest of the liquid product.

Le dispositif de récupération selon l'invention comporte une pompe à vide à anneau liquide capable de fournir une surpression de quelques atmosphères, un décanteur-séparateur où le produit liquide se sépare des gaz incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement et un ensemble de conduites de circulation comportant des pompes de circulation, des moyens de réfrigération et des dispositifs de régulation.The recovery device according to the invention comprises a liquid ring vacuum pump capable of providing an overpressure of a few atmospheres, a decanter-separator where the liquid product separates from the gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions and a set of circulation pipes. comprising circulation pumps, refrigeration means and regulating devices.

Ce dispositif donne un excellent rendement de récupération, pouvant atteindre pratiquement la valeur théorique.This device gives an excellent recovery yield, which can reach practically the theoretical value.

L'invention va être décrite plus en détail en se rapportant à la figure annexée.The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended figure.

La figure unique représente schématiquement un dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbures selon l'invention.The single figure schematically represents a device for recovering hydrocarbons according to the invention.

Les hydrocarbures à récupérer proviennent d'une source S1. Cette source est un réservoir ou une citerne, de capacité variable allant du réservoir de voiture aux plus grandes citernes, qui sera souvent de 5000 m3, contenant un type particulier d'hydrocarbures ou plus généralement un mélange particulier d'hydrocarbures (essence ordinaire, super, gazole, fuel-oil domestique, fuel-oil lourd, etc,,). Lorsque cette source a été vidée de son contenu liquide, elle contient encore son volume (par exemple 5000 m ) d'un mélange de gaz et de vapeurs d'hydrocarbures. Le terme gaz désigne ici l'air et les hydrocarbures gazeux dans les conditions ambiantes de pression et température. Le terme vapeurs d'hydrocarbures désigne les hydrocarbures normalement liquides mais qui, en raison de leur tension de vapeur, se sont vaporisés pendant le stockage et la vidange du produit liquide.The hydrocarbons to be recovered come from a source S 1 . This source is a tank or cistern, of variable capacity going from the car tank to the largest tanks, which will often be 5000 m 3 , containing a particular type of hydrocarbon or more generally a particular mixture of hydrocarbons (regular gasoline, super, diesel, fuel oil do domestic, heavy fuel oil, etc.). When this source has been emptied of its liquid content, it still contains its volume (for example 5000 m) of a mixture of gases and hydrocarbon vapors. The term gas here designates air and gaseous hydrocarbons under ambient conditions of pressure and temperature. The term hydrocarbon vapors means hydrocarbons which are normally liquid but which, due to their vapor pressure, have vaporized during storage and draining of the liquid product.

Le mélange de gaz et de vapeurs d'hydrocarhures passe par la conduite 1 dans un premier échangeur El qui a pour rôle d'effectuer une première réfrigération, accompagnée d'une certaine condensation, pour éviter l'introduction d'un produit trop chaud dans la pompe à anneau liquide. Le mélange de gaz, de vapeurs d'hydrocarbures et d'hydrocarbures liquides pénètre ensuite par l'intermédiaire d'une soupape de sûreté 2 dans une pompe à vide à anneau liquide PaL. Une pompe à anneau liquide comporte un rotor à palettes et au repos contient du liquide de service, en quantité suffisante pour que, en fonctionnement, ce liquide forme un anneau liquide qui emprisonne le produit pompé entre les pales du rotor dans des volumes croissant et décroissant. Dans le cas présent, le liquide de service a sensiblement la même composition que le mélange particulier d'hydrocarbures que l'on désire récupérer. Ce liquide de service est amené à la pompe à une température suffisamment basse pour donner la tension de vapeur nécessaire pour condenser les hydrocarbures contenus dans le mélange gazeux d'alimentation.The mixture of gas and hydrocarbon vapors passes through line 1 in a first exchanger E l which has the role of carrying out a first refrigeration, accompanied by a certain condensation, to avoid the introduction of a product which is too hot in the liquid ring pump. The mixture of gases, hydrocarbon vapors and liquid hydrocarbons then enters via a safety valve 2 into a liquid ring vacuum pump PaL. A liquid ring pump has a vane rotor and at rest contains sufficient working liquid so that, in operation, this liquid forms a liquid ring which traps the product pumped between the rotor blades in increasing and decreasing volumes . In the present case, the service liquid has substantially the same composition as the particular mixture of hydrocarbons which it is desired to recover. This operating liquid is brought to the pump at a temperature low enough to give the vapor pressure necessary to condense the hydrocarbons contained in the feed gas mixture.

Le produit quittant la pompe PaL est un mélange d'hydrocarbures liquides (liquide de service et liquide récupéré) et de gaz incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement (température et pression) de la pompe PaL c'est-à-dire air, gaz' carbonique et éventuellement les premiers termes de la série des hydrocarbures. Ce produit est envoyé par la conduite 3 dans un décanteur-séparateur DS où le produit liquide se sépare et tombe au fond du décanteur.The product leaving the PaL pump is a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons (service liquid and recovered liquid) and gases which cannot be condensed under the operating conditions (temperature and pressure) of the PaL pump, i.e. air, gas' carbonic and possibly the first terms of the hydrocarbon series. This product is sent via line 3 to a decanter-separator DS where the liquid product separates and falls to the bottom of the decanter.

Une conduite 4, à la partie inférieure du décanteur-séparateur, prélève une portion du produit liquide, sous l'effet d'une pompe de circulation P1, Cette pompe l'envoie dans un échangeur de chaleur E3 où il est refroidi à la température nécessaire pour la condensation voulue dans la pompe à anneau liquide. Lorsque le produit à récupérer est un carburant (essence, fuel-oil, etc...), le liquide de réfrigération sera usuellement l'eau froide. Si l'hydrocarbure à récupérer est du butane ou du propane, on pourra utiliser un liquide de réfrigération plus froid ou utiliser des échangeurs de chaleur à détente de fréon pour obtenir les températures de -35 à -40°C nécessaires à la liquéfaction du propane. A la sortie de l'échangeur E3, l'hydrocarbure liquide est envoyé par la conduite 5 à la pompe PaL en tant que liquide de service. Une dérivation 6 permet de renvoyer ce produit au décanteur-séparateur DS, en fonction des besoins de la pompe en liquide de service.A pipe 4, at the bottom of the decanter-separator, takes a portion of the liquid product, under the effect of a circulation pump P 1 , This pump sends it to a heat exchanger E 3 where it is cooled to the temperature necessary for the desired condensation in the liquid ring pump. When the product to be recovered is a fuel (petrol, fuel oil, etc.), the coolant will usually be cold water. If the hydrocarbon to be recovered is butane or propane, we can use a cooler coolant or use freon expansion heat exchangers to obtain the temperatures of -35 to -40 ° C necessary for the liquefaction of propane . At the outlet of the exchanger E 3 , the liquid hydrocarbon is sent via line 5 to the pump PaL as service liquid. A bypass 6 allows this product to be returned to the DS decanter-separator, depending on the needs of the pump in service liquid.

Un dispositif 7 de régulation de niveau dans le décanteur-séparateur DS assure un niveau constant d'hydrocarbures dans le décanteur et l'hydrocarbure en excès est refoulé par la pompe P2 vers un bac de récupération S2 du produit ou vers tout autre dispositif de stockage ou de recyclage.A device 7 for regulating the level in the decanter-separator DS ensures a constant level of hydrocarbons in the decanter and the excess hydrocarbon is pumped by the pump P 2 to a recovery tank S 2 of the product or to any other device storage or recycling.

Les gaz comprimés et incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement sont évacués du décanteur DS par l'intermédiaire d'une soupape et d'un échangeur de chaleur E2 qui les refroidit et condense éventuellement les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures contenues dans le décanteur DS, avant que les gaz ne soient rejetés par l'intermédiaire du régulateur 8.The compressed gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions are evacuated from the settling tank D S by means of a valve and a heat exchanger E 2 which cools them and possibly condenses the hydrocarbon vapors contained in the settling tank DS, before the gases are released via regulator 8.

L'utilisation d'une pompe à anneau liquide qui agit simultanément en pompe à vide, compresseur, condenseur et réfrigérant, permet d'aspirer, de comprimer et de condenser les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures, dans des conditions pratiquement isothermes. Par ailleurs, comme indiqué précédemment, la source froide (non représentée) qui alimente les échangeurs sera choisie en fonction de la température et de tension de vapeur désirées dans la pompe à anneau liquide selon le produit que l'on a à récupérer.The use of a liquid ring pump which acts simultaneously as a vacuum pump, compressor, condenser and refrigerant, makes it possible to aspirate, compress and condense the hydrocarbon vapors, under practically isothermal conditions. Furthermore, as indicated above, the cold source (not shown) which feeds the exchangers will be chosen as a function of the temperature and vapor pressure desired in the liquid ring pump according to the product that is to be recovered.

Le dispositif 7 de régulation de niveau qui provoque l'évacuation du liquide récupéré lorsqu'il atteint un niveau prédéterminé dans le décanteur-séparateur DS permet également une alimentation correcte de l'anneau liquide, tant au démarrage qu'en fonctionnement.The level regulation device 7 which causes the evacuation of the recovered liquid when it reaches a predetermined level in the decanter-separator DS also allows correct supply of the liquid ring, both at start-up and in operation.

Les principaux avantages du procédé et du dispositif selon l'invention sont qu'ils sont simples, efficaces, relativement peu coûteux eu égard aux rendements de récupération qu'ils permettent et peu encombrants. Ces deux dernières caractéristiques autorisent l'utilisation d'un appareil pour chaque citerne ou réservoir, la capacité du dispositif de récupération étant choisie en fonction de la capacité de la source de mélange gazeux. En outre lorsque les citernes contiennent des carburants, ce qui est un cas très fréquent, le liquide de réfrigération est simplement de l'eau froide, qui ne vient à aucun moment en contact avec le produit à récupérer, ce qui évite la nécessité de vaporiser de grandes quantités d'eau et d'effectuer une séparation eau-hydrocarbures qu'impose l'utilisation de la récupération par charbon actif de la technique antérieure.The main advantages of the method and of the device according to the invention are that they are simple, effective, relatively inexpensive having regard to the recovery yields which they allow and are compact. These last two characteristics allow the use of an apparatus for each tank or tank, the capacity of the recovery device being chosen as a function of the capacity of the source of gaseous mixture. In addition, when the tanks contain fuels, which is a very common case, the coolant is simply cold water, which at no time comes into contact with the product to be recovered, which avoids the need to vaporize large quantities of water and to carry out a water-hydrocarbon separation imposed by the use of activated carbon recovery of the prior art.

Puisque chaque citerne ou réservoir peut être muni d'un tel dispositif selon l'invention, ce dispositif peut être utilisé en complément d'une soupape de sûreté sur une citerne.Since each tank or tank can be fitted with such a device according to the invention, this device can be used in addition to a safety valve on a tank.

Pendant la journée, et encore plus nettement pendant les périodes chaudes de l'année, le contenu liquide se dilate et se vaporise, et la pression augmente dans la citerne. Une soupape de sécurité permet alors de libérer dans l'atmosphère l'excédent de melange gazeux. Au contraire pendant la nuit, le contenu se contracte, la pression diminue à l'intérieur et de l'air pénètre dans la citerne. A la longue, ceci entralne des pertes relativement importantes en produit coûteux et de toute façon des rejets polluants dans l'atmosphère.During the day, and even more clearly during the hot periods of the year, the liquid content expands and vaporizes, and the pressure increases in the tank. A safety valve then releases excess gas mixture into the atmosphere. On the contrary during the night, the content contracts, the pressure decreases inside and air enters the tank. In the long run, this leads to relatively large losses of expensive product and in any case pollutant releases to the atmosphere.

Le dispositif selon la présente invention peut être mis en communication par les moyens appropriés (canalisation, vannes,...) avec la sortie de la soupape de sécurité. Lorsque des produits gazeux s'échappent de la citerne par cette soupape, un dispositif d'asservissement ou autre met en route le dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbures, éventuellement avec une puissance réduite par rapport à son fonctionnement normal. L'entrée d'air à la suite d'une baisse de pression dans la citerne est assurée de façon classique.The device according to the present invention can be brought into communication by appropriate means (pipeline, valves, etc.) with the outlet of the safety valve. When gaseous products escape from the tank through this valve, a servo device or the like activates the device for recovering hydrocarbons, possibly with a reduced power compared to its normal operation. The entry of air following a drop in pressure into the tank is ensured in a conventional manner.

Ce dispositif peut en outre être utilisé lors du remplissage des citernes pour récupérer les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures évacuées à l'évent des citernes à ce moment.This device can also be used when filling the tanks to recover the hydrocarbon vapors evacuated to the tank vent at this time.

On va maintenant donner, à titre représentatif et nullement limitatif, un exemple de mise en oeuvre du procédé et du dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbures selon la présente invention.We will now give, by way of illustration and in no way limitative, an example of implementation of the process and of the device for recovering hydrocarbons according to the present invention.

EXEMPLEEXAMPLE

Une citerne de 5000 m3 ayant contenu de l'essence est reliée à un dispositif de récupération d'hydrocarbure selon l'invention. L'échangeur E1 abaisse la température du mélange gazeux d'environ 8°C avant qu'il ne pénètre dans la pompe à anneau liquide d'une capacité de 500 m3/h. Les trois échangeurs de chaleur E1, E2 et E3 sont alimentés en eau froide (2°C) et le liquide de service pénètre dans la pompe à une température de 5°C suffisante pour condenser la majeure partie des vapeurs d'essence dans la pompe à anneau liquide.A 5000 m 3 tank having contained petrol is connected to a hydrocarbon recovery device according to the invention. The exchanger E 1 lowers the temperature of the gas mixture by approximately 8 ° C before it enters the liquid ring pump with a capacity of 500 m 3 / h. The three heat exchangers E 1 , E 2 and E 3 are supplied with cold water (2 ° C) and the operating liquid enters the pump at a temperature of 5 ° C sufficient to condense most of the gasoline vapors in the liquid ring pump.

Pour 1,5 tonne de mélange gazeux, on peut, pour une température de produit correspondant à un climat tempéré, en affinant les conditions de fonctionnement obtenir jusqu'à 1,2 t de produit récupéré, c'est-à-dire pratiquement la valeur théorique et l'on obtient dans tous les cas une récupération d'au moins 1 t d'essence.For 1.5 tonnes of gas mixture, it is possible, for a product temperature corresponding to a temperate climate, by refining the operating conditions to obtain up to 1.2 tonnes of recovered product, that is to say practically the theoretical value and in all cases a recovery of at least 1 t of petrol is obtained.

Claims (4)

1. Procédé de récupération de vapeurs d'hydrocarbures provenant de citernes ou réservoirs pour hydrocarbures liquides ou liquéfiés, dans lequel on aspire et on condense les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures à l'aide d'une pompe à vide à anneau liquide fonctionnant avec un liquide de service ayant sensiblement la même composition que l'hydrocarbure à récupérer, caractérisé en ce qu'on refroidit les vapeurs d'hydrocarburespour les précondenser avant de les introduire dans la pompe à anneau liquide, on sépare le produit liquide refoulé de la pompe à vide des gaz incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement, on recycle une partie du produit liquide obtenu pour alimenter la pompe à anneau liquide, cette partie étant préalablement refroidie à une température suffisamment basse pour obtenir la tension de vapeur souhaitée dans la pompe à anneau liquide, et on recueille le reste du produit liquide.1. Process for the recovery of hydrocarbon vapors from tanks or reservoirs for liquid or liquefied hydrocarbons, in which the hydrocarbon vapors are drawn in and condensed using a liquid ring vacuum pump operating with a liquid service having substantially the same composition as the hydrocarbon to be recovered, characterized in that the hydrocarbon vapors are cooled to pre-condense them before introducing them into the liquid ring pump, the liquid product discharged is separated from the vacuum pump gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions, part of the liquid product obtained is recycled to supply the liquid ring pump, this part being previously cooled to a temperature low enough to obtain the desired vapor pressure in the liquid ring pump, and the rest of the liquid product is collected. 2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'on traite les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures restant dans une citerne vidée de son contenu liquide.2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrocarbon vapors remaining in a tank emptied of its liquid content are treated. 3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'on traite les vapeurs d'hydrocarbures libérées par échauffement et élévation de pression dans une citerne dus à une modification des conditions atmosphériques, ou évacuées à l'évent de la citerne lors du remplissage de celle-ci.3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrocarbon vapors released by heating and pressure rise in a tank are treated due to a change in atmospheric conditions, or discharged to the tank vent during the filling it. 4. Dispositif de récupération de vapeur d'hydrocarbures provenant de citernes ou réservoirs pour hydrocarbures liquides ou liquéfiés, comportant une pompe à vide à anneau liquide (PaL) fonctionnant avec un liquide de service de sensiblement même composition que l'hydrocarbure à récupérer, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un premier échangeur de chaleur (E1), entre la citerne (S1) et la pompe (P a L), un décanteur - séparateur (DS) à la sortie de la pompe (P a L) où le produit liquide refoulé se sépare des gaz incondensables dans les conditions de fonctionnement, et un circuit (4, 5, P1) permettant de recycler à la pompde (P a L), en tant que liquide de service, une partie du produit liquide après son refroidissement dans un second échangeur de chaleur (E2) et que la pompe (P a L) est une pompe pouvant fournir une surpression de quelques atmosphères pour rendre très faible la tension partielle d'hydrocarbure par rapport à la tension partielle d'incondensables.4. Device for recovering hydrocarbon vapor from tanks or reservoirs for liquid or liquefied hydrocarbons, comprising a liquid ring vacuum pump (PaL) operating with a service liquid of substantially the same composition as the hydrocarbon to be recovered, characterized in that it comprises a first heat exchanger (E 1 ), between the tank (S 1 ) and the pump (P a L), a decanter - separator (DS) at the outlet of the pump (P a L) where the product pumped liquid separates from the gases which cannot be condensed under operating conditions, and a circuit (4, 5, P 1 ) making it possible to recycle at the pump (P a L), as service liquid, part of the liquid product after its cooling in a second heat exchanger (E 2 ) and that the pump (P a L) is a pump capable of providing an overpressure of a few atmospheres to make the partial tension of hydrocarbon very low compared to the partial tension of noncondensables.
EP85400746A 1983-10-14 1985-04-16 Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours Withdrawn EP0198142A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8316344A FR2553500B1 (en) 1983-10-14 1983-10-14 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPORS
EP85400746A EP0198142A1 (en) 1983-10-14 1985-04-16 Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8316344A FR2553500B1 (en) 1983-10-14 1983-10-14 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPORS
EP85400746A EP0198142A1 (en) 1983-10-14 1985-04-16 Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours

Publications (1)

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EP0198142A1 true EP0198142A1 (en) 1986-10-22

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EP85400746A Withdrawn EP0198142A1 (en) 1983-10-14 1985-04-16 Process and apparatus for recuperating hydrocarbon vapours

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FR (1) FR2553500B1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002018032A2 (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-03-07 Harmse Barthlo Von Moltitz A method of treating an effluent gas stream, and apparatus for use in such method
WO2020015963A1 (en) * 2018-07-19 2020-01-23 Thilo Ittner Thermoelectric or thermomechanical transducer and computer-controlled or electronically controlled method

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2553500B1 (en) * 1983-10-14 1986-01-03 Sihi Pompes METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPORS
WO1989012201A1 (en) * 1988-05-30 1989-12-14 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Process plant
EP0437637A1 (en) * 1989-11-20 1991-07-24 KKW Kulmbacher Klimageräte-Werk GmbH Liquid ring pump
DE59006448D1 (en) * 1990-11-23 1994-08-18 Siemens Ag Liquid ring pump.
US6834686B2 (en) 2002-09-09 2004-12-28 Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. Tank pressure management system

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB893642A (en) * 1959-04-13 1962-04-11 Nash Engineering Co Process and apparatus for preventing losses from storage vessels for volatile liquids
FR2553500A1 (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-04-19 Sihi Pompes METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPORS

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB893642A (en) * 1959-04-13 1962-04-11 Nash Engineering Co Process and apparatus for preventing losses from storage vessels for volatile liquids
FR2553500A1 (en) * 1983-10-14 1985-04-19 Sihi Pompes METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPORS

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002018032A2 (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-03-07 Harmse Barthlo Von Moltitz A method of treating an effluent gas stream, and apparatus for use in such method
WO2002018032A3 (en) * 2000-08-31 2002-05-30 Barthlo Von Moltitz Harmse A method of treating an effluent gas stream, and apparatus for use in such method
WO2020015963A1 (en) * 2018-07-19 2020-01-23 Thilo Ittner Thermoelectric or thermomechanical transducer and computer-controlled or electronically controlled method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2553500B1 (en) 1986-01-03
FR2553500A1 (en) 1985-04-19

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