HYDROCARBON RECOVERY FROM PETROLEUM TRANSFER OPERATIONS

APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION TONS OF HYDROCARBON VAPORS ARE RELEASED ANNUALLY IN PETROLEUM STORAGE AND TRANSFER OPERATIONS. THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES THE DESIGN AND LABORATORY DEMONSTRATION OF A PILOT MEMBRANE SYSTEM ABLE TO CONCENTRATE AND RECOVER THESE VAPORS FROM STORAGE TANK OFF GASES. IN THE PHASE I PROGRAM, EXISTING MEMBRANES WILL BE EVALUATED WITH MODEL GAS MIXTURES IN THE LABORATORY. THESE DATA WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY OF THE PROCESS AND THE OPTIMUM SYSTEM DESIGN. SOME MODIFICATIONS TO MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH'S EXISTING MEMBRANE SYSTEMS DESIGNS WILL ALSO BE PERFORMED TO MAKE THESE SYSTEMS SAFE TO USE WITH EXPLOSIVE MIXTURES. IN THE PHASE II PROGRAM, A PILOT SYSTEM WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AND EVALUATED IN THE LABORATORY.