화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of the Chinese Institute of Chemical Engineers, Vol.34, No.6, 605-616, 2003
Recovery of gasoline vapor by a combined process of two-stage dehumidification and condensation
The emission of gasoline vapor containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from gasoline service stations is becoming a significant environmental problem especially for the population densed area. A combined process of two-stage dehumidification and condensation (TSDC) is proposed as a method of recovery of VOCs from the emitted gasoline vapor. A two-stage dehumidification procedure, consisting of using a first-stage dehumidifier (at 4degreesC with removal efficiency of water of vapor, R-wi of about 67 wt%) and a second-stage adsorber (enhancing the R-wi to about 95 wt%), can be employed to remove most of water of vapor thus avoiding the possible icing problem for the subsequent condensation. Salable liquid gasoline can then be recovered by operating the condenser at the desired low temperature T-c depending on the emission and/or reduction regulation of VOCs. Aspen-plus, a software package for thermodynamic computation developed by Aspen Technology Inc., is used to simulate the condensation removal or recovery efficiencies of condenser (R-c based on the inlet gasoline vapor entering the condenser) of VOCs at various T-c The simulation results indicate that the values of R-c are about 73, 85, and 90 wt% at T-c of -40, -60, and -73degreesC, respectively. Thus, the operation of condenser at T-c of -60degreesC would meet the non-destructive reduction of VOCs at 85 wt% level. However, should the stringent regulation on the oil storage tank of chemical plant be applied to the gasoline service station, then the condenser operated at T-c of -60degreesC would have to recycle part of the outlet vapor from the condenser back into the undergrounded gasoline tank. This is to ensure that the emission of VOCs is less than 35 mg for refueling 1 L gasoline into the fuel tank of vehicle.