Determination of the amount of oil product vapours from the tank based on monitoring the operation of the breathing valve

Abstract

The development of methods for calculating losses of oil and petroleum products vapours from the tank has been going on for a long time. Systems that allow for more accurate calculations are also being developed along the way. In each country, and sometimes in each company, there are their own methods for determining the loss of light hydrocarbon fractions from losses from the tank through the breathing valve. In addition, losses are divided into “working losses” and “standing losses”. In each technique, there are both pros and cons. The most characteristic disadvantage of each technique is its applicability only to the conditions in which it was developed, due to the presence of correction coefficients. This article proposes a new technique for determining the loss of hydrocarbons vapours from the tank through the breathing valve, both from “working losses” and from “standing losses”. In the course of the work, formulas were obtained for calculating the flow rate Q∆P,h through the breathing valve, which depends on the degree of opening of the pressure plate and overpressure. An experiment was conducted, instrumentally proving the application of the developed methodology. And also, the equipment is selected and recommendations on its installation and use are given.