METHOD FOR RECOVERING HYDROCARBON VAPOR

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor wherein permeable mixed gases (20) of high concentration hydrocarbon vapor and the residual mixed gases (18) of low concentration hydrocarbon vapor are separated, through gas separation membrane (16), from initial mixed gases (10) containing hydrocarbon vapor followed by absorption of hydro­ carbon from the permeable mixed gases (20), and a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor wherein initial mixed gases (10) containing hydrocarbon vapor are brought into contact with liquid absorbent (27) to recover hydrocarbon vapor, and gases of high concentration hydrocarbon vapor and gases of low concentration hydrocarbon vapor are separated, through gas separation membrane (16), from treated gases (46) from which hydrocarbon vapor has been absorbed in the preceeding process.

Description: The present invention relates to a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor from mixed gases, and more particularly a method for recovering and concentrating hydrocarbon vapour from a feed stream of air containing it, said method involving the connection in series of a membrane separation step and a liquid absorption step. Mixed gases containing hydrocarbon, which are generated when a storage tank, a tank truck or a tank wagon is filled with volatile hydrocarbon liquid, for example, gasoline, kerosene and various classes of alcohol, have been conventionally left released to the air. Mixed gases containing hydrocarbon, which evaporates from a storage tank when air temperature rises, has also been emissioned to the air. These emission gases are recognized as one of the most serious causes of air pollution as substance forming photochemical smog. In some local governments exhausting concentration of hydrocarbon is regulated. Among methods of recovering volatile hydrocarbon vapor from these mixed gases, there are absorption process, adhesion process and low temperature processing method. Generally, various absorption methods at normal temperature and pressure are mostly practiced. Japanese Examined Patent Publication (KOKOKU) No. 39785/77, for example, discloses a method wherein: (a) Gasoline vapor is absorbed by a non-volatile organic liquid absorbent of petroleum at normal temperature; (b) The liquid absorbent is transferred to a recovering column, wherein the gasoline vapor is separated from the liquid absorbent at the pressure reduced to approximately 25 Torr (1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²) by means of a vacuum pump, the liquid absorbent being recovered; and (c) The separated gasoline vapor is absorbed by liquid gasoline for recovery. US-A-4043769 describes another method wherein: (a) Mixed gases containing gasoline vapor is increased in pressure by a gas-compressor and a greater part of gasoline vapor is recovered through absorption thereof by liquid gasoline; (b) The gasoline vapor remaining in the mixed gases is absorbed in non-volatile organic liquid absorbent of petroleum; (c) Gasoline vapor is separated and recovered from the liquid absorbent at the pressure reduced to 125 Torr (1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²) by means of a vacuum-pump; and (d) The gasoline vapor recovered in (c) is returned to the entrance of the gas-compressor. Those above mentioned methods, however, are disadvantageous in that the absorption and recovery process is complicated. Consequently, the operation as well as the equipment system cannot be simplified. In other words, in addition to equipment for process of absorption and recovery by using liquid gasoline, an absorption column using non-volatile organic liquid of petroleum, a recovery column and auxiliaries, for example, a circulation-pump and a vacuum-pump are required. US-A-4553983 discloses a process for recovering and concentrating organis vapors from a feed stream of air by passing the feed stream across a semi-permeable membrane, wherein the organic vapor which has passed through the membrane is compressed and condensed in order to recover the vapor as liquid. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor from mixed gases containing hydrocarbon vapor more economically by using more simplified equipment and process. Subject matter of the present invention is a method for recovering and concentrating hydrocarbon vapor from a feed stream of air containing it according to claim 1 or 2. Preferred embodiments of these methods are subject matter of claims 3 to 6. The other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow taken in conjunction with the drawings appended. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of equipment for a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment for a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor according to the present invention. Referring to the drawings, a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor will now be described. Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of equipment according to the present invention. Initial mixed gases 10 containing hydrocarbon vapor is increased in pressure by blower 11, followed by being mixed with return gases 32, recycled from absorption column 24, which is specifically explained later. From these mixed gases 13 composed of the initial mixed gases and the return gases, mist and dust are removed through filter separator 14 to form clean mixed gases 15, which are sent to gas separation membrane 16. That is to say, from the clean gases, hydrocarbon vapor having molecular weight comparatively large enough to permeate through the gas separation membrane are separated, while the residual gases 18 having hydrocarbon concentration of 5% or less by volume are released to the atmosphere. Permeable mixed gases 20 of high concentration hydrocarbon vapor, thus separated through the gas separation membrane, are sucked by vaccum-pump 22, subsequently increased in pressure and transferred to absorption column 24. In this embodiment, pressure of the suction side of the gas separation membrane is reduced to and kept at less than the atmospheric pressure (760 Torr : 1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²). Liquid absorbent 27 is supplied through the top of absorption column 24. Mixed permeable gases 20, introduced into the absorption column through the bottom of the absorption column, contact directly with liquid absorbent 27, while the mixed permeable gases are ascending through filers in the absorption column. In order to increase efficiency in recovering hydrocarbon vapor, the operation in the absorption column is recommended to be carried out at a pressure of slightly higher than the atmospheric pressure (760 Torr : 1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²), since mixed permeable gases 20 contain air. Liquid absorbent 28 having absorbed hydrocarbon vapor is returned to liquid absorption tank by return-pump 30. Return gases 32 containing slightly hydrocarbon vapor, are returned to the point just before filter separator 14 to be recycled. In this embodiment, if a pressure of mixed gas is raised up to a level of several kg/cm²·G (1 kg/cm² = 98.0628 x 10³ N/m²) by a gas-compressor in place of blower 11, a pressure of mixed permeable gases 20, separated through gas separation membrane 16, is raised to a level of the atmospheric pressure (760 Torr : 1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²) or more and return gases 32 are returned to the suction side of the gas compressor, then, equipment for the embodiment can be simplified since vacuum-pump 22 is not required. As gas separation membrane 16, those having permeability of hydrocarbon vapor in speed larger than that of air, for example, silicon rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene or polyvinyl chloride substance are preferable. The present invention will be understood more readily with the following examples; however, these examples are intended to illustrate the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof. Example 1 In this operation of an example of the present invention, initial mixed gases 10 consisted of 35% gasoline vapor and 65% air by volume. The initial mixed gases of 400 Nm³/H and return gases 32, recycled from absorption column 24, of 50 Nm³H were mixed to form mixed gases 13 of 450 Nm³/H. From mixed gases 13, mist and dust were removed through filter separator 14, and the mixed gases became clean mixed gases 15. From the clean mixed gases, hydrocarbon vapor was separated through gas separation membrane 16, and residual gases 18, having hydrocarbon concentration of 5% or less by volume, were released to the air. Mixed permeable gases 20, thus having passed through the gas separation membrane, of approximately 80% concentration hydrocarbon vapor, were sucked in by vaccum-pump 22 at a pressure of about 44 mm/Hg, subsequently increased in pressure and introduced into absorption column 24. The permeable mixed gases ascended through fillers in the absorption column wherein the operation was carried out at a pressure of 1 kg/cm² G (1 kg/cm² = 98.0628 x 10³ N/m²). During the ascending, the permeable mixed gases contacted with liquid gasoline, as liquid absorbent, supplied into the absorption column through the top of the absorption column. The gases contained about 14% gasoline vapor, which was not absorbed. The gases, as return gases 32, were to be mixed with the initial mixed gases for recycling. In this example, gases of explosive nature, although used in the operation, were quite successfully treated at the normal pressure. Secondly, with reference specifically to the Fig. 2 of the drawing, another example of a method for recovering hydrocarbon vapor according to the present invention will now be described. Initial mixed gases 10 together with return gases 52, which described later, were increased in pressure to 2 to 3 kg/cm² (1 kg/cm² = 98.0628 x 10³ N/m²) by means of gas compressor 42 and conveyed to absorption column 24. Liquid absorbent 27 is supplied through the top of the absorption column. Mixed gases 44 introduced through the bottom of the absorption column, contact directly with liquid absorbent 27, while ascending within the absorption column. Hydrocarbon vapor contained in mixed gases 44 is absorbed in the liquid absorbent. The liquid absorbent, having absorbed thus hydrocarbon vapor, stays at the bottom of the absorption column and is returned to a liquid absorbent tank by return-pump 30. Treated mixed gases 46 drawn out through the top of absorption column 24 is conveyed to gas separation membrane 16, since treated mixed gases 46 contain 10% or more hydrocarbon vapor. Hydrocarbon vapor contained in treated mixed gases 46 is passed through gas separation membrane 16 by means of reducing to 150 Torr (1 Torr = 133.322 N/m²) the pressure on the suction side of the gas separation membrane, being transferred, as return gas 52, to be mixed together with initial mixed gases 10. Hydrocarbon vapor is preferentially passed through the gas separation membrane, and the discharge residual gases 48 whose concentration of hydrocarbon vapor has been reduced to 5% or less, is released to the air. The return gases having passed through the gas separation membrane are sucked by vacuum-pump 50, increased in pressure on the suction side and, furthermore, compressed by gas-compressor 50. Example 2 In this operation of another example of the present invention, initial gases 10 consisted of 35% gasoline vapor and 65% of air by volume. The initial gases of 400 Nm³/H and return gases 52 of 40 Nm³/H were mixed. The mixed gases of 440 Nm³/H were increased to a pressure of 2.5 kg/cm² G (1 kg/cm² = 98.0628 x 10³ N/m²) by gas-compressor 42 and conveyed to absorption column 24. In the absorption column, mixed gas 44 contacted directly with liquid gasoline as liquid absorbent 27 supplied through the top of the absorption column, and gasoline vapor contained in mixed gases 44 was recovered in the state of the liquid gasoline. The liquid gasoline was returned to a gasoline tank by means of return-pump 30. Mixed gases 46 drawn out of the absorption column contained 12% gasoline vapor and were transferred to gas separation membrane 16, composed of silicon rubber substance. Gasoline vapor was selectively passed through the gas separation membrane to the suction side thereof to form mixed gases of 45% hydrocarbon vapor by volume. The mixed gases, as return gases 52, were transferred, by vacuum-pump 50, to be mixed with the initial mixed gases. In this example, 85% or more of gasoline vapor was successfully recovered from initial mixed gases containing gasoline vapor. As explained in Examples 1 and 2, the present invention enables hydrocarbon vapor to efficiently be separated and recovered from mixed gases containing hydrocarbon vapor. This method simplifies effectively equipment system as well as process of absorption and recovery and, thus, contributes greatly to commercial production.

Claims: A method for recovering and concentrating hydrocarbon vapour from a feed stream of air containing it, said method involving the connection in series of a membrane separation step and a liquid absorption step, comprising a) passing the feed stream across a gas separation membrane (16) having a permeation velocity of hydrocarbon vapour which is larger than that of the air, while providing a pressure on the permeate side of the membrane which is lower than that on the feed side, such that hydrocarbon vapour passes preferentially through the membrane to form a hydrocarbon vapour depleted air stream (18) on the feed side and a hydrocarbon vapour enriched stream (20) on the permeate side; then b) putting the hydrocarbon vapour enriched stream (20) into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon absorbent (27) in an absorption column (24) to absorb the hydrocarbon; and c) recycling the hydrocarbon-stripped gas (32) in output from the absorption column (24) as return gas to join into the feed stream, the hydrocarbon depleted air stream (18) being released to the atmosphere. A method for recovering and concentrating hydrocarbon vapour from a feed stream of air containing it, said method involving the connection in series of a membrane separation step and a liquid absorption step, comprising a) putting the feed stream into contact with a liquid hydrocarbon absorbent (27) in an absorption column (24) to absorb the hydrocarbon; then b) passing the hydrocarbon-stripped gas (46) in output from the absorption column (24) across a gas separation membrane (16) having a permeation velocity of hydrocarbon vapour which is larger than that of the air, while providing a pressure on the permeate side of the membrane which is lower than that on the feed side, such that hydrocarbon vapour passes preferentially through the membrane to form a hydrocarbon vapour depleted air stream (48) on the feed side and a hydrocarbon vapour enriched stream (52) on the permeate side; and c) recycling the hydrocarbon vapour enriched stream (52) as return gas to join into the feed stream, the hydrocarbon depleted air stream (48) being released to the atmosphere. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said hydrocarbon vapor contained in said feed stream is at least one selected from the group consisting of gasoline vapor, kerosene vapor , benzene vapor and alcohol vapor. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas separation membrane is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon, acrylonitrile-butadiene and polyvinyl chloride. Method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that said liquid hydrocarbon absorbent is at least one selected from the group consisting of liquid gasoline , liquid kerosene, liquid benzene and liquid alcohol. Method according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising the additional step of removing mist and dust from said feed stream through filter separator (14).

Inventors: INOUE, NORIO PATENT & LICENCE AND QUALITY, KATO, MORITAKA PATENT & LICENCE AND QUALITY, SHIBUYA, YOSHIKI PATENT & LICENCE AND QUALITY, Inoue, Norio Patent &amp; Licence and Quality, Kato, Moritaka Patent &amp; Licence and Quality, Shibuya, Yoshiki Patent &amp; Licence and Quality
Applicants: NIPPON KOKAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B01D53
IPC codes: C07C7, B01D53