Vapor recovery and processing system and method
First Claim
1. A vapor recovery method for collecting vapors emitted during vehicle refueling and for processing excess vapors form a dispensing system in order to prevent increased pressurization of a storage tank of combustible liquid, the storage tank being maintained at or below atmospheric pressure, the storage tank also being in selective fluid communication with a nozzle in the dispensing system for dispensing the combustible liquid into the vehicle fuel tank, the nozzle having means for capturing the vapors forced from the vehicle tank, said method comprising the steps of:
- collecting the combustible vapors at the nozzle by a collection means connected thereto, the volume of vapors thus collected being those vapors forced from the vehicle tank by the entering liquid and any air drawn in at the nozzle;
discharging a portion of the collected vapors from the collection means to a processing means, the volume of that portion of the collected vapors being directly determined by the vapor pressure in the storage tank;
processing the portion of the collected vapors discharged to the processing means to an environmentally safe form by the processing means; and
discharging the remainder of the collected vapors from the collection means to the storage tank in sufficient volume to maintain a predetermined vapor pressure in the storage tank.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum assisted vapor recovery system and method using a processing unit to process excess vapors collected during vehicle refueling with a bellowless nozzle. The system and method can be divided into two sequences of operation. The first sequence is the collection of vapors from the automobile during refueling. The second sequence is the return of vapors to a product storage tank with the processing of any excess vapors that would otherwise increase the pressure inside the storage tank. A single collection unit is used to collect the vapors as well as to send them to the storage tank and the processing unit. An improvement provides a recirculation loop in the collection unit to also control vapor growth in the underground storage tank. Pressure sensitive switches maintain a pressure level in the storage tank by activating the system if the pressure in the storage tank exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The processing unit processes any excess vapor and thus maintains the storage tank at a predetermined pressure level. The processing unit may be a combustion unit that incinerates the vapor.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A vapor recovery method for collecting vapors emitted during vehicle refueling and for processing excess vapors form a dispensing system in order to prevent increased pressurization of a storage tank of combustible liquid, the storage tank being maintained at or below atmospheric pressure, the storage tank also being in selective fluid communication with a nozzle in the dispensing system for dispensing the combustible liquid into the vehicle fuel tank, the nozzle having means for capturing the vapors forced from the vehicle tank, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting the combustible vapors at the nozzle by a collection means connected thereto, the volume of vapors thus collected being those vapors forced from the vehicle tank by the entering liquid and any air drawn in at the nozzle; discharging a portion of the collected vapors from the collection means to a processing means, the volume of that portion of the collected vapors being directly determined by the vapor pressure in the storage tank; processing the portion of the collected vapors discharged to the processing means to an environmentally safe form by the processing means; and discharging the remainder of the collected vapors from the collection means to the storage tank in sufficient volume to maintain a predetermined vapor pressure in the storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vapor recovery method for collecting vapors emitted during vehicle refueling and for processing excess vapors in a dispensing system in order to prevent increased pressurization of a storage tank of combustible liquid maintained at or below atmospheric pressure, wherein the increased pressurization is prevented above a predetermined level, the storage tank being in selective fluid communication with a nozzle in the dispensing system for dispensing the combustible liquid into the vehicle fuel tank, the nozzle having means for capturing the vapors forced from the vehicle tank and also for capturing air, said method comprising the steps of:
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collecting the combustible vapors at the nozzle by the collection means connected thereto the volume of vapors thus collected being in excess of those vapors forced from the container by the entering liquid; discharging a portion of the collected vapors from the collection means to a processing means the volume of that portion of the collected vapors being directly determined by the vapor pressure in the storage tank; processing the portion of the collected vapors discharged to the processing means to an environmentally safe form; discharging the remainder of the collected vapors from the collection means to the storage tank in sufficient volume to maintain the predetermined pressure in the storage tank; and when combustible liquid is not being dispensed through the nozzle; sensing the pressure in the storage tank by a first pressure sensing element; providing an actuation signal when the pressure in the storage tank exceeds the predetermined level; commencing operation of a vapor collection means in response to the actuation signal, the collection means being coupled to the storage tank by means of a fluid conduit which includes a recirculation loop from the discharge to the intake of the collection means; discharging vapors form the discharge of the collection means to the input of the processing means, and processing the vapors in the processing means to an enviormentally safe form. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification