Apparatus and method of recovering vapors

• US 8,475,966 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2010
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• 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): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US12/804,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20110300464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/444
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/7022 Aliphatic hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/002 by condensation
• 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 processing 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 hydrocarbon vapor emanating from a source, comprising:

an input conduit having an input coupling for connecting to the source;

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

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

an output manifold connected to said compressor output;

a fuel cell for generating electrical power by processing the hydrocarbon vapor;

an output conduit interconnecting said output manifold to said fuel cell for providing hydrocarbon vapor to fuel said fuel cell;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said fuel cell to drive said compressor;

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 fuel cell; and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said fuel cell for vaporizing said hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocarbon vapor for said fuel cell.

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

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

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

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

6. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon 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 fuel cell.

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

8. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fuel cell includes plural fuel cells for generating electrical power by processing vapor.

9. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon vapor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said electrical connector directs electrical power from said fuel cell to drive said compressor and for driving an external load.

10. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapor emanating from a vent;

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 hydrocarbon vapor;

a fuel cell for generating electrical power;

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said fuel cell for enabling said fuel cell to generate electrical power upon processing of the hydrocarbon vapor;

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

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said fuel cell to power said compressor; and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said fuel cell for vaporizing said hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocarbon vapor for said fuel cell.

11. A method of recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapor emanating from the vent of the tank;

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

directing the compressed hydrocarbon vapor to a fuel cell for generating electrical power upon processing of the compressed hydrocarbon vapor, and

directing electrical power from the fuel cell to power the compressor of the hydrocarbon vapor emanating from the vent of the tank.

12. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon 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 fuel cell for generating electrical power by processing hydrocarbon vapor;

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said fuel cell;

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

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said fuel cell to drive said compressor;

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 fuel cell and for storing excess compressed vapor in said storage tank for subsequent use by said fuel cell; and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said fuel cell for vaporizing said hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocarbon vapor for said fuel cell.

13. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapor;

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

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 fuel cell for processing a hydrocarbon vapor to generate electrical power,

a first output conduit interconnecting said compressor output to said fuel cell;

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 fuel cell;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said fuel cell 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 hydrocarbon vapors are directed from at least one of said plurality of compressors to said fuel cell;

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

said control controlling said plurality of input manifold valves and said plurality of output manifold valves into a third position whereat compressed hydrocarbon vapor are directed from said storage tank to said fuel cell; and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said fuel cell for vaporizing said hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocarbon vapor for said fuel cell.

14. An apparatus for recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapor;

a storage tank;

a fuel cell for processing a hydrocarbon 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 fuel cell;

an electrical connector for directing electrical power from said fuel cell to drive said plurality of compressors;

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

said control controlling said plurality of input and output manifold valves into a second position whereat compressed hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapors are directed from said storage tank to said fuel cell; and

a vaporizer interconnecting said storage tank liquid output to said fuel cell for vaporizing said hydrocarbon liquid into a hydrocarbon vapor for said fuel cell.

15. A method of recovering a hydrocarbon 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 hydrocarbon vapor emanating from a vent of a tank;

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

directing the compressed hydrocarbon vapor to a fuel cell for generating electrical power upon processing of the compressed hydrocarbon vapor;

directing electrical power from the fuel cell to power the compressor of the hydrocarbon vapor emanating from the vent of the tank; and

directing excess compressed hydrocarbon vapor into a storage tank.