Apparatus and method of recovering vapors

• US 7,762,082 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I.E.S. Consulting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: I.E.S. Consulting, Inc.
• Inventors: Knight, James William, Haynes, Donald Edward Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dwivedi; Vikansha S
• Application Number:
  US10/948,480
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 607/79, 60/390.91, 60/390.94, 220745-750, 137/587, 137/583
• US Class Current: 60/779
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/7022 Aliphatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/30 Recovery of escaped vapours
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 1/02 the working fluid being an unheated pressurised gas
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/62 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/76 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/82 Micromachines

Abstract

An apparatus and method is disclosed for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank. The apparatus comprises an input conduit for connecting to the vent of the tank. An input manifold connects the input conduit to an input of a compressor with an output manifold connecting an output of the compressor to an input of a storage tank. An output conduit connects an output of the storage tank to the turbine generator for generating electrical power by burning the flammable vapor. An electrical connector directs electrical power from the turbine generator to drive the apparatus as well as to supply surplus power to an external load.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank, comprising:

an input conduit having an input coupling for connecting to the vent of the tank;

a compressor having a compressor input and a compressor output for compressing the flammable vapor;

an input manifold interconnecting said input conduit to said compressor input;

an output manifold connected to said compressor output;

a turbine generator for generating electrical power by burning a flammable vapor;

an output conduit interconnecting said output manifold to said turbine generator for providing flammable vapor to fuel said turbine generator; and

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said turbine generator to drive said compressor.

2. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a mobile tank for transporting a flammable fluid.

3. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tank comprises a mobile tank for transporting a flammable liquid petroleum fuel product.

4. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flammable vapor emanates from the vent of a tank during the filling of the tank with a flammable liquid.

5. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said input conduit includes a plurality of connection tubes for connecting said input coupling to vents of multiple mobile tanks.

6. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compressor comprises a plurality of compressors interconnected by said input and output manifolds between said input conduit and said turbine generator.

7. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, including a recycling conduit interconnecting said output manifold to said input manifold for recompressing flammable vapor emanating from said output manifold.

8. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, including a storage tank having a storage tank input and a storage tank liquid output;

a second output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said storage tank input for storing excess compressed vapor in said storage tank for subsequent use by said turbine generator;

and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said turbine generator for vaporizing said flammable liquid into a flammable vapor for said turbine generator.

9. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said turbine generator includes plural turbine generators for generating electrical power by burning a flammable vapor.

10. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector directs electrical power from said turbine generator to drive said compressor and for driving an external load.

11. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank during the filling of the tank with a liquid, comprising:

an input conduit having an input coupling for connecting to the vent of the tank for receiving flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank;

a compressor having a compressor input and a compressor output;

a storage tank having a storage tank input and a storage tank output;

an input manifold interconnecting said input conduit to said compressor input for enabling said compressor to compress the flammable vapor;

a turbine generator for generating electrical power;

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said turbine generator for enabling said turbine generator to generate electrical power upon burning of the flammable vapor;

a second output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said storage tank input for storing compressed vapor from said compressor output; and

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said turbine generator to power said compressor.

12. The method of recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank during the filling of the tank with a liquid, comprising the steps of:

connecting an input conduit to the vent of the tank for receiving flammable vapor emanating from the vent of the tank;

compressing the flammable vapor emanating from the vent of the tank into a compressed flammable vapor;

directing the compressed flammable vapor to a turbine generator for generating electrical power upon burning of the compressed flammable vapor, and

directing electrical power from the turbine generator to power the compressor of the flammable vapor emanating from the vent of the tank.

13. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from vents of a plurality of tanks, comprising:

a plurality of input conduits for connecting to the vents of the plurality of tanks;

a plurality of compressors with each compressor having a compressor input and a compressor output for compressing the flammable vapor;

a storage tank having a storage tank input and a storage tank output;

an input manifold including a plurality of input manifold valves interconnecting said plurality of input conduits to said plurality of compressor inputs;

an output manifold including a plurality of output manifold valves connected to said plurality of compressor outputs;

a turbine generator for generating electrical power by burning a flammable vapor;

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said turbine generator;

a second output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said storage tank input;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said turbine generator to drive said compressor; and

a control for controlling said plurality of input manifold valves and said plurality of output manifold valves for providing a compressed vapor to power said turbine generator and for storing excess compressed vapor in said storage tank for subsequent use by said turbine generator.

14. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from vents of a plurality of tanks, comprising:

a plurality of input conduits for connecting to the vents of the plurality of tanks;

a plurality of compressors with each compressor having a compressor input and a compressor output for compressing the flammable vapor;

a storage tank;

an input and an output manifold including a plurality of input and output manifold valves interconnecting said plurality of input conduits to said plurality of compressor inputs and said plurality of compressor outputs and said storage tank input;

a turbine generator for burning a flammable vapor to generate electrical power;

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said turbine generator;

a second output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said storage tank input;

a storage tank output conduit interconnecting said storage tank output to said turbine generator;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said turbine generator to drive said compressor;

a control controlling said plurality of input manifold valves and said plurality of output manifold valves into a first position whereat compressed flammable vapors are directed from at least one of said plurality of compressors to said turbine generator;

said control controlling said plurality of input manifold valves and said plurality of output manifold valves into a second position whereat compressed flammable vapors are directed from at least one of said plurality of compressors to said storage tank; and

said control controlling said plurality of input manifold valves and said plurality of output manifold valves into a third position whereat compressed flammable vapor are directed from said storage tank to said turbine generator.

15. An apparatus for recovering a flammable vapor emanating from vents of a plurality of tanks, comprising:

a plurality of input conduits for connecting to the vents of the plurality of tanks;

a plurality of compressors for compressing the flammable vapor;

a storage tank;

a turbine generator for burning a flammable vapor to generate electrical power;

an input and an output manifold including a plurality of input and output manifold valves interconnecting said plurality of input conduits and said plurality of compressors and said storage tank input and said turbine generator;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said turbine generator to drive said plurality of compressors;

a control controlling said plurality of input and output manifold valves into a first position whereat compressed flammable vapors are directed from at least one of said plurality of compressors to said turbine generator;

said control controlling said plurality of input and output manifold valves into a second position whereat compressed flammable vapors are directed from said at least one of said plurality of compressors to said storage tank; and

said control controlling said plurality of input and output manifold valves into a third position whereat compressed flammable vapors are directed from said storage tank to said turbine generator.

16. The method of recovering a flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank during the filling of the tank with a liquid, comprising the steps of:

connecting an input conduit to the vent of the tank for receiving flammable vapor emanating from a vent of a tank;

compressing the flammable vapor emanating from the vent of the tank into a compressed flammable vapor;

directing the compressed flammable vapor to a turbine generator for generating electrical power upon burning of the compressed flammable vapor;

directing electrical power from the turbine generator to power the compressor of the flammable vapor emanating from the vent of the tank; and

directing excess compressed flammable vapor into a storage tank.