×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Vapor recovery

Vapor recovery

Vapor recovery

(OP)
We are looking at using a small compressor to evacuate a small chamber of hydrocarbons.

Essentially, we will have a chamber that we will draw into a vacuum. Then hydrocarbons, such as butane, is released into the chamber.

A compressor will evacuate the chamber, and store it in a tank for use later.

Any concerns I need to be aware of?

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: Vapor recovery

Fire, explosion, corrosion

RE: Vapor recovery

(OP)
Thanks for that, you have a firm grasp on the obvious.

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: Vapor recovery

Would your infrastructure support an eductor?

At this level 'bout all I can suggest is to apply ye-ol PHA/HAZOP "what-ifs"...more pressure/temp./flow, less p/t/f, etc. (you probably know the drill).

RE: Vapor recovery

(OP)
dtn,
No, probably won't be considering an eductor.

Yeah, we know the drill, thanks though for throwing things out there.

Looking for things that we may overlook. It all seems so easy, but I'd like to head off possible problems at the pass.

There are a lot of safety officers already involved.

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: Vapor recovery

I guess you'll need to think about the control, will it run continously with a discharge to suction control or should it be on/off.  I'd assume the biggest problem would be how much vacuum can you pull on the vessel, if thats what you are looking for.

Types of units available.  The smaller units say 15HP or so use sliding vane compressors, if a deep vacuum is requires, a liquid ring is called for.  For all around use, the screw compressor is the one.

Spend money on good pressure sensors/transmitters on the suction if your system cannot take to much vacuum.  

Teledyne makes O2 sensors for shutdown in case of a vacuum leak.  I've seen more than 3% O2 in a gas, its not a problem.

RE: Vapor recovery

(OP)
Thanks dcasto.

It's a small lab unit, I found a 1 HP compressor, it was hard to find.

Charlie
www.facsco.com

RE: Vapor recovery

FACS

Do you have all the necessary safety equipment. I would consider monitoring the tank stress/strain level as well as it will give you a warning about upcoming failures.

Regards

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources