Progress 05/15/09 to 01/14/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In this program both improved membranes for better air, VOCs, and water separations from ethanol and gasoline were developed as well as a more chemically resistant system. The key results and conclusions from this study are: 1.The technical and economic feasibility of a novel membrane system for venting ethanol-gasoline storage tank during car refueling was demonstrated. The membrane venting system reduces ethanol-gasoline VOC emissions by more than 95% and recovers more than 95% of fuel vapors. 2.The product concept was demonstrated for gasoline containing from 0 to 85% ethanol. E85 is becoming increasingly common in the United States, mainly in the Midwest where corn is a major crop and is the primary source material for ethanol fuel production. 3.The addition of a membrane venting system to a gasoline station is a very sound economic investment. In a gas station dispensing 7000 gal/day of E15 (15% ethanol) the membrane system saves $10,000 annually in recovered VOC fuel emissions not including the benefit of the reduced pollution. This system pays for itself in about 2 to 2.4 years depending on the gasoline cost. A competing system based on catalytic burning never pays for itself since it only reduces VOC emissions but does not recover any fuel. 4.If membrane systems are implemented globally in all U.S. gas stations, the potential E15 gasoline savings is estimated at 200 million gal/year. 5.The novel polymers process ethanol-gasoline VOCs and effect a higher VOC recovery than the first generation membrane. The novel membrane systems meet the emission regulation requirement of at least 95% VOC recovery for gasoline containing 15% ethanol and higher. 6.A secondary but important benefit of the novel membrane system is that it maintains low water content in the storage tank. This is because the membrane allows water vapor to readily pass through the membrane while retaining gasoline and ethanol. This is important because excessive water accumulation in the tank can lead to the creation of two liquid phases and also increases the corrosion activity in the steel tanks. 7.Improved microporous membrane supports were developed which are chemically resistant to ethanol containing gasoline. 8.An improved potting system that is chemically resistant to ethanol was demonstrated. 9.Ruggedness tests show that the new membranes are resistant to rough handling, e.g., folding, creasing and rubbing. 10.Long term soaking tests in E10 show that the novel membrane modules (consisting of membrane, porous support, and potting material) retain acceptable performance after 14-day exposure and drying. We are encouraged also that CMS3 on the PEEK hollow fiber support modules withstood soaking in 80% ethanol at 100oC for 16 days. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Gasoline station venting is an existing application that is growing significantly in size. Our emission control system should provide savings of 0.14% retail gasoline delivered in the United States. Based on a total of 138 billion gallons of gasoline dispensed in the U.S. per year, 0.14% recovery represents a potential product savings of 200 million gallons per year and equivalent vapor emissions. This technology will be easily retrofittable to existing gasoline stations for retaining significant additional gasoline vapors. Besides this gas station venting application, our technology will also be applicable to similar areas like petrochemical storage facilities. While the initial focus of this program is VOC abatement associated with biofuel storage tanks, we believe there are many other applications as well. A market research study by BCC (Business Communications Company) has identified potential VOC reduction opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, cement industry, the power industry, surface coating industry, waste water industry, and semiconductor industry. Furthermore, this technology is expected to have a significant global market beyond the U.S.A
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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