Vapor Recovery Units (VRU)

What Is a Vapor Recovery Unit?

A vapor recovery unit (VRU) is a system designed to recover fugitive emissions at truck, marine, or rail car loading terminals and storage tank facilities. Fugitive emissions occur at these facilities when storage tanks need to relieve pressure and during the loading process. Prior to the introduction of VRUs, these fugitive emissions were either vented to the atmosphere, flared, or sent to a vapor combustor. Now, VRUs give operators the ability to recover those fugitive emissions by redirecting vapors for recovery and reuse. 

How Does a Zeeco Activated Carbon VRU Work?

ZEECO VRUs use the highly versatile and efficient process of adsorbing hydrocarbons onto activated carbon. This well-known technology is widely accepted as the Best Available Technology (BAT) in a wide range of applications, with a turndown capability of 0 to 100% of flow and inlet hydrocarbon concentrations.

The adsorbed hydrocarbons are recovered from the activated carbon through the use of a vacuum pump system and re-absorbed into a circulated stream of absorbent, returning the hydrocarbons back to the loading operation or storage facility. Either liquid ring, dry, or sliding vane vacuum pump types can be used.

ZEECO VRUs can achieve recovery rates of up to 99% and about 1 to 2 liters of product per 1,000 liters loaded. In many applications, return on investment occurs within a few short years.

A Range of Systems to Meet Any Application

Zeeco offers a range of vapor recovery systems based on varying vapor inlet capacities to fit specific applications, from the smallest truck-loading terminals to the largest marine-loading operations. Our flexible approach to client requirements and engineering standards enables us to offer customized systems for applications both large and small. Zeeco’s vapor recovery systems also meet the strictest emission compliance requirements around the world. From the lowest flow rates found in single truck-loading applications to the largest ship-loading operations, Zeeco designs vapor recovery systems that control emissions from 35 mg/L down to 1 mg/L.