Why Recover Petrol Vapour in Petrol Filling Stations?

1
Why Recover Petrol Vapour in Petrol Filling
Stations?

• Petrol contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  that evaporate in fuel tanks
• When unloading petrol to underground storage tank
  and refueling vehicle, petrol vapour is released
  to atmosphere
• VOCs from petrol vapour will enhance the
  formation of ozone and fine particulates in the
  atmosphere, thus causing smog
• VOCs from petrol vapour contains benzene (a
  carcinogen), thus increasing potential health
  risk to the public
• Smell of VOCs can be a nuisance to people nearby

2
Vapour Recovery in Petrol Filling Stations

• In 1999, the Air Pollution Control (Petrol
  Filling Stations)(Vapour Recovery) Regulation was
  introduced
• Petrol filling stations were required to install
  a system to recover petrol vapour emitted during
  unloading of petrol into the underground storage
  tank (Phase I vapour recovery system)
• All stations now have Phase I vapour recovery
  system

3
Vapour Recovery During Unloading of Petrol
(Phase I)
Underground Storage Tank
Phase I - 1999 (Unloading)
4
Vapour Recovery in Petrol Filling Stations

• The Air Pollution Control (Petrol Filling
  Stations) (Vapour Recovery) Regulation was
  amended in 2004 to require petrol filling
  stations to install a system to recover petrol
  vapour emitted during vehicle refuelling (Phase
  II vapour recovery system)
• The amended Regulation has become effective on 31
  March 2005

5
Vapour Recovery System for Petrol Refuelling
(Phase II)
Petrol Dispenser
Vehicle FuelTank
Vacuum Pump
Petrol Vapour
Liquid Petrol
Underground Petrol Storage Tank
6
Vapour Recovery at Petrol Filling Station
Dispenser
Vapour
Liquid
Underground Storage Tank
Phase I - 1999 (Unloading)
Phase II (Refuelling)
7
Installation Progress of Phase II Vapour Recovery
System

• All new stations have already installed Phase II
  vapour recovery system immediately after the
  Regulation has become effective from 31.3.05
• Existing stations have 3-years to retrofit such
  system (starting from 31.3.05). By end of 2006,
  almost half of the stations will complete the
  retrofit.

8
Certificate at Stations will Phase II Vapour
Recovery System
If a station has installed a Phase II vapour
recovery system which passes the required tests,
it will have this certificate posted at the
station.
9
Stations with Phase II Vapour Recovery System
have different Nozzles

• Features only with Phase II Vapour Recovery
  nozzle
• Holes to suck back petrol vapour released to
  underground storage tank
• Vapour guard to prevent vapour release