Site fueling vapor recovery emission management system

• US 6,302,165 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Nanaji, Seifollah S., Hartsell, Hal C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/512,542
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 141/59, 141/94, 141/290, 141/392, 141/83, 141/192, 141/198, 73/232, 340/632
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0486 Pumps driven in response to electric signals indicative of pressure, temperature or liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0496 Performance test devices therefor

Abstract

A service station vapor management system including a plurality of vapor handling subsystems and a controller in electronic communication with the vapor handling subsystems for monitoring subsystem operation, determining an overall service station V/L ratio and controlling subsystem operation to maintain the V/L ratio or total site hydrocarbon emissions within predetermined limits.

Claims

1. A service station vapor management system comprising:

a) a plurality of vapor handling subsystems;

b) a controller in electronic communication with the vapor handling subsystems for monitoring a V/L ratio at each of the plurality of vapor handling subsystems, determining an overall service station V/L ratio, and controlling subsystem operation to maintain the V/L ratio within predetermined limits; and

c) a plurality of sensors in electronic communication with said controller such that the controller may adjust independent subsystem operation based, at least in part, on an output from a sensor of said plurality of sensors.

2. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises at least an ambient temperature sensor.

3. The vapor management system of claim 2 wherein said ambient temperature sensor is situated within an underground storage tank.

5. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensors comprises at least an underground storage tank pressure sensor.

6. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of sensor further comprises at least an underground storage tank temperature sensor.

7. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein a V/L ratio associated with an individual vapor handling subsystem remains above a predetermined threshold.

8. The vapor management system of claim 7 wherein said predetermined threshold is 95% transfer efficiency.

9. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said controller decreases a rate of vapor recovery during vapor shrinkage conditions.

10. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said controller maintains the vapor recovery rate above a minimum threshold.

11. The vapor management system of claim 1 wherein said controller increases a rate of vapor recovery during vapor growth conditions.

4. A service station vapor management system comprising:

a) a plurality of vapor handling subsystems;

b) a controller in electronic communication with the vapor handling subsystems for monitoring subsystem operation, determining an overall service station V/L ratio, and controlling subsystem operation to maintain the V/L ratio within predetermined limits; and

c) a plurality of sensors, including an ambient temperature sensor, in electronic communication with said controller such that the controller may adjust independent subsystem operation based, at least in part, on an output from a sensor of said plurality of sensors,

wherein said controller adjusts the V/L ratio depending on an output from said ambient temperature sensor and a calculated fill neck efficiency generated from said output.

12. A method of controlling vapor management within a service station comprising:

a) measuring a V/L ratio at each of a plurality of independent vapor recovery subsystems;

b) adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system; and

c) maintaining each V/L ratio above a predetermined threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises measuring an ambient temperature with one of said sensors.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises measuring an underground storage tank temperature with one of said sensors.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises measuring a pressure within an underground storage tank with one of said sensors.

16. The method according to claim 12 further comprising maintaining an overall V/L ratio above a certain predetermined threshold.

17. The method according to claim 12 further comprising limiting fugitive emissions by reducing vapor recovery during times when vapor pressure within the underground storage tank exceed a predetermined threshold as determined by one of said sensors.

18. The method according to claim 12 further comprising limiting the vapor recovery during times when the ambient temperature indicates that the vapor recovery would cause pressure within an underground storage tank to exceed a predetermined threshold as measured by different ones of said plurality sensors.

19. The method according to claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem comprises decreasing a rate of vapor recovery during vapor shrinkage conditions.

20. The method according to claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem comprises increasing a rate of vapor recovery during vapor growth conditions.

21. The method according to claim 12 wherein adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises measuring a temperature within an underground storage tank.

22. A system for controlling vapor management within a service station comprising:

a) means for measuring a V/L ratio at each of a plurality of independent vapor recovery subsystems;

b) means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system; and

c) means for maintaining each V/L ratio above a predetermined threshold.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises means for measuring an ambient temperature with one of said sensors.

24. The system according to claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises means for measuring an underground storage tank temperature with one of said sensors.

25. The system according to claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises means for measuring a pressure within an underground storage tank with one of said sensors.

26. The system according to claim 22 further comprising means for maintaining an overall V/L ratio above a certain predetermined threshold.

27. The system according to claim 22 further comprising means for limiting fugitive emissions by reducing vapor recovery during times when vapor pressure within the underground storage tank exceed a predetermined threshold as determined by one of said sensors.

28. The system according to claim 22 further comprising means for limiting the vapor recovery during times when the ambient temperature indicates that the vapor recovery would cause pressure within an underground storage tank to exceed a predetermined threshold as measured by different ones of said plurality sensors.

29. The system according to claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem further comprises means for decreasing a rate of vapor recovery during vapor shrinkage conditions.

30. The system according to claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem further comprises means for increasing a rate of vapor recovery during vapor growth conditions.

31. The system according to claim 22 wherein said means for adjusting the V/L ratio of each subsystem independently of one another based on an output from one of a plurality of sensors associated with the service station vapor recovery management system comprises means for measuring a temperature within an underground storage tank.