Volatile gasoline vapor recovery system

Claim 2

APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING VOLATILE LIQUIDS FROM A VAPOR STREAM, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INTRODUCTORY STAGES AND A TERMINAL STAGE OF CONDENSING APPARATUS, EACH OF SAID INTRODUCTORY STAGES INCLUDING A COMPRESSOR HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, VAPOR COOLING MEANS HAVING AN INLET CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID COMPRESSOR AND AN OUTLET, A CONDENSER HAVING A VAPOR INLET AND A VAPOR OUTLET AND A LIQUID PRODUCT INLET AND FIRST AND SECOND LIQUID PRODUCT OUTLETS, SAID VAPOR INLET BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONDENSER AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID VAPOR COOLING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING A COOLED COMPRESSED VAPOR STREAM INTO SAID CONDENSER, LIQUID PRODUCT COOLING MEANS HAVING AN INLET CONNECTED TO THE FIRST LIQUID PRODUCT OUTLET OF SAID CONDENSER AND AN OUTLET AND BEING OPERATIVE FOR SUBCOOLING RECOVERED LIQUID PRODUCT TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT OF THE COOLED COMPRESSED VAPOR STREAM, SAID LIQUID PRODUCT INLET BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE TOP OF SAID CONDENSER AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID LIQUID PRODUCT COOLING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING SUBCOOLED LIQUID PRODUCT INTO SAID CONDENSER IN COUNTERCURRENT RELATIONSHIP AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE COOLED COMPRESSED VAPOR STREAM TO EFFECT CONDENSATION THEREOF AND THEREBY FORM LIQUID PRODUCT AND A RESIDUAL VAPOR STREAM, SAID TERMINAL STAGE INCLUDING A CONDENSER HAVING A VAPOR OUTLET AND A LIQUID PRODUCT LIQUID PRODUCT INLET AND FIRST AND SECOND LIQUID PRODUCT OUTLETS, SAID TERMINAL STAGE VAPOR INLET BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID TERMINAL STAGE CONDENSER FOR INTRODUCING THEREINTO THE RESIDUAL VAPOR STREAM FROM SAID LAST INTRODUCTORY STAGE, TERMINAL STAGE LIQUID PRODUCT COOLING MEANS HAVING AN INLET CONNECTED TO THE FIRST LIQUID PRODUCT OUTLET OF SAID TERMINAL STAGE CONDENSER AND AN OUTLET AND BEING OPERATIVE FOR SUBCOOLING RECOVERED LIQUID PRODUCT TO A TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT OF THE LAST RESIDUAL VAPOR STREAM, SAID TERMINAL STAG LIQUID PRODUCT INLET BEING DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE TOP OF SAID TERMINAL STAGE CONDENSER AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE OUTLET OF SAID TERMINAL STAGE LIQUID PRODUCT COOLING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING SUBCOOLED LIQUID PRODUCT INTO SAID TERMINAL STAGE CONDENSER IN COUNTERCURRENT RELATIONSHIP AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH SAID LAST RESIDUAL VAPOR STREAM TO EFFECT CONDENSATION THEREOF AND THEREBY FORM LIQUID PRODUCT AND AN OUTPUT VAPOR STREAM, THE INLET OF SAID FIRST INTRODUCTORY STAGE COMPRESSOR BEING CONNECTED TO A VAPOR SOURCE FOR DELIVERING AN INPUT VAPOR STREAM TO SAID COMPRESSOR, THE INLET OF THE COMPRESSOR OF EACH OF SAID OTHER STAGES BEING CONNECTED TO THE VAPOR OUTLET OF THE CONDENSER OF THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING STAGE FOR RECEIVING THE RESIDUAL VAPOR STREAM THEREFROM, VENT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE VAPOR OUTLET OF SAID TERMINAL STAGE CONDENSER FOR DISCHARGING TO THE ATMOSPHERE THE OUTPUT VAPOR STREAM THEREFROM, AND A LIQUID PRODUCT RESERVOIR CONNECTED TO THE SECOND LIQUID PRODUCT OUTLET OF EACH OF SAID CONDENSERS FOR RECEIVING AN STORING RECOVERED LIQUID PRODUCT.

Claim 3

Apparatus for recovering volatile combustible liquids from a vapor stream, said apparatus comprising vapor saturating apparatus and condensing apparatus; said vapor saturating apparatus including a saturating vessel having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and a liquid product outlet, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said saturating vessel and being connected to a vapor source for delivering an input vapor stream to said saturating vessel, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the liquid product outlet of said saturating vessel and an outlet and being operative for cooling liquid product to a temperature below that of the input vapor stream, said liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said saturating vessel and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing cooled liquid product into said saturating vessel in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the vapor stream to cool and saturate the input vapor stream and form a nonexplosive saturated vapor stream; said condensing apparatus including a compressor having an inlet connected to the vapor outlet of said saturating vessel for receiving the saturated vapor stream and an Outlet, vapor cooling means having an inlet connected to the outlet of said compressor and an outlet, a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said condenser vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said vapor cooling means for introducing the cooled compressed vapor stream into said condenser, condenser liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the cooled compressed vapor stream, said condenser liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said condensers liquid product into said condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the cooled compressed vapor stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and a residual vapor stream; vent means connected to the vapor outlet of said condenser for discharging to the atmosphere the residual vapor stream therefrom; and a liquid product reservoir connected to the second liquid product outlet of said condenser for receiving and storing recovered liquid product.

Claim 4

Apparatus for recovering volatile combustible liquids from a vapor stream, said apparatus comprising vapor saturating apparatus and condensing apparatus; said vapor saturating apparatus including a saturating vessel having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and a liquid product outlet, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said saturating vessel and being connected to a vapor source for delivering an input vapor stream to said saturating vessel, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the liquid product outlet of said saturating vessel and an outlet and being operative for cooling liquid product to a temperature below that of the input vapor stream, said liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said saturating vessel and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing cooled liquid product into said saturating vessel in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the vapor stream to cool and saturate the input vapor stream and form a nonexplosive saturated vapor stream; said condensing apparatus including a compressor having an inlet connected to the vapor outlet of said saturating vessel for receiving the saturated vapor stream and an Outlet, vapor cooling means having an inlet connected to the outlet of said compressor and an outlet, a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said condenser vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said vapor cooling means for introducing the cooled compressed vapor stream into said condenser, condenser liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the cooled compressed vapor stream, said condenser liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said condensers liquid product into said condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the cooled compressed vapor stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and a residual vapor stream; vent means connected to the vapor outlet of said condenser for discharging to the atmosphere the residual vapor stream therefrom; and a liquid product reservoir connected to the second liquid product outlet of said condenser for receiving and storing recovered liquid product.

Claim 5

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, and further including a closed-loop external refrigeration system, each of said liquid product cooling means comprising a heat exchanger connected in said closed-loop refrigeration system.

Claim 6

The apparatus set forth in claim 1, and further including coupling means connecting said terminal stage to said introductory stages and being shiftable between first and second conditions, said coupling means in the first condition thereof connecting the vapor inlet of said terminal stage condenser to the vapor outlet of the last introductory stage condenser, said coupling means in the second condition thereof connecting the vapor inlet of said terminal stage condenser to the vapor inlet of said last introductory stage.

Claim 7

Apparatus for recovering volatile combustible liquids from a vapor stream, said apparatus comprising vapor saturating apparatus and a plurality of introductory stages and a terminal stage of condensing apparatus; said vapor saturating apparatus including a saturating vessel having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and a liquid product outlet, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said saturating vessel and being connected to a vapor source for delivering an input vapor stream to said saturating vessel, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the liquid product outlet of said saturating vessel and an outlet and being operative for cooling liquid product to a temperature below that of the input vapor stream, said liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said saturating vessel and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing cooled liquid product into said saturating vessel in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the input vapor stream to cool and saturate the input vapor stream and form a nonexplosive saturated vapor stream; each of said introductory stages including a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, vapor cooling means having an inlet connected to the outlet of said compressor and an outlet, a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said vapor cooling means for introducing a cooled compressed vapor stream into said condenser, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the cooled compressed vapor stream, said liquId product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing subcooled liquid product into said condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the cooled compressed vapor stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and a residual vapor stream; said terminal stage including a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said terminal stage vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said terminal stage condenser for introducing thereinto the residual vapor stream from said last introductory stage, terminal stage liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said terminal stage condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the last residual vapor stream, said terminal stage liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said terminal stage condenser and being connected to the outlet of said terminal stage liquid product cooling means for introducing subcooled liquid product into said terminal stage condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with said last residual stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and an output vapor stream; the inlet of said first introductory stage compressor being connected to the vapor outlet of said saturating vessel for receiving the saturated vapor stream therefrom; the inlet of the compressor of each of said other introductory stages being connected to the vapor outlet of the condenser of the immediately preceding introductory stage for receiving the residual vapor stream therefrom; vent means connected to the vapor outlet of said terminal stage condenser for discharging to the atmosphere the output vapor stream therefrom; a liquid product reservoir connected to the second liquid product outlet of each of said condensers for receiving and storing recovered liquid product.

Claim 8

Apparatus for recovering volatile combustible liquids from a vapor stream, said apparatus comprising vapor saturating apparatus and a plurality of introductory stages and a terminal stage of condensing apparatus; said vapor saturating apparatus including a saturating vessel having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and a liquid product outlet, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said saturating vessel and being connected to a vapor source for delivering an input vapor stream to said saturating vessel, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the liquid product outlet of said saturating vessel and an outlet and being operative for cooling liquid product to a temperature below that of the input vapor stream, said liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said saturating vessel and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing cooled liquid product into said saturating vessel in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the input vapor stream to cool and saturate the input vapor stream and form a nonexplosive saturated vapor stream; each of said introductory stages including a compressor having an inlet and an outlet, vapor cooling means having an inlet connected to the outlet of said compressor and an outlet, a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said vapor cooling means for introducing a cooled compressed vapor stream into said condenser, liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the cooled compressed vapor stream, said liquId product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said condenser and being connected to the outlet of said liquid product cooling means for introducing subcooled liquid product into said condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with the cooled compressed vapor stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and a residual vapor stream; said terminal stage including a condenser having a vapor inlet and a vapor outlet and a liquid product inlet and first and second liquid product outlets, said terminal stage vapor inlet being disposed adjacent to the bottom of said terminal stage condenser for introducing thereinto the residual vapor stream from said last introductory stage, terminal stage liquid product cooling means having an inlet connected to the first liquid product outlet of said terminal stage condenser and an outlet and being operative for subcooling recovered liquid product to a temperature below that of the last residual vapor stream, said terminal stage liquid product inlet being disposed adjacent to the top of said terminal stage condenser and being connected to the outlet of said terminal stage liquid product cooling means for introducing subcooled liquid product into said terminal stage condenser in countercurrent relationship and direct contact with said last residual stream to effect condensation thereof and thereby form liquid product and an output vapor stream; the inlet of said first introductory stage compressor being connected to the vapor outlet of said saturating vessel for receiving the saturated vapor stream therefrom; the inlet of the compressor of each of said other introductory stages being connected to the vapor outlet of the condenser of the immediately preceding introductory stage for receiving the residual vapor stream therefrom; vent means connected to the vapor outlet of said terminal stage condenser for discharging to the atmosphere the output vapor stream therefrom; a liquid product reservoir connected to the second liquid product outlet of each of said condensers for receiving and storing recovered liquid product.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 5, and further including a closed-loop external refrigeration system, each of said liquid product cooling means comprising a heat exchanger connected in said closed-loop refrigeration system.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 5, and further including means coupling the liquid product outlet of said saturating vessel to said reservoir for passing excess liquid product to said reservoir.