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VOC Recovery System
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are light components of crude oil, which evaporate during loading operations or during the carriage of high-volatility crude oil cargoes.
Reducing VOC emissions primarily benefits our environment and climate
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are light components of crude oil, which evaporate during loading operations or during the carriage of high-volatility crude oil cargoes. Traditionally this cargo vapour has been vented into the atmosphere to prevent the cargo tank pressure to exceed the design pressure. Such venting represents both an environmental problem and a great loss of energy. In total, the emissions of VOC from global sea transportation account for a total of more than 5 million tonnes per year.
Our VOC recovery system not only prevents these harmful compounds from being emitted to the atmosphere, it also condensates the VOC into fuel fractions used to power the recovery system itself– making it self-supplied with energy. Today, several shuttle tankers in the North Sea are utilizing this technology to increase the sustainability of their operations.
Technical Data
The recovery of VOC is accomplished by leading the crude oil cargo vapour into the VOC recovery system, then using a condensation process to separate the heavier hydrocarbon fractions of the gas (Liquid VOCs – LVOC). These are stored in a pressurized storage tank on board. LVOC is a light hydrocarbon fuel that can be utilized as a clean fuel in power generating modules and inert gas generator units.
The lighter non-condensable hydrocarbon fractions (Surplus VOC – SVOC) are fed to the recovery system’s power generating module – ensuring 100 % VOC recovery with zero emissions.
VOC Recovery in Operation
This video showcases our VOC Recovery system installed onboard a vessel, demonstrating how advanced emission-reduction technology can recover hydrocarbon vapours released during crude oil loading operations. Through close cooperation between Vaholmen VOC Recovery AS, Ulstein Design and Nord Gas Solutions, the system contributes to cleaner operations while transforming emissions into a valuable energy resource.
Video published by permission from Vaholmen VOC Recovery AS
Process Control System
Read more about our intelligent Control Systems for cargo and fuel gas operations.
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