Emission Control at Petrol Stations

1 Petrol pump with activ gas return line 

Pressure switch Retentate pump Pneumatic retentate valve 

15/16 Product fill connectors 17 Electronic level gauge 

Natural gas produced at the well head has to be treated in several processing steps especially dehydration and hydrocarbon dew pointing to meet the required pipeline and quality specifications. Water and higher hydrocarbon have to be removed in order to avoid the build-up of gas hydrates. The commonly used state-of-the-art processes, such as absorption and cryogenic condensation, have shortcomings with respect to environmental aspects, energy consumption, weight and space requirements. A reliable and proven membrane process could offer a serious alternative in comparison to established techniques. 

Basic process data are available from the development of organic vapor separation. The real challenge is the transformation of the available knowledge into high-pressure applications. Several drawbacks such as the compaction of the substructure of composite membranes and the influence of the boundary layer On the membrane selectivity have to be overcome. Pour structure and polymer compositions have to be suited to the high operating pressure in the presence of higher hydrocarbons [22, 23]. 

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