Cummins G855C LeROI HG17210 Screw Compressor Package VRU
You're passionate about producing your oil and gas, or O&G, products, but are you eliminating harmful vapors from them before you sell them?
Research shows that the O&G industry was more profitable than ever in 2022, and 2023 is expected to continue to be a successful year for the industry.
Fortunately, vapor recovery units, or VRUs, can help you remove vapors with explosive and potentially toxic properties from gas and other types of fuel. Before you look for a VRU, though, you need to know what to look for. Let's explore how to choose the right vapor recovery unit for sale.
What Is a Vapor Recovery Unit for Sale?
Vapor recovery systems remove harmful fluid and vapor contaminants from gas and oil products. This improves their purity. It also prevents toxic pollutants from entering the environment.
The chemical processing industry also uses VRUs to eliminate unwanted vapors in storage units. This helps them keep their chemicals safe and pure before they are transported and used.
A VRU features four main components:
- Scrubber
- Gas compressor
- Switching device
- Variable frequency drive
The scrubber can remove any fluid impurity from natural gas streams. This device can help with handling vapors in distillate/ crude oil tanks that have high British thermal unit vent gas.
A gas compressor is also used to remove vapors. The variable frequency drive is a system that adjusts the compressor's speed depending on how fast gas is flowing into the recovery unit.
Finally, the switching device detects pressure changes inside a tank. It then activates the gas compressor. This device starts and stops the unit's operation based on the tank's pressure conditions.
How the VRU Works
The VRU uses suction and gas compression to remove vapors that have accumulated inside a sealed hydrocarbon tank. Vapor recovery involves several steps.
The compressor begins by sucking up liquid molecules. These molecules go into the unit's scrubber.
The scrubber then removes unwanted fluids, debris, and water vapor from the hydrocarbon tank.
Afterward, the removed vapors are pumped into a gas line. In addition, the trapped liquid is channeled to pipelines.
Choosing the Right Vapor Recovery for Sale
You should consider several factors when choosing a VRU. This will help you choose the right-sized VRU for your needs.
These factors include the unit's piping, including its angles and sizing. You'll also want to choose a VRU that meets regulatory requirements and will work with your facility or well site configuration.
Look for a VRU with clear, high-quality pressure relief valve and tank pressure settings, too.
A reputable provider can help you choose a VRU that will meet your anticipated production volumes. This includes expected valleys and peaks.
In addition, a VRU provider may guide you in choosing the right VRU with your future facility development plans in mind.
Estimating Vent Gas Volume
Another important factor in choosing the right vapor recovery system is your vent gas volume.
Simulation testing and direct measurement can be performed to estimate this. This typically involves measuring the gas coming off the tank through a vent line over 24 hours.
This technique provides the reliable and accurate insights needed to determine the volume and flow of the gas available for capturing and selling.
Surge Protection
Yet another key factor to consider during the simulation testing process is the change in production that occurs.
Production surges can storage tank pressures to rapidly increase. Quality VRUs can handle production surges easily.
This means your pressure relief valves won't open and vent your valuable vapor gas. This is important because the unwanted gas venting can lead to lost revenue and the emission of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.
Breathing VOCs may irritate your throat, nose, and eyes. It can also lead to difficulty with nausea and breathing. In addition, VOCs may damage your organs, impact your nervous system, and cause cancer.
Why the Right-Sized VRU Is Critical
The right-sized VRU will help optimize your O&G facility and harness your well site's full potential. When you are operating at your maximum level, you will be more cost-efficient and profitable.
With the right VRU, you can maximize your O&G assets' economic value long-term. The unit can also improve your facility's environmental performance and comply with relevant regulations.
The Environmental Protection Agency in the US requires that operators remove vapors to regulate dangerous air emissions at the following types of sites:
- Natural gas well
- Hydrocarbon storage facility
- Gas processing plant
A new regulation called "Quad O" requires that operators eliminate 95% or more of the vapors their hydrocarbon units produce. This means O&G facilities must develop sustainable ways of reducing their tanks' vapor pressure and preventing expense emission releases. This is where VRUs come into play.
A quality VRU can furthermore reduce risk, decrease your facility's energy use, and increase your equipment's liability. It can reduce your operating costs as well.
Facilities with the right VRUs ultimately increase their throughput or output by accomplishing more with less.
How We Can Help Meet Your VRU Need
The right vapor recovery unit for sale can help your O&G or chemical facility operate more efficiently. It can also help you comply with the government's environmental protection regulations. Right-sized VRUs will ultimately help you generate more profit.
At Fuelled, we take pride in offering VRUs as well as other types of equipment, such as gas compressors and condensate stabilizers. Other equipment includes gas refrigeration devices and cryogenic plants.