Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A vapor recovery unit (10, 30) comprising a vapor inlet for taking up hydrocarbon vapor from a hydrocarbon vapor/carrier gas mixture, at least two adsorber vessels (12, 14), each of said adsorber vessels (12, 14) including an entry port in the bottom thereof for receiving the vapor mixture; a bed of solid adsorbent having an affinity for hydrocarbons contained in each of said adsorber vessels (12, 14); an outlet port in the bottom of each of said adsorber vessels for discharging vapors and gasses; valve means for alternately directing said hydrocarbon vapor mixture from said vapor inlet to one or the other of said entry ports of said at least two adsorber vessels; a vacuum system (30) for alternately desorbing said adsorbent beds in said adsorber vessels (12, 14); means for directing said desorbed vapors through said vacuum system (30) to a separator-absorber vessel (34, 36) wherein said desorbed vapors are brought in contact with a hydrocarbon absorbent liquid for recovery.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to claim 1 characterised in that said solid adsorbent is activated carbon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that said vacuum system (30) includes a liquid ring vacuum pump (32).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The vapor recovery unit of (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the inlet port of the adsorber vessel (12 or 14) is connected to a pipe inside said vessel, said pipe extending from the inlet port at the bottom of the adsorber vessel to the top portion of the adsorber vessel, whereby the hydrocarbon vapor mixture is fed to the top of said vessel and forced to flow downward through the bed of adsorbent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to claim 4 characterised in that the hydrocarbon vapor mixture is passed through the adsorbent bed, the hydrocarbons are substantially removed by the adsorbent bed, and the carrier gas is removed through the outlet port at the bottom of the vessel (12 or 14) and vented to the atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to claim 4 wherein the carrier gas is removed from the outlet port in the bottom of the adsorber vessel (12 or 14) and returned to the adsorber vessel (12 or 14) through a second entry port in the bottom of the vessel and used to charge the adsorber bed during the regeneration cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterised in that the separator-absorber vessel (34, 36) includes a single line for introduction of said absorbent liquid into the separator-absorber vessel, said single line including means to split the liquid flow so as to enter the absorber vessel at two separate points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to claim 7 characterised in that said means to split the liquid flow includes an upper spray line (39) and a lower spray line (37) and the separator-absorber vessel (34, 36) includes an absorber column (36) which contains flanging (35) positioned above said lower spray line (37).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that the separator-absorber vessel (34, 36) includes two vertical immersion pumps for circulating absorbent and the regenerated hydrocarbon (33, 42), the first of said two pumps being a sealed fluid pump and the second pump being a hydrocarbon product return pump.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vapor recovery unit (10, 30) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the entire system is constructed and arranged to be fitted to a skid.