Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from air-hydrocarbon vapor mixtures
An improved process and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from an air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture such as the mixture of air and vaporized light hydrocarbon compounds expelled as a result of loading gasoline or the like into storage tanks and tank trucks. The air-hydrocarbon vapor mixture is caused to flow through a bed of solid adsorbent whereby the hydrocarbons are removed from the mixture and a residue gas stream comprised of substantially hydrocarbon-free air is produced. The substantially hydrocarbonfree air is vented to the atmosphere and a second bed of solid adsorbent having hydrocarbons adsorbed thereon is subjected to conditions which cause desorption of the hydrocarbons and thereby regeneration of the bed. The flow pattern of the inlet airhydrocarbon vapor mixture and the bed of solid adsorbed being regenerated are periodically changed so that when the bed through which the inlet air-hydrocarbon mixture is flowing becomes loaded with adsorbed hydrocarbons, the inlet air-hydrocarbon mixture is caused to flow through the bed which has just been regenerated. The regeneration of the beds is accomplished by evacuating the beds with vacuum pumping whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are desorbed therefrom, subsequently introducing a small quantity of heated hydrocarbon-free air into the beds whereby additional hydrocarbons are stripped therefrom and then subjecting the bed to further evacuation by ejector jet pumping while continuing to evacuate the bed by vacuum pumping whereby yet additional hydrocarbons are desorbed therefrom. The airhydrocarbon vapor mixture produced in the regeneration of the beds is contacted with a liquid absorbent whereby a major portion of the hydrocarbons are absorbed therefrom and recovered. Apparatus for carrying out the process of the invention is also provided.
- Assignee:
- Zink, John Co
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4261716
- OSTI ID:
- 6431104
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 8 Jun 1979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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