Vapor Recovery Unit
A Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) is a device used in a variety of industries to capture and recover vapors from various processes. These units are commonly used in applications such as oil and gas production, chemical processing, and storage tank emission control. Vapor recovery is a critical process in industries such as petroleum and natural gas because it helps maintain product purity and prevents the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment. This is where Vacculex comes in. As a leader in vacuum pump products for vapor recovery, Vacculex has been committed to providing reliable solutions to our customers since our inception. Our expertise lies in providing VRU manufacturers and turnkey contractors, as well as vapor revoery system end-users, with the most reliable and appropriate vacuum pumping packages that effectively remove hazardous vapors and liquid contaminants, ensuring a cleaner, safer environment. Explore our wide range of products below to see how we can meet your specific needs in the field of vapor recovery.
Vacuum Pump For Vapor Recovery Unit
Usually the most common vacuum pump used in vapor recovery is dry screw vacuum pump. In some application references, Roots booster pump will also be used together with dry screw vacuum pump, for specific application solutions, please consult Vacculex's engineers.
Advantages Of Using Dry Screw Vacuum Pump For Vapor Recovery Unit
Compared to other technologies (liquid ring pumps, oil lubricated rotary vane), dry screw vacuum pumps offer a lot of advantages:
- Frictionless and safe operation of the pump's internal components
- Low energy consumption
- Lower maintenance and spare parts costs
- Higher vacuum levels can be achieved
- Works without secondary waste
- Does not contaminate recycled products
- Suitable for all petroleum and chemical products
- Can be used in explosion-proof environments
Common Application Of Vapor Recovery Unit:
- Capture and recovery of vapors from standard petroleum and natural gas production processes, biogas and other biofuel applications.
- Transshipment of large quantities of petroleum products, possible targets: refineries, oil depots, oil loading and unloadingplace.Also including the application of discharging petroleum products from tanker trucks to gas stations.
A common method of vapor recovery worldwide is the adsorption of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) onto activated carbon. After adsorption, the activated carbon is regenerated by applying a vacuum, known as the variable pressure adsorption principle. Typical products recovered include: Gasoline, Crude Oil, Xylene, Naphtha, Gas Condensate, Benzene, Toluene, Methanol, Ethanol, MTBE, ETBE etc.
Principle Of Vapor Recovery Unit
Two identical adsorbers filled with activated carbon are equipped. One adsorber operates in adsorption mode to receive vapors while the other adsorber is closed and in regeneration mode. Switching valves are provided to automatically switch the adsorbers from one mode to the other to ensure that the unit is continuously ready to receive vapors.
During the adsorption process, a mixture of incoming hydrocarbon vapors and air moves upwardly through the vessel of the adsorber operating in the adsorption mode. The activated carbon located inside the adsorber adsorbs the hydrocarbon vapors, and the clean air leaving the carbon layer contains minimal amounts of hydrocarbons.
During regeneration, the previously adsorbed hydrocarbon vapors are removed from the activated carbon and the ability of the carbon to adsorb the vapors is restored. Regeneration of the carbon bed is accomplished by a combination of high vacuum and purge air removal techniques. At the end of the regeneration cycle, the pressure in the adsorber increases and returns to adsorption mode.
A dry vacuum pump is the vacuum source for the regeneration of the activated carbon. The pump extracts concentrated hydrocarbon vapors from the plant's coal bed and directs them into a vertically filled absorber tower.
Inside the absorber, the hydrocarbon vapors from the dry vacuum pump flow upward through the packing layer and the liquid hydrocarbons flow downward through the packing. The vapors are liquefied in the absorber and the captured liquid hydrocarbons are returned to the reservoir with the absorbent. A small amount of air and residual vapors are exhausted from the top of the absorber and recirculated to the currently operating adsorber for resorption.
