METHOD FOR REMOVING SULFUR COMPOUNDS FROM SOUR GAS STREAMS AND HYDROGEN RICH STREAMS

The present invention relates to a process for purifying a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide or mercaptans, or mixtures thereof. The gas stream can be a sour natural gas stream, a landfill gas or an industrial gas stream. The process comprises contacting the gas stream at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than about 300° C. with a solid absorbent effective to absorb the hydrogen sulfide, or mercaptans or mixtures thereof to provide a purified gas stream. Method is useful for treating gas streams having up to 90 vol-% hydrogen sulfide, or treating highly pure hydrogen streams. The invention is useful as a guard bed for fuel cells and sensitive laboratory instruments. The invention can also be employed to treat steam reformer product hydrogen streams without the need for further compression of the product hydrogen streams.

Catalytic oxidation of vapor emissions discharged during vehicle refueling

A combustion system includes a catalytic oxidizer for oxidizing a mixture of air and fuel vapor. The amount of air provided for mixing with the fuel vapors is determined in accordance with the temperature of the oxidation reaction as measured by a temperature sensor. Controlling the dilution level in this manner provides an efficient vent processing design. The system is used to process vapor emissions emanating from a vehicle fuel tank during refueling.

Regulation of vapor pump valve

A vapor recovery system employs a sensor apparatus for determining the actual content of hydrocarbon in the effluent vapor stream. The vapor flow of the hydrocarbon effluents is regulated by controlling an adjustable valve configured at the intake or outtake side of the vapor pump in accordance with the measured hydrocarbon content. The vapor flow rate is effectively varied without requiring any change in the pump operating speed. Sensor apparatus for performing the hydrocarbon measurements include a fiber-optic sensor, an oxygen sensor, and a crystal oscillation sensor. A solenoid assembly is provided to suitably activate the valve in response to the sensor measurement data.

METHOD FOR REMOVING SULFUR COMPOUNDS FROM SOUR GAS STREAMS AND HYDROGEN RICH STREAMS

The present invention relates to a process for purifying a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide or mercaptans, or mixtures thereof. The gas stream can be a sour natural gas stream, a landfill gas or an industrial gas stream. The process comprises contacting the gas stream at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than about 300° C. with a solid absorbent effective to absorb the hydrogen sulfide, or mercaptans or mixtures thereof to provide a purified gas stream. Method is useful for treating gas streams having up to 90 vol-% hydrogen sulfide, or treating highly pure hydrogen streams. The invention is useful as a guard bed for fuel cells and sensitive laboratory instruments. The invention can also be employed to treat steam reformer product hydrogen streams without the need for further compression of the product hydrogen streams. 1. A process for sweetening a sour gas stream to provide a sweetened gas stream , said process comprising contacting the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen or methane and a sour impurity selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide , mercaptans and mixtures thereof at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than or equal to 300° C. with a solid absorbent comprising a copper oxide and having a copper content greater than or equal to 50 wt-% and a zinc content less than 0.3 wt-% , said solid absorbent being selective for the regenerable absorption of said sour impurity to absorb at least a portion of the sour impurity to provide the sweetened gas stream having a reduced amount of the sour impurity.2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sour gas stream is a sour natural gas stream or a landfill gas stream or an industrial gas stream or a hydrogen gas stream.3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sour gas stream is a hydrogen stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and the sweetened gas stream comprises less than 10 ppbv hydrogen sulfide.4. The process of claim 1 , ...

Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbon using crystal oscillators within fuel dispensers

A vapor recovery system is disclosed that utilizes a crystal oscillator for sensing the presence of hydrocarbon in the vapor emissions emanating from a fuel tank during refueling. The crystal oscillator is coated with a layer of material having a sensitivity for hydrocarbon. In response to any interaction between the coating layer and hydrocarbon, the crystal oscillator experiences a shift in its oscillation frequency relative to the fundamental resonance frequency. The frequency shift is representative of the hydrocarbon concentration in the vapor emissions. A control signal based on the frequency shift is generated and then used to adjust the operating speed of the vapor pump.

METHOD FOR REMOVING SULFUR COMPOUNDS FROM SOUR GAS STREAMS AND HYDROGEN RICH STREAMS

The present invention relates to a process for purifying a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide or mercaptans, or mixtures thereof. The gas stream can be a sour natural gas stream, a landfill gas or an industrial gas stream. The process comprises contacting the gas stream at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than about 300° C. with a solid absorbent effective to absorb the hydrogen sulfide, or mercaptans or mixtures thereof to provide a purified gas stream. Method is useful for treating gas streams having up to 90 vol-% hydrogen sulfide, or treating highly pure hydrogen streams. The invention is useful as a guard bed for fuel cells and sensitive laboratory instruments. The invention can also be employed to treat steam reformer product hydrogen streams without the need for further compression of the product hydrogen streams. 1. A process for sweetening a sour gas stream to provide a sweetened gas stream , said process comprising contacting the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen or methane and a sour impurity selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide , mercaptans and mixtures thereof at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than or equal to 300° C. with a solid absorbent comprising a copper oxide , said solid absorbent being selective for the regenerable absorption of said sour impurity to absorb at least a portion of the sour impurity to provide the sweetened gas stream having a reduced amount of the sour impurity.2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sour gas stream is a sour natural gas stream or a landfill gas stream or an industrial gas stream or a hydrogen gas stream.3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sour gas stream is a hydrogen stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and the sweetened gas stream comprises less than 10 ppbv hydrogen sulfide.4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sour gas stream is a sour natural gas stream or a landfill gas stream and comprises less ...

Stage II vapor recovery system

A Stage II Vapor Recovery System is provided with a special array of storage tanks, dispensers, fuel pumps, vapor assist pumps, and flow control nozzles, to capture hydrocarbon emissions, prevent condensate from blocking vapor return lines, and dispense gasoline or other liquid fuel and condensate to customer tanks. Specifically, fuel lines connect storage tank to flow control nozzles via dispensers and are assisted by fuel pumps to pump gasoline into customers' tanks. The nozzles have vapor passageways to capture hydrocarbon vapors emitted during fueling. The captured vapors are pumped by vapor assist pumps from the vapor passageways through vapor return lines into the storage tanks. The nozzles are equipped with condensate liquid pickup tubes to remove condensed vapors blocking the vapor return lines. The condensate liquid tubes communicate with condensate venturi ports adjacent venturi sleeves in the nozzles. Liquid sensing tubes in the vapor return passageways activate automatic shutoff valves in the nozzles to shut off the flow of gasoline when the customer's tank is filled.

Vapor recovery system employing oxygen detection

A vapor recovery system is disclosed that provides direct measurements of the oxygen concentration within fugitive vapor emissions displaced from a fuel tank during refueling activity. The hydrocarbon concentration is derived from the oxygen concentration and used to adjust the operating speed of a vapor pump so as to minimize the presence of oxygen in the vapor recovery line.

Method for removing sulfur compounds from sour gas streams and hydrogen rich streams

The present invention relates to a process for purifying a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide or mercaptans, or mixtures thereof. The gas stream can be a sour natural gas stream, a landfill gas or an industrial gas stream. The process comprises contacting the gas stream at effective absorption conditions including an absorption temperature less than about 300oC with a solid absorbent effective to absorb the hydrogen sulfide, or mercaptans or mixtures thereof to provide a purified gas stream. Method is useful for treating gas streams having up to 90 vol-% hydrogen sulfide, or treating highly pure hydrogen streams. The invention is useful as a guard bed for fuel cells and sensitive laboratory instruments. The invention can also be employed to treat steam reformer product hydrogen streams without the need for further compression of the product hydrogen streams.

Apparatus for detecting hydrocarbons using crystal oscillators within fuel dispensers

A vapor recovery system (18) utilizes a crystal oscillator (30) for sensing the presence of hydrocarbon in the vapor emissions emanating from a fuel tank (10) during refueling. The crystal oscillator (30) is coate d with a layer of material having a sensitivity for hydrocarbon. In response to any interaction between the coating layer and hydrocarbon, th e crystal oscillator (30) experiences a shift in its oscillation frequency relative to the fundamental resonance frequency. The frequency shi ft (34) is representative of the hydrocarbon concentration in the vapor emissions. A control signal (36) based on the frequency shift (34) is generated and then used to adjust the operating speed of a vapor pump (26).

Method and apparatus for eliminating pollutants from a gas stream

The present invention is directed to method of eliminating gaseous pollutants in a gas stream (12), such as flue gas stream, by reacting the gaseous pollutants with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (24) in the presence of a catalyst (20) under conditions sufficient to convert the gaseous pollutants into products including one or more of elemental nitrogen, elemental sulfur, and water. In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of eliminating gaseous pollutants in a gas stream in which the gaseous pollutants include one or more of NOx, SOx, and combinations thereof. Additional pollutants that may be present in the gas stream and that may be eliminated in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include ozone (03) and carbonyl sulfide (COS).

Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions

A method and apparatus is disclosed for sensing hydrocarbon in the vapor path of fuel dispensers using a fiber-optic sensor. The sensor includes an absorber-expander sensing structure mechanically coupled to the fiber body and responsive to the presence of effluent fuel components. The system includes fuel dispensing system (14) in operative association with a fiber optic sensor apparatus (10), a vapor pump (26), and a controller (26) for operating the vapor pump (26) responsive to the sensor apparatus (10).

Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions

A method and apparatus is disclosed for sensing hydrocarbon in the vapor path of fuel dispensers using a fiber-optic sensor. The sensor includes an absorber-expander sensing structure mechanically coupled to the fiber body and responsive to the presence of effluent fuel components. The system includes fuel dispensing system (14) in operative association with a fiber optic sensor apparatus (10), a vapor pump (26), and a controller (26) for operating the vapor pump (26) responsive to the sensor apparatus (10).

Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions

A method and apparatus is disclosed for sensing hydrocarbon in the vapor path of fuel dispensers using a fiber-optic sensor. The sensor includes an absorber-expander sensing structure mechanically coupled to the fiber body and responsive to the presence of effluent fuel components. The system includes fuel dispensing system (14) in operative association with a fiber optic sensor apparatus (10), a vapor pump (26), and a controller (26) for operating the vapor pump (26) responsive to the sensor apparatus (10).

Vapor recovery system utilizing a fiber-optic sensor to detect hydrocarbon emissions