Reactive component reduction system and methods for the use thereof
First Claim
1. A system for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive component(s) in the vapor space of a container having combustible material therein, thereby reducing the concentration of reactive component(s) in said vapor space below the concentration at which auto-ignition may occur, said system comprising:
- said container,a fluid treating zone comprising;
at least one inlet,at least one outlet, anda reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate said one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith,at least one sensor for(a) analysis of the concentration of reactive component(s) in the vapor phase,(b) analysis of the concentration of combustible material in the vapor phase, and/or(c) analysis of the flow rate of the vapor phase, anda flow control element,wherein;
the vapor space of said container is in fluid communication with said sensor;
the sensor is in fluid communication with said flow control element;
the flow control element is capable of controlling the flow rate of the vapor phase through said system, and/or directing all or a portion of the fluid to the inlet of said fluid treating zone or all or a portion of the fluid back into the container; and
the outlet of said fluid treating zone is in fluid communication with the container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided simplified systems and methods for catalytically deactivating, removing, or reducing the levels of reactive component(s) from the vapor phase of fuel storage tanks. The simple apparatus described herein can be utilized to replace complex systems on the market. Simply stated, in one embodiment of the invention, the vapor phase from the fuel tank is passed over a catalytic bed operated at appropriate temperatures to allow the reaction between free oxygen and the fuel vapor by oxidation of the fuel vapor, thus deactivating reactive component(s) in the gas phase.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A system for reducing the concentration of one or more reactive component(s) in the vapor space of a container having combustible material therein, thereby reducing the concentration of reactive component(s) in said vapor space below the concentration at which auto-ignition may occur, said system comprising:
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said container, a fluid treating zone comprising; at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a reaction zone, wherein said reaction zone provides conditions suitable to deactivate said one or more reactive component(s) when contacted therewith, at least one sensor for (a) analysis of the concentration of reactive component(s) in the vapor phase, (b) analysis of the concentration of combustible material in the vapor phase, and/or (c) analysis of the flow rate of the vapor phase, and a flow control element, wherein; the vapor space of said container is in fluid communication with said sensor; the sensor is in fluid communication with said flow control element; the flow control element is capable of controlling the flow rate of the vapor phase through said system, and/or directing all or a portion of the fluid to the inlet of said fluid treating zone or all or a portion of the fluid back into the container; and the outlet of said fluid treating zone is in fluid communication with the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification