US3714790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for handling volatile liquids
Assignee: FMC Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-13
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-04-13
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbon vapors normally released to the atmosphere during the filling of tanks with a relatively volatile liquid are condensed out and recovered as liquid by simultaneously compressing the vapors and saturating the same with vapors of the liquid, followed by a step wherein the compressor effluent is contacted under elevated pressures in a condensation column with a refrigerated stream of the volatile liquid. Said stream is supplied from a relatively small holding tank which is refrigerated and maintained at a relatively constant volume by addition of fresh quantities of the liquid as required.
Inventors
- 👤 R Battey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:43
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/12; B; B01; B01D; B01D5/00; B01D5/0027; B01D5/003; B01D5/0078; B01D5/009; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/45; B01D2259/4516; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/0161; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0157; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0337; F17C2227/0341; F17C2227/0355; F17C2265/00; F17C2265/03; F17C2265/032; F17C2265/033; F17C2265/034; F17C2265/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of recovering condensable vapors from a mixture of condensable and inert vapors discharged from tanks being loaded with a volatile liquid similar to the condensable vapors, said method comprising collecting said mixture of vapors; saturating the collected vapor mixture with the vapors of said volatile liquid by contacting said mixture with a first refrigerated stream of said liquid; compressing the saturated vapor mixture in the presence of said refrigerated stream; contacting the compressed saturated vapor mixture under elevated pressure in a condensation zone with a second refrigerated stream of the volatile liquid whereby the condensable vapors are taken up by said stream; and recovering the resulting augmented liquid stream from the condensation zone.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of recovering condensable vapors from a mixture of condensable and inert vapors discharged from tanks being loaded with a volatile liquid similar to the condensable vapors, said method comprising collecting said mixture of vapors; saturating the collected vapor mixture with the vapors of said volatile liquid by contacting said mixture with a first refrigerated stream of said liquid; compressing the saturated vapor mixture in the presence of said refrigerated stream; contacting the compressed saturated vapor mixture under elevated pressure in a condensation zone with a second refrigerated stream of the volatile liquid whereby the condensable vapors are taken up by said stream; and recovering the resulting augmented liquid stream from the condensation zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the liquid being loaded is a hydrocarbon fuel, wherein the temperature of the first and second refrigerated streams is about 5* to 15* F, and wherein the pressure maintained in the condensation zone is about 25 to 85 p.s.i.g. so as to convert to liquid at least 90 percent of the hydrocarbon content of the collected vapors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as recited in claim 2 which includes the steps of maintaining a reserve of the volatile liquid in a refrigerated condition and in such volume as to permit vapors to be collected at peak tank-loading rates for an extended period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the collected vapor mixture is simultaneously compressed and saturated by passing the same to a compressor along with the first refrigerated stream.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the liquid stream to the compressor is a refrigerated one.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for recovering vapors from a receiving tank into which a volatile liquid is introduced, including means for collecting vapors displaced from the receiving tank, a vapor saturator and saturated vapor compressor in flow communication from said collecting means, refrigeration means, including a reservoir vessel, for maintaining a refrigerated supply of the volatile liquid in said vessel, a volatile liquid supply tank in flow communication with said receiving tank and said reservoir vessel, together with means for flowing the liquid from the supply tank into the receiving tank and reservoir vessel, a vapor condensation column in flow communication from the compressor and from the reservoir vessel as well as witH the supply tank, said column being adapted to condense incoming vapors from the compressor by contacting the same under elevated pressure with incoming refrigerated liquid from the reservoir vessel and to discharge liquid introduced into the column, along with the condensate, to the supply tank while venting uncondensed vapors to the atmosphere, and means for flowing refrigerated volatile liquid from the reservoir vessel to the condensation column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for recovering vapors from a receiving tank into which a volatile liquid is introduced, including means for collecting vapors displaced from the receiving tank, a vapor saturator and saturated vapor compressor in flow communication from said collecting means, refrigeration means, including a reservoir vessel, for maintaining a refrigerated supply of the volatile liquid in said vessel, a volatile liquid supply tank in flow communication with said receiving tank and said reservoir vessel, together with means for flowing the liquid from the supply tank into the receiving tank and reservoir vessel, a vapor condensation column in flow communication from the compressor and from the reservoir vessel as well as witH the supply tank, said column being adapted to condense incoming vapors from the compressor by contacting the same under elevated pressure with incoming refrigerated liquid from the reservoir vessel and to discharge liquid introduced into the column, along with the condensate, to the supply tank while venting uncondensed vapors to the atmosphere, and means for flowing refrigerated volatile liquid from the reservoir vessel to the condensation column.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |