MXPA00008330A - Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions - Google Patents

Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions

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Publication number
MXPA00008330A
MXPA00008330A MXPA/A/2000/008330A MXPA00008330A MXPA00008330A MX PA00008330 A MXPA00008330 A MX PA00008330A MX PA00008330 A MXPA00008330 A MX PA00008330A MX PA00008330 A MXPA00008330 A MX PA00008330A
Authority
MX
Mexico
Prior art keywords
hydrocarbon
optical fiber
detector structure
response
expansion
Prior art date
Application number
MXPA/A/2000/008330A
Other languages
Spanish (es)
Inventor
Wolfgang H Koch
Arthur Brown
Original Assignee
Tokheim Corporation
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tokheim Corporation filed Critical Tokheim Corporation
Publication of MXPA00008330A publication Critical patent/MXPA00008330A/en

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Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for sensing hydrocarbon in the vapor path of fuel dispensers using a fiber-optic sensor. The sensor includes an absorber-expander sensing structure mechanically coupled to the fiber body and responsive to the presence of effluent fuel components. The system includes fuel dispensing system (14) in operative association with a fiber optic sensor apparatus (10), a vapor pump (26), and a controller (26) for operating the vapor pump (26) responsive to the sensor apparatus (10).

Description

VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM USING AN OPTICAL FIBER SENSOR TO DETECT EMISSIONS FROM HYDROCARBONS Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for vapor recovery for use in fuel dispensing applications, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for detecting hydrocarbon emissions discharged during fuel loading activity using a fiber optic sensor and to regulate a steam pump based on the concentration of hydrocarbons detected. While gasoline or other fuel is shipped in a car or other motor vehicle of a fuel delivery system, the incoming fuel displaces vaporized fuel vapors and forces its discharge from the containment tank. These vapors must be captured or otherwise collected to prevent them from escaping and contaminating the surrounding environment. Vacuum-assisted stage II vapor recovery systems serve to recover hydrocarbon vapors displaced from the vehicle's fuel tanks during fuel-delivery operations. The released vapors are collected by using a steam pump to drive the vapors within the vapor recovery system for storage, recycling or subsequent destruction. The rate at which steam is recovered is controlled by varying the speed of the steam pump. To obtain maximum performance and efficiency of the steam recovery system, the speed of the steam pump must be properly controlled so that the steam is collected at a rate that corresponds as closely as possible to the instantaneous rate of discharge of the effluent. of steam that develops during a fuel loading operation, while oxygen recovery is minimized. The challenge encountered by all vacuum assisted vapor recovery systems is to find a vapor monitoring system that has the ability to dynamically detect the presence of hydrocarbon components and generate a signal that accurately measures the detected hydrocarbon . One of the limitations experienced by conventional detection devices involves an inability to detect the hydrocarbon in both its vapor state and its liquid state. This deficiency is more pronounced when fuel loading operations occur during favorable temperature and pressure conditions for the condensation of the gaseous hydrocarbon. The absence of any ability to adequately remove the hydrocarbon condensates leads to false readings and to a general corruption of the detected measurement data, resulting in a control mechanism that is not reliable to regulate the steam pump. It is also critical to the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system that the vapor sensing element is highly sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon. Otherwise, if hydrocarbon concentration levels fall below a threshold point at which the sensing element becomes incapable of recording the presence of the hydrocarbon, the steam pump will be instructed to continue operating at its current speed corresponding to the record of a previous level of hydrocarbon detection that is no longer valid. This undetected condition can lead to an excessive collection of oxygen components due to the imbalance between the speed of operation of the steam pump and the actual but undetected concentration of hydrocarbons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is comprised, in a form thereof, of a method and apparatus for detecting hydrocarbons in the vapor path of the fuel dispenser using a fiber optic sensor. The sensor includes, in a form thereof, an absorber-expander sensor structure mechanically coupled to the body of the fiber and responds to the presence of components of the effluent fuel to absorb the hydrocarbons therein and expand in response thereto. The expansion activity has the effect of generating a deformation of microinclination in the fiber, which produces detectable changes in the optical performance that represents the concentration of the hydrocarbon that is detected by an absorber-expander element. The fiber optic sensor is particularly useful in a vapor recovery system by providing an optical signal that is representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon in the environment. The concentration level of the hydrocarbon represented by the change detected in the fiber transmittance serves as the basis to regulate the rate at which the steam pump collects the effluent vapors discharged during fuel loading, specifically through correct adjustment the speed of operation of the steam pump. The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a system for recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system. The system includes a communication element _ for transporting the electromagnetic energy in the communication elements, and a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the communication elements. A sensor element, arranged in relation to detect the effluent to the container, is provided to sufficiently compromise the communication elements in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the sensor element, to induce a change in the transmittance thereof. In addition, a steam collection element is provided to controllably collect the hydrocarbon effluents from the container, and a regulating element to control the rate of the collection of the effluent through the vapor collection element according to the energy level. detected by the receiving element. The sensor element is preferably arranged in a vapor recovery path. The system further includes a thermal applicator element, disposed relative to the heat exchange towards the sensing element to apply thermal energy to the sensing element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom. In one form of the system, the communication element includes an optical fiber, the transmitting element includes a laser, and the receiving element includes an optical detector. The coupling of the communication element by the sensor element brings into effect, in a form thereof, a micro-inclination of the optical fiber. The vapor collection element includes, in one embodiment, a steam pump. The regulator element further includes, in one embodiment, a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiver element into a vapor control signal representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensor element and represented by the change in the transmittance of the communication element; and the elements for applying the steam control signal provided by the conversion element to the steam pump to exert control thereon. The communication elements include, in one embodiment, an optical fiber. The sensor element includes, in one embodiment, a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the optical fiber and reactively detecting the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and expand in response to this. The expansion of the detector structure puts into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in such a way that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is repeatedly substantially reversible. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, of a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote desorption there, and to bring about the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The sensor element includes, in another embodiment, a plurality of sensor structures arranged in a spaced apart relationship along the optical fiber and mechanically coupled thereto, each of the pluralities of the detector structures being responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of the hydrocarbon and expand in response to this. The communication element includes, in another form thereof, a plurality of fiber optic sections arranged in series and each arranged in a light-communicating relationship with any of the pluralities of optical fibers adjacent to and displaced relative to the sections of the optical fiber. adjacent fiber optics by coupling the region between them. The sensor element includes, in a form thereof, a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least one of the portions of the plurality of fiber optic sections and sensitive reactive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the states liquid and one of the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and expand in response to that. The expansion activity of the detector structure brings into effect, in one embodiment, a micro-inclination of one of the sections of the optical fiber; and puts into effect, in another form thereof, a transverse displacement between one of the sections of the optical fiber and the other sections of the optical fiber adjacent thereto. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a system for recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system. The system includes a communication means for transporting electromagnetic energy, a transmission element for introducing electromagnetic energy into the communication element and a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy propagating through the communication element. In addition, a sensor element is provided, arranged in relation to detecting the effluent towards the container and also arranged in a separate separate relation towards the communication element., for coupling the communication element in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the sensor element to induce a change in the transmittance thereof. A vapor collection element is provided to controllably collect hydrocarbon effluents from the container. A regulating element, operatively coupled to the receiving element, is provided to control the rate of collection of the effluent through the vapor collection element according to the energy level detected by the receiving element. The sensor element is preferably arranged in a vapor recovery path. The system also includes a thermal applicator element, arranged in heat exchange relation to the sensor element, to apply thermal energy to the sensor element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom. In one embodiment of the system, the communication element includes an optical fiber, the transmitting element includes a laser, and the receiving element includes an optical detector. The coupling of the communication element through the sensor element brings about a micro-inclination of the optical fiber. The vapor collection element includes, in a form thereof, a steam pump. The regulating element further includes, in a form thereof, a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiving element into a vapor control signal representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensing element and is represented by the change in the transmittance of the communication element; and the elements for applying the steam control signal provided in the conversion element to the steam pump to carry out the control thereof. The communication element includes, in one embodiment, a detector structure, arranged in spaced apart relation to the optical fiber and relatively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and one vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of the same and expand in response there enough to take the detector structure to a coupling with the optical fiber. The activity of expansion of the detector structure puts into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to the absorption is repeatedly substantially reversible. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, of a red silicone rubber member. The thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therefrom and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The sensor element includes, in another form thereof, a plurality of detector structures arranged in a relative relationship spaced apart along the optical fiber and each is spaced apart from there, each of the pluralities of the detector structures being sensitive reactively to the presence of hydrocarbon in at least a liquid state and a vapor state to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this enough to cause at least one of the plurality of detector structures are carried to a coupling with optical fiber. The sensor element includes, even in another form thereof, a detector structure, which is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this; and an actuator element, disposed relative to the detector structure for detecting the expansion thereof, for coupling the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the detected expansion. The coupling of the optical fiber through the actuator element brings about a micro-inclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to bring about the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The reliability of the sensor device in the continuous generation and reproducible responses to the presence of hydrocarbon is ascribed only to reversible performance absorber expander element during its cycles of expansion and contraction, but also is enhanced by the elastic quality of the optical fiber . The amount of microinclinación in the fiber body starts to decrease and eventually disappear while the absorber and expander element undergo a process involving dissociation of the hydrocarbon molecules and undergoes physical contraction induced expansive state from hydrocarbon. A progressive reduction in fiber deformation occurs simultaneously with the desorption of hydrocarbon detected due to the elasticity of the fiber body can return to its original formation as encouraging deformation (ie absorber element - expander its expanded state) is decoupled from intimate contact with fiber. The transmittance of the fiber under static conditions (for example, the absence of the hydrocarbon) remains, therefore, unaffected by any of the microinclusion activities in it. In essence, fiber has no characteristic memory with the ability to retain any trace, either structural or otherwise, of its operational history. This same attribute also applies to the entire sensing apparatus since the absorber-expander element likewise does not demonstrate any retention of any of the previous expansion-contraction activities.
The sensor element includes, even in another embodiment, a detector structure, which is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least a liquid state and a vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in answer to this; an electromechanical sensor to detect the expansion of the detector structure and convert the detected expansion into an electrical signal representative of this; and an element for coupling the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the electrical signal provided by the electromechanical sensor. The communication elements include, in another form thereof, a plurality of fiber optic sections arranged in series and each arranged in communicative light relation with any of the adjacent pluralities of optical fiber sections and offset relative to the fiber optic sections through a coupling region between them. The sensor element includes, in one embodiment thereof, a detector structure, arranged in spaced apart relation to one of the pluralities of the sections of the optical fiber and sensitive reactive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a state of steam, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response thereto sufficiently to bring the detector structure into a coupling with one of the sections of the optical fiber. The coupling of a fiber optic section through the detector structure during the expansion thereof, in effect, brings into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber section; and puts into effect, in another embodiment, a transverse displacement between a fiber optic section and the other fiber optic sections adjacent thereto. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The sensor element includes, in another embodiment, a detector structure, which is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least a liquid state and a vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this; and an actuator element, disposed relative to the detector structure for expansion detection thereof, in order to couple one of the pluralities of sections of the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the detected expansion to induce a change in the transmittance of the communication element. The coupling of one of the sections of the optical fiber through the actuator element produces, in one embodiment, a microinclination there, and produces, in another embodiment thereof, an optical misalignment of one of the sections of the optical fiber. fiber optic in relation to the other fiber optic sections adjacent to it. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to the absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and to carry out the contraction thereof from the induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The sensor element includes, still in another embodiment, a detector structure, which is sensitive reactive to the presence of the hydrocarbon, at least in a liquid state and a vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this; an electromechanical sensor for detecting the expansion of the detector structure and converting the detected expansion into an electrical signal representative thereof; and an element for coupling one of the fiber optic sections in response and in accordance with the electrical signal provided by the electromechanical sensor. The invention comprises, even in another embodiment, a system for monitoring the presence of hydrocarbon effluents from a container, where the monitoring system is operatively associated with a fuel delivery system that is operative for the fuel dispensed in the container . The monitoring system includes a communication element for transporting the electromagnetic energy, a transmitting element for introducing electromagnetic energy into the communication element and a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy propagating through the communication element. In addition, a sensor element is provided, arranged in relation to the detection of the effluent towards the container, to sufficiently couple the communication element in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the element. sensor to induce a change in the transmittance thereof. The sensor element is preferably arranged in a vapor recovery path. The monitoring system also includes a steam collection element to controllably collect the hydrocarbon effluents from the container, and a regulating element to control the rate of collection of the effluent through the vapor collection element according to the level of energy detected by the receiver element.
The vapor collection element includes, in one embodiment, a steam pump. The regulating element further includes a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiving element into a vapor control signal representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensor element and represented by the change in the transmittance of the communication element; and an element for applying the steam control signal provided by the conversion element to the steam pump to carry out the control thereof. A thermal applicator element disposed relative to the heat exchange relative to the sensor element is provided to apply thermal energy to the sensor element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom. The communication element includes, in one embodiment, an optical fiber. The sensor element includes, in one embodiment, a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the optical fiber and is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and one vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and expand in response to it. The expansion of the detector structure puts into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and to bring about the contraction thereof from the induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The invention comprises, even in another embodiment of the same, a system for monitoring the presence of hydrocarbon effluents from a container, where the monitoring system is operatively associated with a fuel dispatch system that is operative to dispatch fuel at one container. The monitoring system includes a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber arranged in reciprocal communicative relation of light and displaced relatively at the free ends of the same through a coupling region between them; a transmitting element for introducing electromagnetic energy to the first optical fiber; and a receiver element for detecting electromagnetic energy that propagates through the second optical fiber. In addition, a detector structure is provided, arranged in relation to detecting the effluent towards the container and reactive responsively to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least a liquid state and a vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this. A light blocking element is provided to attenuate the propagation of incident light immediately thereafter. The monitoring system further includes an actuator element, integrally coupled to the light blocking element and arranged relative to the detector structure for expansion detection thereof, to be sufficiently coupled to the light blocking element in response and in accordance with the expansion detected to reversibly interpose to the light blocking element within the coupling region between the respective free ends of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber to induce a change in the transmittance between them. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to the absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. A thermal applicator element is provided to controllably apply the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from the induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The invention comprises, still in another embodiment, a method of recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system. The method includes the steps to provide an optical fiber, to transmit the electromagnetic energy in the optical fiber, and to provide a detector structure, arranged in relation to the detection of the effluent towards the container, to sufficiently couple the optical fiber in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluent -detected by the detector structure to induce a change in the transmittance thereof. The method also includes the steps to detect the electromagnetic energy that is propagated through the optical fiber in a controllable way to collect the effluents of the hydrocarbon from the container, and to regulate the rate of collection of the effluent according to the level of energy detected. . The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. The step to apply the thermal energy to the detector structure is also provided to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid from there.
The detector structure is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a vapor state to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expanding in response thereto. The expansion of the detector structure puts into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The step to apply thermal energy to the detector structure promotes the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and puts into effect the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. The invention comprises, even in another embodiment of the same, a method for monitoring the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system that is operative for dispensing fuel into the container. The monitoring method includes the steps to provide an optical fiber; transmit electromagnetic energy in the optical fiber; providing a detector structure, disposed in relation to the detection of the effluent towards the container, for sufficiently coupling the optical fiber in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected through the detector structure to induce a change in the transmittance thereof; and detect the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the optical fiber. The method also includes the steps to controllably collect hydrocarbon effluents from the container, and regulate the collection rate of the effluent according to the level of energy detected. The collection step of the hydrocarbon effluent includes the step to provide a steam pump. The detector structure is preferably formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member. The step to apply thermal energy to the detector structure is also provided to promote the removal of hydrocarbon liquid therefrom.
The detector structure is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a vapor state to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to it. The expansion of the detector structure puts into effect a microinclination of the optical fiber. The detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. The step to apply thermal energy to the detector structure promotes desorption there and puts into effect the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the absorbent-expansive detector structure has the ability to heat without affecting its structural or operational integrity, allowing rapid evaporation of the hydrocarbon condensate which makes it an ideal candidate for application in a dispenser made out of fuel. Another advantage of the present invention is that the physical mechanism that gives meaning to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents, namely the absorption of the hydrocarbon in the detector structure and the accompanying expansion activity, is substantially reversible, allowing a cyclical response and continuously repeatable through the fiber optic sensor to the presence of the fuel components in the vapor recovery of the fuel line, which is remarkably achieved without any adverse degradation in the expander absorber element.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that the absorber-expander detector structure has the ability to detect the presence of the hydrocarbon both in a liquid state and in a vapor state, such that a vapor recovery system incorporating a sensor Fiber optic is suitable for use over a range of operating conditions favoring steam condensation from fuel emissions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The characteristics and advantages of this invention mentioned above as well as other, and the manner of obtaining them, will be more apparent and the invention will be better understood through reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an illustration of a block diagram of a fiber optic sensor apparatus integrated in the vapor effluent path of a fuel dispensing system and adapted for use with a vapor recovery system, according to an embodiment of the invention. present invention; 2 is a schematic block diagram view of a fiber optic sensor apparatus configured to be placed in the steam effluent path of a dispensing system, where the absorber-expander element is mechanically coupled to the optical fiber, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a longitudinal view taken in a sectional section describing an 'integrated array including the absorber-expander detector structure and the optical fiber disclosed in the sensor apparatus of Figure 2; Figures 4A and 4B are block diagram illustrations of the respective optical fiber sensor apparatus, configured to be placed in the steam effluent path of a fuel delivery system, where the absorber-expander element is mechanically coupled to the optical fiber at through the respective coupling devices, according to additional embodiments of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic block diagram view of a fiber optic sensor apparatus configured for positioning in the vapor effluent path of a fuel delivery system, where the absorber-expander element is spaced apart from the optical fiber, according to still another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a longitudinal view taken in a section cut demonstrating an integrated array including the expanding absorber sensing structure and the optical fiber disclosed in the sensor apparatus of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram view of a fiber optic sensor apparatus configured to be placed in the vapor effluent path of a fuel delivery system, where the absorber-expander element is actively interposed to an element of blockade of light integrally adhered within the coupling region between two axially aligned fibers at the time of detecting the presence of the hydrocarbon, according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts through several views. The exemplification set forth herein illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in a form thereof, and this exemplification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, a block diagram, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown to illustrate the integration of a fiber optic sensor apparatus 10 into the vapor path 12 adapted for use with a fuel delivery system 14, which is configured to deliver liquid fuel recovered from the fuel storage facility 16 into the fuel container 18 through the fuel intake line 20, such as the conduit passage for load fuel from a gas tank of a vehicle. The sensor apparatus 10 is preferably configured for integral operation with a steam recovery system generally shown at 22 and includes a controller 24 and a steam pump 26, where the sensing apparatus 10 is operative to implement a controllable adjustment of the speed of operation of the steam pump according to the concentration of the hydrocarbon effluent detected by the sensor apparatus 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The gaseous components (ie, air and hydrocarbon) collected by the steam pump 26 are sent to the steam storage 28. The illustrated system is further provided with a thermal applicator 30 for applying thermal energy to the sensing elements of the fiber sensing apparatus. optics 10 to facilitate the removal of the hydrocarbon condensate therefrom. The fuel delivery system 14 is of conventional construction based on any of a variety of dispenser configurations known to those skilled in the art and has a functionality that involves dispatching a liquid fuel to a fuel containment tank represented by the fuel container 18. Correspondingly, any particular implementation of the fuel dispensing system 14 disclosed herein does not form a part of the present invention and therefore should not serve as a limitation thereto, but is hereby set forth only for illustrative purposes. . Examples of these fuel dispensing apparatuses can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,484,000; 5,255,723; 5,345,979; 5,322,008; 5,325,896; 5,323,817; 5,476,125; 5,305,807; 5,507,325; 5,417,256; and 5,209,275, collectively incorporated herein by reference thereto. With specific reference to Figure 1, the fiber optic sensor apparatus 10 functions broadly as an element for detecting the presence of the hydrocarbon, generating a certain characteristic form of a physical activity in response to the detection of the hydrocarbon, and coupling this generated physical activity to an optical transmission system for preferably producing a reversible deformation in the body of a communication medium based on a fiber. The decreased transmittance resulting from fiber microinclusion is an indication of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensing apparatus 10. The hydrocarbon components subject to detection correspond to the fugitive vapor emissions displaced from the fuel container 18 during loading of fuel from it or as a result of any other condition (for example, ventilation) that forces vapourized fuel vapors into the external environment. The variations in optical performance associated with the detected presence of the hydrocarbon are monitored and provided to the vapor recovery system 22 for a controllable adjustment of the steam flow rate generated by the steam pump 26 to achieve optimal recovery of the hydrocarbon effluent. The adjustment strategy is generally intended to minimize the amount of oxygen subject to collection and delivery to a vapor storage 28. For example, at low levels of hydrocarbon concentration indicated by a higher degree of transmittance, the process of collection of The vapor will be regulated in such a way that the vapor flow rate will be reduced by decreasing the speed of the steam pump 26. With reference to Figure 2, a schematic block diagram is shown to illustrate a fiber optic sensor apparatus generally described at 40 and corresponding to an implementation of a sensor apparatus 10 disclosed in Figure 1, wherein the absorber-expander element (discussed below) is mechanically coupled to the optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated sensor apparatus 40 is preferably configured by placing in the path of the steam effluent of a fuel delivery system. The illustrated sensor apparatus 40 includes an optical transmission system comprising the optical fiber 42, the laser 44, arranged in communicative light relation with fiber 42 at one of the ends thereof for coupling the light there, and the optical detector 46. arranged in light communicative relationship with the fiber 42 at another end thereof to detect light propagating therethrough. The term "light" as used herein refers generally to electromagnetic radiation, which may include, for example, radiation or visible energy outside the visible spectrum (e.g., ultraviolet or infrared rays), considering that the radiation has the capacity of transmission through a correct means of communication. The sensor apparatus 40 further includes a sensor structure having an absorber-expander member 48 mechanically coupled to a portion of the fiber 42 and characterized by a sensitivity to hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states or vapor states (indicated generally at 50), such that the detector structure reactive absorbs the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof (i.e., when brought into close contact with it) and expands in response to the absorption activity. It is through this expansion activity that the detector structure (or an integrally coupled actuator device) is coupled to the body of the fiber and thus performs the attenuation in the propagation of light through the fiber 42, producing an optical modulating transmittance in the fiber 42 which varies according to the presence of the hydrocarbon detected by the absorber-expander element 48. As used herein for purposes of brevity, references to the detector structure and the Absorber element - expander 48 will be used interchangeably. The detector structure is characterized in that its response to the presence of the hydrocarbon is defined by a property of reversibility, which allows the detector structure to be repeatedly and substantially restored to an original formation. The restoration process can occur through a variety of the hydrocarbon removal mechanism, including but not limited to diffusion, desorption and / or evaporation. The thermal applicator 30 (Figure 1) is specifically provided for this purpose, where the heating unit is disposed in a sufficient heat exchange relationship relative to the absorber-expander element 48 such that the thermal energy generated by the thermal applicator 30 will be adequately communicated to element 48 to promote the process of restoration of the same through the removal of the hydrocarbon. This heat transfer mechanism is particularly useful under the operating conditions in which the liquid condensate accumulates in the detector structure, primarily due to the consistent success of the heat exchange process by rapidly evaporating the liquid hydrocarbon, which could otherwise remain only if the natural processes were available for liquid removal. Proper removal of the hydrocarbon condensate allows the absorber-expander element 48 to pass through a reciprocal contraction cycle that returns the element 48 to its original configuration. Therefore, the reversibility characteristic allows the element 48 to undergo a virtually hysteresis-free and continuous cycle of hydrocarbon detection and absorption, expansion, hydrocarbon removal, and shrinkage without any degradation in structural integrity. The detector structure is preferably formed of a material including polysiloxane dimethyl rubber, which is methyl-terminated and has silica and iron oxide fillers. This material is commercially distributed under the name of red silicone rubber and is produced commercially by companies such as General Electric Company. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the conventional process and forming techniques are applicable to a rubber member so as to allow the construction of an absorber-expander element 48 having any desired dimensional characteristic. The components and subsystems indicated in the embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes only, and it should be apparent to persons skilled in the technology that other devices and structures can be substituted, therefore, to achieve equivalent functionality . For example, the fiber 42 may be any communication medium capable of supporting the transmission of light, and may include, for example, a waveguide means encompassing these structures such as optical fibers, light tubes, and silica formations. melted, as well as other glass or ceramic structures that have any source of light or transmitting facility with the capacity to generate and project an electromagnetic radiation in a correct communications medium. The optical detector 46 can encompass any light detecting facility or receiver structure capable of detecting incident radiation accordingly and providing a measurement of the intensity level thereof, and which is adaptable for optical coupling to a correct communication medium. With reference to Figure 3, there is shown a planar section cross-sectional view taken along the lines AA '(Figure 2) to illustrate the physical deployment of the way in which the absorber-expander element 48 is coupled integrally to the optical fiber 42, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the member 48 generally assumes the shape of an elongated cylinder having a longitudinal section thereof oriented in the form of a foundation in a substantial non-deformable recessed coupling with a corresponding fiber longitudinal section 42. A ring device 52 is preferably provided by a rigid and resilient securing element 48 and fiber 42 in the indicated arrangement. The expansion activity of the element 48 that occurs during the presence of the hydrocarbon components will cause the element 48 to expand, at least in part, in the upper region with increasing shape circumscribed by the ring 52 and create an arcuate shape, directed upwardly micro-inclined in the fiber 42 at the point of contact with the ring 52. The indicated arrangement, in the preferred embodiment, is configured precisely so that when the absorbed hydrocarbon is removed and the element 48 passes from an expanded state to a fully contracted state, the element 48 returns to a static condition (ie, no hydrocarbon present) characterized by a substantially non-deforming mechanical coupling between the element 47 and the fiber 42. Otherwise, the arrangement will retain a polarization will generate a false indication of the hydrocarbon through an unwanted variation in the optical transmittance corresponding to the polarization retained. Other arrangements involving the absorber-expander element 48 and the fiber 42 encompassed by the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,378,889 to Lawrence, incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. As shown in Figure 2, the sensor apparatus 40 is configured to be used with a steam pump controller 24, which operates broadly to regulate the collection of vapors by a steam pump 26 in response and in accordance with the level of hydrocarbon effluent detected by the absorber-expander element 48 and represented by the intensity of light detected by the optical detector 46. The integration of the sensor apparatus 40 in the vapor recovery system and the achievement of precise control of the flow rate of the The steam pump through precise detection of the hydrocarbon preferably requires that the sensor apparatus 40 be disposed in the steam recovery path so that the absorber-expander element 48 is exposed for contact with the same hydrocarbon environment as that to which it is subject to the vacuum action of the steam pump 26. Generally, the sensor apparatus 40 will have to be placed properly to accommodate the accessibility of hydrocarbon emissions to the detector structure there. The proportional control of the vapor vacuum action is related to the amount of hydrocarbon detected. With specific reference to the controller 24, an optical converter 25 is provided to convert the level of the optical energy detected by the optical detector 46 into a vapor control signal that is representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensor apparatus 40 and represented by the change, in the transmittance of the fiber 42. In particular, the hydrocarbon concentration is determined as a function of the measured attenuation of the optical performance in the fiber 42. The pump regulator 27 generates a vapor flow signal with base on the steam control signal provided by the converter 25, which means the change in the operating speed of the pump necessary to correctly adjust the flow rate of the pump 26. An element is provided to apply the steam flow signal to the steam pump 26 to carry out the control thereof. This steam flow regulation methodology is based, therefore, on the detection of the hydrocarbon through the absorber-expander element 48, which generates a movement stimulus (ie, expansion activity) that is communicated to the recovery system. steam (i.e., pump controller 24) through optical detector 46, as a representative change in optical transmittance. The physical behavior exhibited by the absorber-expander element 48 in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon is generally representative of a displacement stimulus that can be easily translated into a comparable movement activity through the motion transfer devices integrally adhered to it, suggesting in this way other configurations of the fiber optic sensor for deformable coupling of the optical fiber in addition to the direct mechanical coupling illustrated in Figures 2-3. For example, the expansion activity of the expander absorber 48 can be communicated to an actuator device integrally coupled that mechanically couples itself to the fiber through the exercise of an influence of inclination of the same, thereby altering the transmittance of the fiber. As will be discussed below, the present invention encompasses any type of transfer mechanism that has the ability to transfer the expansion activity generated by the expander absorber 48 towards the body of the fiber. It will also be apparent that mitigation mechanisms may include, but they are not limited to, the microinclination and optical misalignment, in such a way that it can occur when the plurality of the different sections of fiber is used to construct the means of communication. Figures 4A and 4B are block diagram illustrations of the respective optical fiber sensor apparatus configured for placement in the effluent vapor path of a fuel delivery system, where the absorber-expander element 48 is mechanically coupled to the optical fiber 42 through the respective coupling devices, according to the additional embodiments of the present invention. With reference to Figure 4A, an embodiment of the sensor apparatus includes an absorber element expander 48 coupled to an actuator 60, which is disposed in expansion detection relationship towards the element 48 and responds to the expansion activity thereof. for coupling to the body of the fiber 42. The coupling of the actuator of the body of the fiber can, for example, be based on the application of an inclination stimulus thereof, creating a microinclination therein. With reference to Figure 4B, another embodiment of the sensor apparatus includes an absorber-expander element 48 coupled to an electromechanical transducer 62 (ie, a strain gauge), which is provided to detect the expansion of the detector structure in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon and convert the detected expansion into an electrical signal representative of this. A coupling element of the fiber 64 is coupled to the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the electrical signal provided by the electromechanical transducer 62. In the embodiments described hereinabove, the fiber optic sensor apparatus was configured to have a component of the fiber coupling system (i.e., directly exerting the micro-inclination stimulus on the fiber body through engagement by intimate contact between them) to mechanically couple to at least a portion of the fiber body . However, the present invention encompasses other implementations involving the fiber optic sensor apparatus where the coupling device of the fiber and / or the structure is spaced apart from the optical fiber and sufficiently displaced in the presence of the hydrocarbon (and in response to the expansion activity of the expanding absorber element) to conduct a proper coupling with the body of the fiber to produce a micro-inclination there. With reference to Figure 5, a schematic block diagram is shown to illustrate an optical fiber sensor apparatus generally described at 40 and corresponding to an implementation of the sensor apparatus 10 disclosed in Figure 1, wherein the absorber-expander element 48 is spaced apart apart from the optical fiber 42 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated sensor apparatus 40 is identical in all respects to the sensor apparatus 40 disclosed in Figure 2, except that the member 48 is displaced from the fiber 42 by a separation interval 70 which is maintained during a static condition (i.e. the absence of hydrocarbon). This orientation is correctly established so that in the presence of the effluent hydrocarbon 50, the absorber-expander element 48 expands sufficiently to deformly couple a portion of the fiber 42 to produce micro-inclination there and induce a change in the transmittance thereof. This part spaced orientation is easily configured using any other embodiment of the fiber optic sensor apparatus disclosed herein. With reference to Figure 6, a planar section cut view taken in the longitudinal direction along the lines AA 'is shown (Figure 5) to illustrate the physical deployment of the way in which the absorber-expander 48 is integrally coupled to the optical fiber according to the spaced apart relationship defined therebetween. In the embodiments described above in this document, the fiber optic sensor apparatus is configured with an optical fiber having a continuous length, without interruptions. However, this illustrative implementation should not serve as a limitation to it, since the present invention can encompass any suitable fiber optic communication means including a plurality of different fiber optic sections arranged in series, where each of the sections of fiber is arranged in communicative relationship to light with any of the adjacent pluralities of the fiber optic sections and is displaced relative to these adjacent fiber optic sections at the free ends thereof by engaging a coupling region therebetween which it is transverse to light. The detector structure can be coupled to any of the sections of the optical fiber. The sensor configurations are based on a sequence of optically coupled fiber sections that can implement the variation in optical transmittance by developing a microinclude in the fiber, or by using another attenuation mechanism that involves an optical misalignment between the adjacent sections of the fiber. the fiber, which are carried out by making a relative transverse displacement between at least one of the sections of the optical fiber and the other fiber optic sections adjacent to it. Additionally, the disclosure in the illustrated embodiments of a simple detector structure for coupling the optical fiber should not serve as a limitation thereof, since the present invention may encompass a plurality of detector structures arranged in spaced apart relationship throughout of the optical fiber, wherein each of the detector structures is coupled to the fiber body through any of the fiber coupling configurations disclosed herein (e.g., by direct mechanical coupling).; indirect coupling through an intermediate coupling element; spaced apart orientation relative to fiber body). With reference to Figure 7, a schematic block diagram is shown to illustrate a fiber optic sensor apparatus generally described at 40 and corresponding to an implementation of the sensor apparatus 10 disclosed in Figure 1, wherein the absorber-expander element 48 is interposed actively to a light blocking element integrally attached in the coupling region between two axially aligned fibers at the time of detecting the presence of the hydrocarbon, still according to another embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated sensor apparatus 40 includes a first optical fiber 72 and a second optical fiber 74 arranged in reciprocal communicative light relation and relatively displaced at the free ends thereof by a coupling region 73 therebetween. A light blocking element 76 is provided to attenuate the propagation of incident light immediately thereafter. Furthermore, an actuating element 78 is provided which is integrally coupled to the light blocking element 76 and is arranged relative to the absorber-expander element 48 for the detection of the expansion activity thereof during the presence of the hydrocarbon. The actuator element 78 is operative to sufficiently engage the light blocking element 76 in response and in accordance with the detected expansion activity of the absorber-expander element 48 to reversibly interpose the lug lock member 76 in the engagement region 73 for inducing a change in transmittance along the communications channel defined by optical fibers 72 and 74. The fiber optic sensor apparatus disclosed herein is particularly suitable for use in a monitoring system for stage control interactions II / ORVR, in which it serves reliably as a control mechanism to determine when and to what extent adjustments are needed to correct the operating speed of the steam pump, most notably when the detector structure experiences (ie detects) concentrations low hydrocarbons and communicate this condition as a relatively low light signal at calculated for those corresponding to higher hydrocarbon concentrations. Although this invention has been described as the preferred design, the present invention may also be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this application is intended to cover any of the variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover these outputs of the present disclosure as they fall within the known or customary practice in the technology to which this invention pertains and which falls within the limits of the appended claims.

Claims (85)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A system for recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising: a communication element for transporting electromagnetic energy; a transmitting element for introducing electromagnetic energy to the communication element; a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the communication element; a sensor element, disposed in relation to detect the effluent towards the container, to sufficiently couple the communication element in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the sensor element to induce a change in the transmittance thereof; a vapor collecting element for controllably collecting the hydrocarbon effluents from said container; and a regulatory element for controlling the collection rate of the effluent by the vapor collection element according to the energy level detected by the receiving element.
  2. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: the sensor element is arranged in a vapor recovery path.
  3. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a thermal applicator element, disposed relative to the heat exchange of the sensor element, to apply thermal energy to the sensor element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom.
  4. 4. The system according to Claim 1 wherein: the communication element includes an optical fiber; the transmitting element includes a light source; and the receiver element includes an optical detector.
  5. The system according to Claim 4, wherein the coupling of the communication element by the sensor element carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  6. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the steam collection element includes: a steam pump.
  7. The system according to Claim 6, wherein the regulating element further comprises: a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiving element into a vapor control signal representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the sensing element and represented by the change in the transmittance of the communication element; and an element for applying the vapor control signal provided by the steam pump conversion element to carry out the control thereof.
  8. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the communication element includes: an optical fiber.
  9. The system according to Claim 8, wherein the sensor element includes: a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the optical fiber and responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a state of steam, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and expand in response to the same.
  10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the expansion of the detector structure carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  11. 11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly repeated.
  12. The system according to Claim 9, wherein the detector structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  13. 13. The system according to the Claim 9, further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon.
  14. 14. The system according to the Claim 8, wherein the sensor element includes: a plurality of detector structures arranged in relative relation spaced apart along the optical fiber and mechanically coupled to it, wherein each of the pluralities of the detector structures are reactive responsively to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one liquid state and a vapor state to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response thereto.
  15. The system according to Claim 1, wherein the communication element includes: a plurality of fiber optic sections arranged in series and each arranged in communicative light relation with any of the plurality of sections of the optical fiber and displaced with respect to adjacent fiber optic sections through a coupling region therebetween.
  16. The system according to Claim 15, wherein the sensor element includes: a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the plurality of fiber optic sections and which is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least a liquid state and a state of vapor, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and expand in response to this.
  17. The system according to Claim 16, wherein the expansion of the detector structure carries out a micro-inclination of one of the sections of the optical fiber.
  18. The system according to Claim 16, wherein the coupling of the communication element through the sensor element carries out a relative transverse displacement between one of the fiber optic sections and the other fiber optic sections adjacent thereto.
  19. 19. The system according to Claim 16, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon therein and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly repeated.
  20. The system according to Claim 16, wherein the detector structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  21. The system according to Claim 16 further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon.
  22. 22. A system for recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising: a communication element for transporting electromagnetic energy; a transmission element for introducing the electromagnetic energy to the communication element; a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the communication element; a sensor element, disposed in relation to the detection of the effluent towards the container and further disposed in spaced apart relation towards the communication element, for coupling the communication element in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the sensor element to induce a change in the transmittance thereof; a vapor collector element for controllably collecting hydrocarbon effluents from the container; and a regulating element, operatively coupled to the receiving element, for controlling the rate of collection of the effluent by the vapor collection element according to the energy level detected by the receiving element.
  23. 23. The system according to the Claim 22, wherein: the sensor element is arranged in a vapor recovery path.
  24. 24. The system according to claim 22, further comprising: a thermal applicator element, arranged in relation to the heat exchange to the sensor element, to apply thermal energy to the sensor element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom.
  25. 25. The system according to Claim 22, wherein: the communication element includes an optical fiber; the transmitting element includes a light source; and the receiver element includes an optical detector
  26. 26. The system according to claim 22, wherein the coupling of the communication element of the sensor element carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  27. 27. The system according to Claim 22, wherein the vapor collection element includes: a steam pump.
  28. The system according to Claim 27, wherein the regulating element further comprises: a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiving element to a vapor control signal representative of the hydrocarbon concentration detected by the sensing element and represented through the change in transmittance of the communication element; and an element for applying the vapor control signal provided by the steam pump conversion element to carry out the control thereof.
  29. 29. The system according to Claim 22, wherein the communication element includes: an optical fiber.
  30. 30. The system according to Claim 29, wherein the sensing element includes: a sensing structure, arranged in spaced apart relation to the optical fiber and sensitive reactive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and to expand in response to it sufficiently to bring the detector structure into a coupling with the optical fiber.
  31. 31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the expansion of the detector structure carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  32. 32. The system according to the Claim 30, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly repeated.
  33. 33. The system according to claim 30, wherein the sensor structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  34. 34. The system according to Claim 30 further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and to carry out the contraction thereof from the induced expansive state. of the hydrocarbon
  35. 35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the sensing element includes: a plurality of sensing structures arranged in relative spaced apart relation along the optical fiber and each spaced apart from there, wherein each of the pluralities of the detector structures are responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to it sufficiently to cause at least one of the pluralities of the detector structures is brought to a coupling with fiber optic.
  36. 36. The system according to claim 29, wherein the sensing element includes: a sensing structure, responsively responsive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon before the presence of it and expand in response to the same; and an actuator element, arranged in relation to the detector structure for the detection of expansion thereof, to be coupled with the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the detected expansion.
  37. 37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the coupling of the optical fiber through the actuator element carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  38. 38. The system of Claim 36, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon therein and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly repeated.
  39. 39. The system according to the Claim 36, wherein the sensor structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  40. 40. The system according to Claim 36 further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state. of the hydrocarbon.
  41. 41. The system according to claim 29, wherein the sensing element includes: a sensing structure, reactive responsively to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon before the presence of it and to expand in response to this; an electromechanical sensor for detecting the expansion of the detector structure and converting the detected expansion into an electrical signal representative thereof; and an element for coupling the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the electrical signal provided by the electromechanical sensor.
  42. 42. The system according to Claim 22, wherein the communication element includes: a plurality of fiber optic sections arranged in series and wherein each is arranged in communicative light relation with any of the pluralities of the sections of optical fiber and displaced relative to the adjacent fiber optic sections through a coupling region between them.
  43. 43. The system according to claim 42, wherein the sensor element includes: a detector structure, arranged in spaced apart relation to one of the plurality of sections of the optical fiber and responsively responsive to the presence of the hydrocarbon at least one of the liquid states or vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this sufficiently to bring the detector structure into a coupling with one of the sections of the optical fiber.
  44. 44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the coupling of any of the sections of the optical fiber through the detector structure during the expansion of the same performs a microinclination of one of the sections of the optical fiber.
  45. 45. The system according to claim 43, wherein the coupling of one of the sections of the optical fiber through the detector structure during expansion thereof carries out a relative transverse displacement between one of the sections of the fiber. optics and the other fiber optic sections adjacent to it.
  46. 46. The system according to Claim 43, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to the absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly.
  47. 47. The system according to Claim 43, wherein the sensor structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  48. 48. The system according to the Claim 43, further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon.
  49. 49. The system according to claim 42, wherein the sensing element includes: a sensing structure, reactive responsively to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one to the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon before the presence of it and expand in response to this; and an actuator element, disposed relative to the detector structure for expansion detection thereof, for coupling one of the pluralities of the sections of the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the detected expansion to induce a change in transmittance of the communication element.
  50. 50. The system according to Claim 49, where the coupling of one of the sections of the optical fiber through the actuator element produces a micro-inclination there.
  51. 51. The system according to claim 59, wherein the coupling of one of the fiber optic sections through the actuator element results in an optical misalignment of one of the sections of the optical fiber relative to the other fiber optic sections. adjacent to it.
  52. 52. The system according to claim 49, wherein the sensing structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly repeated.
  53. 53. The system according to claim 49, wherein the detector structure is formed at least in part by a red silicone rubber member.
  54. 54. The system according to Claim 49, further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon .
  55. 55. The system according to claim 42, wherein the sensing element includes: a sensing structure, responsively responsive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon before the presence of it and expand in response to this; an electromechanical sensor for detecting the expansion of the detector structure and converting the detected expansion into an electrical signal representative thereof; and an element for coupling one of the pluralities of the sections of the optical fiber in response and in accordance with the electrical signal provided by the electromechanical sensor.
  56. 56. A system to monitor the presence of hydrocarbon effluents from a container, in which the monitoring system is operatively associated with an operational fuel dispatch system to dispatch the fuel within the container, where the monitoring system comprises: a communication element to transport the electromagnetic energy; a transmitting element for introducing the electromagnetic energy to the communication element; a receiving element for detecting the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the communication element; and a sensor element, disposed in effluent sensing relation to the container, for sufficiently coupling the communication element in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the sensor element to induce a change in the transmittance thereof.
  57. 57. The system according to Claim 56, wherein: the sensing element is arranged in a vapor recovery path.
  58. 58. The monitoring system according to Claim 56, further comprising: a vapor collection element for controllably collecting hydrocarbon effluents from the container; and a regulatory element for controlling the rate of collection of the effluent from the vapor collection element according to the energy level detected by the receiving element.
  59. 59. The monitoring system according to claim 59, wherein the regulating element further comprises: a steam pump.
  60. 60. The monitoring system according to claim 59, wherein the regulating element further comprises: a conversion element for converting the energy detected by the receiving element into a vapor control signal representative of the concentration of the hydrocarbon detected by the element sensor and represented by the change in the transmittance of the communication element; and elements for applying the steam control signal provided by the conversion element to the steam pump to carry out the control thereof.
  61. 61. The monitoring system according to claim 56, further comprising: a thermal applicator element, arranged in heat exchange relationship towards the sensor element, to apply thermal energy to the sensor element to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid from there .
  62. 62. The monitoring system according to Claim 56, wherein the communication element includes: an optical fiber.
  63. 63. The monitoring system according to the Claim 62, wherein the sensor element includes: a detector structure, mechanically coupled to at least a portion of the optical fiber and responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and vapor states, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence of it and to expand in response to this.
  64. 64. The monitoring system according to the re 63, where the expansion of the detector structure carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  65. 65. The monitoring system according to Claim 63, wherein the sensing structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly.
  66. 66. The monitoring system according to Claim 63, wherein the sensing structure is formed, at least in part by, a red silicone rubber member.
  67. 67. The monitoring system according to claim 63, further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and carry out the contraction thereof from a state Induced hydrocarbon expansion.
  68. 68. A system to monitor the presence of hydrocarbon effluents from a container, in which the monitoring system is operatively associated with the operational fuel dispatch system to dispatch fuel in the container, where the monitoring system comprises: first optical fiber and a second optical fiber arranged in reciprocal communicative relation of light and relatively displaced at the free ends of the same through a region of coupling between these; a transmitting element for introducing the electromagnetic energy to the first optical fiber; a receiver element for detecting electromagnetic energy that propagates through the second optical fiber; a detector structure, disposed in relation to the detection of the effluent towards the container and sensitive reactive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states and one of the vapor state, to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response to this; a light blocking element for attenuating the propagation of incident light immediately after; And an actuator element, integrally coupled to the light blocking element and arranged relative to the detector structure for the detection of the expansion thereof, for sufficiently coupling the light blocking element in response and according to the detected expansion to interpose reversibly the light blocking element in the coupling region between the respective free ends of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber to induce a change in the transmittance between them.
  69. 69. The system according to Claim 68, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversibly reversible.
  70. 70. The system according to the Claim 68, wherein the sensor structure is formed, at least in part, from a red silicone rubber member.
  71. 71. The system according to claim 68 further comprises: a thermal applicator element for controllably applying the thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state. of the hydrocarbon.
  72. 72. A method of recovering hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising the steps of: providing an optical fiber; transmit electromagnetic energy to the optical fiber; providing a detector structure, arranged in relation to detecting the effluent towards the container, to sufficiently couple the optical fiber in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the detector structure to induce a change in the transmittance thereof; detection of the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the optical fiber; collect in a controllable way the hydrocarbon effluents from the container; and regulate the collection rate of the effluent according to the level of energy detected.
  73. 73. The method according to Claim 72, wherein the sensor structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  74. 74. The method according to the Claim 72, further comprises the step of: applying thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom,
  75. 75. The method according to the Claim 72, wherein the detector structure is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states or vapor states to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and expand in response thereto.
  76. 76. The method according to claim 75, wherein the expansion of the detector structure carries out a micro-inclination of the optical fiber.
  77. 77. The method according to the Claim 75, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly.
  78. 78. The method according to the Claim 75, further comprises the step of: applying thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon there and carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon.
  79. 79. A method for monitoring the presence of hydrocarbon effluents from a container for use with an operational fuel dispatch system for dispensing fuel in a container, in which the monitoring method comprises the steps of: providing an optical fiber; transmit electromagnetic energy to the optical fiber; providing a detector structure, arranged in relation to detecting the effluent towards the container, to sufficiently couple the optical fiber in response to the presence of the hydrocarbon effluents detected by the detector structure to induce a change in the transmittance thereof; and detect the electromagnetic energy that propagates through the optical fiber.
  80. 80. The method according to the Claim 79, further comprises the steps of: controllably collecting hydrocarbon effluents from the container; and regulate the collection rate of the effluent according to the level of energy detected.
  81. 81. The method according to Claim 80, wherein the step of collecting the hydrocarbon effluent includes the step of: providing a steam pump.
  82. 82. The method according to the Claim 79, wherein the detector structure is formed, at least in part, by a red silicone rubber member.
  83. 83. The method according to Claim 79 further comprises the step of: applying thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the removal of the hydrocarbon liquid therefrom.
  84. 84. The method according to claim 79, wherein the detector structure is responsively sensitive to the presence of the hydrocarbon in at least one of the liquid states or vapor states to absorb the hydrocarbon in the presence thereof and to expand in response to to this.
  85. 85. The method according to claim 84, wherein the detector structure is characterized in that the absorption of the hydrocarbon there and the expansion thereof in response to absorption is substantially reversible repeatedly. 87. The method according to Claim 84, further comprises the step of: applying thermal energy to the detector structure to promote the desorption of the hydrocarbon therein and to carry out the contraction thereof from an induced expansive state of the hydrocarbon.
MXPA/A/2000/008330A 1998-08-14 2000-08-25 Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions MXPA00008330A (en)

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