DESCRIPTION

GASOLINE VAPOR RECOVERY APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1]
The present invention relates to a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus that recovers vaporized gasoline (hereinafter referred to as gasoline vapor).

Background Art

[2]
Inside a gasoline tank of an automobile, a gasoline liquid is collected in a lower part, while gasoline vapor is present in a saturated state in an upper part. When gasoline is to be fed to the gasoline tank at a gas station, the gasoline vapor present in the gasoline tank is pushed out through a filler opening and emitted to the atmosphere. If the gasoline vapor is emitted to the atmosphere as it is as described above, it might cause photochemical smog and lead to a problem that people and the environment are badly affected. Therefore, a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus that recovers the gasoline vapor so as to be cooled/reused has been developed, and various technologies have been proposed (See Patent Documents 1 to 3).

[3]
The gasoline vapor recovered by the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus is cooled in a gasoline-vapor condensing pipe leading through the inside of a condensation tower (gasoline vapor condensing vessel) filled with an antifreezing liquid (petroleum-based substances such as brine (propylene glycol or the like), gasoline, kerosene and the like) and emitted. If the gasoline vapor is emitted in this state, condensation is formed in the periphery of a pipeline conducted for the emission. In order to handle that, there can be a method of raising the temperature of air to be emitted to the atmosphere through heat exchange between the high-temperature gasoline vapor having been pressurized by a pump and the low-temperature air to be emitted to the atmosphere (air containing a small amount of the gasoline vapor remaining without being recovered), for example.

[4]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3843271 (pages 7 to 9, Fig. 1)

[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Unexamined Application Publication No. 2005-177563 (pages 5 to 10, Fig. 1)

[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Unexamined Application Publication No. 2006-198604 (pages 4 to 7, Fig. 2)

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[5]
However, in order to prevent generation of the condensation with the above method, a heat exchanger should be disposed separately, which increases a product cost and also increases limitations on piping. On the other hand, since the air to be emitted to the atmosphere contains a small amount of the gasoline vapor, inflow of blow off air mixed with a combustible component into an electric component area in the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a non explosion-proof area), for example, is not preferable. Also, a slight amount of gasoline odor component remains in the air to be emitted to the atmosphere, and its diffusion gives discomfort to users in the gas station.

[6]
Moreover, in the case of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus in which an adsorption/desorption tower is disposed in the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus and the gasoline vapor is recovered using an adsorbent (such as silica gel, zeolite, activated charcoal and the like) filled in the adsorption/desorption tower, when a gasoline component adsorbed by the adsorbent is adsorbed/described, air is taken in from the outside of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus, but if the gasoline component emitted to the air for the purpose of adsorption/desorption is mixed, an excess gasoline component adheres to the adsorbent, which lowers the performance of the adsorbent.

[7]
The present invention was made in order to solve the above problems and has a first object to provide a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus in which vertical movement of heat generated from each device contained in a frame is suppressed. In addition to the first object, a second object is to provide a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus in which condensation on a pipeline that emits air to the atmosphere is prevented. Also, in addition to the first object and the second object, a third object is to provide a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus in which diffusion of a gasoline odor component is suppressed. Moreover, in addition to the first object, the second object, and the third object, a fourth object is to provide a gasoline vapor recovery apparatus in which the air to be emitted to the atmosphere is not mixed with the air taken in for the purpose of adsorption/desorption.

Means for Solving the Problems

[8]
A gasoline vapor recovery apparatus according to the present invention has a gasoline vapor pump that sucks gasoline vapor discharged from a gasoline tank, a condensation tower that has brine filled inside and cools the gasoline vapor sucked by the gasoline vapor pump, an adsorption/desorption tower that adsorbs the gasoline vapor sucked by the gasoline vapor pump by the adsorbent and desorbs the gasoline vapor adsorbed to the adsorbent, a desorption pump that supplies air for desorption to the adsorption/desorption tower, and a frame that contains the gasoline vapor, the condensation tower, the adsorption/desorption tower, and the desorption pump and is characterized in that the condensation tower and the adsorption/desorption tower are arranged at positions higher than the gasoline vapor pump and the desorption pump.

Advantages

[9]
According to the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus according to the present invention, vertical movement of heat generated from each device contained in the frame can be suppressed, and a recovering rate of the gasoline vapor can be improved.

Brief Description of Drawings

[10]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an entire gasoline vapor recovery apparatus according to an embodiment.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating still another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus.

Reference Numerals

[11]
1 gasoline vapor pump
2 condensation tower
3 gas-liquid separator
4a adsorption/desorption tower
4b adsorption/desorption tower
5 desorption pump
6 freezer
7 brine
8 brine pump 9a adsorbent 9b adsorbent
10 outlet
11 inlet
12 brine-temperature detector 13a adsorbent cooler
13b adsorbent cooler
22 first electromagnetic valve
24 gasoline condenser
26a second electromagnetic valve
26b second electromagnetic valve
27a third electromagnetic valve
27b third electromagnetic valve
2 8 first decompression valve
29 gasoline adsorption pipeline
30 opening/closing valve
31 second decompression valve
32a fourth electromagnetic valve
32b fourth electromagnetic valve
33a fifth electromagnetic valve
33b fifth electromagnetic valve
35 gasoline desorption pipeline
36 air discharge pipeline
41 compressor
42 condenser
43 throttle device
44 refrigerant evaporator
45 refrigerant pipeline
46 blower
54 brine pipeline
55 liquid-level meter
100 gasoline vapor recovery apparatus
101 gasoline meter
102 filler nozzle
110 air gap
111 ceiling panel
112 freezer panel
113 air gap panel
114 side frame
115 side frame
116 condensation tower and adsorption/desorption panel
117 desorption pump panel
118 gasoline vapor pump panel
119 base plate
120 frame
121 installation base
122 in-island pit
125 non explosion-proof area
A gasoline vapor condensation circuit
A1 gasoline vapor adsorption circuit
A2 gasoline vapor desorption circuit
B refrigerant circuit
C brine circuit

Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[12]
An Embodiment of the present invention will be described below referring to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an entire gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. On the basis of Fig. 1, the circuit configuration of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 will be described. This gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 cools and recovers the sucked gasoline vapor in a condensation tower and has two adsorption/desorption towers that adsorb or desorb the gasoline vapor so as to recover (adsorb) and reuse (desorb) the gasoline vapor by switching between the functions of the two adsorption/desorption towers as appropriate. Including Fig. 1, in the following diagrams, the size relationship among components might be different from the actual one.

[13]
The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 is installed along with a gasoline meter 101 that feeds gasoline to an automobile and the like in a gas station or the like. The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 recovers and reuses the gasoline vapor emitted to the atmosphere from a filler opening of an automobile or the like. This gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 is roughly constituted by a gasoline vapor condensation circuit A, a refrigerant circuit B, and a brine circuit C. Also, this gasoline vapor condensation circuit A is constituted by a gasoline vapor adsorption circuit A1 and a gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2.

[14] [Gasoline vapor adsorption circuit A1]

The gasoline vapor adsorption circuit A1 when the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by an adsorption/desorption tower 4a is constituted by a filler nozzle 102, a first electromagnetic valve 22, a gasoline vapor pump 1, a gasoline condenser 24, a gas-liquid separator 3, a second electromagnetic valve 26a, the adsorption/desorption tower 4a, a third electromagnetic valve 27a, a first decompression valve 28, and an outlet 10 sequentially connected by a gasoline adsorption pipeline 29 and an air discharge pipeline 36.

[15]
The gasoline vapor adsorption circuit A1 when the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by an adsorption/desorption tower 4b is constituted by the filler nozzle 102, the first electromagnetic valve 22, the gasoline vapor pump 1, the gasoline condenser 24, the gas-liquid separator 3, the second electromagnetic valve 26b, the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, the third electromagnetic valve 27b, the first decompression valve 28, and the outlet 10 sequentially connected by the gasoline adsorption pipeline 29. That is, by controlling switching between the second electromagnetic valve 26a and the second electromagnetic valve 26b as well as the switching between the third electromagnetic valve 27a and the third electromagnetic valve 27b, the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by either one of the
adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b.

[16]
Therefore, the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 makes either the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b function as an adsorption/desorption tower that adsorbs gasoline vapor and the other function as an adsorption/desorption tower that desorbs gasoline vapor by controlling each of the above electromagnetic valves. The switching between the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b may be made at a predetermined time interval or in accordance with gasoline vapor concentration in the vicinity of an outlet of the one functioning as an adsorption tower.

[17]
The gasoline meter 101 measures the amount of gasoline to be fed to an automobile or the like. The filler nozzle 102 is inserted into a filler opening of an automobile or the like when gasoline is fed from the gasoline meter 101. This filler nozzle 102 also has a function as an inlet when the gasoline vapor emitted to the atmosphere from the filler opening is sucked. Here, the case in which the single filler nozzle 102 is disposed is illustrated as an example, but the number of installed filler nozzles 102 is not particularly limited. The first electromagnetic valve 22 has a function of preventing a backflow of the gasoline vapor sucked from the filler nozzle 102 from occurring. This first electromagnetic valve 22 is preferably disposed in a number in accordance with the number of installed filler nozzles 102.

[18]
The gasoline vapor pump 1 sucks/pressurizes the gasoline vapor from the filler nozzle 102. The gasoline condenser 24 is disposed in a condensation tower 2 such as a gasoline vapor condensing vessel or the like and cools and condenses/liquefies the gasoline vapor led through the inside thereof. Here, the case in which the gasoline condenser 24 is formed in a spiral shape is shown as an example, but the gasoline condenser 24 is not limited to such a shape. The gas-liquid separator 3 separates liquefied gasoline and gasoline vapor from each other by trapping condensed and liquefied gasoline. As shown in Fig.1, an opening/closing valve 30 is preferably disposed in a pipeline that leads the liquefied gasoline separated by the gas-liquid separator 3.

[19]
The second electromagnetic valve 26a and the second electromagnetic valve 26b allow or do not allow air containing the gasoline vapor that has not been recovered in the condensation tower 2 to lead through opening/closing control thereof. The adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b function as an adsorption tower that adsorbs the gasoline vapor and as a desorption tower that desorbs the gasoline vapor. Inside the adsorption/desorption tower 4a, an adsorbent cooler 13a and an adsorbent 9a, which will be described later, are disposed. Inside the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, too, an adsorbent cooler 13b and an adsorbent 9b, which will be described later, are disposed similarly.

[20]
The adsorbent cooler 13a has a function of cooling the inside of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a using a brine 7 filled in the condensation tower 2. The adsorbent cooler 13b also has the function of cooling the inside of the adsorption/desorption tower 4b using the brine 7 filled in the condensation tower 2 similarly to the adsorbent cooler 13a. That is, by disposing the adsorbent cooler 13a and the adsorbent cooler 13b in the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, the gasoline vapor can be adsorbed by a small amount of the adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b.

[21]

The adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b adsorb the gasoline vapor from the air containing the gasoline vapor and produce air containing gasoline vapor of 1 vol% or less on average by adsorbing the gasoline vapor contained in the air, for example. As the adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b, silica gel, zeolite, activated charcoal and the like may be used, for example. That is, the gasoline vapor is adsorbed' by the adsorbent 9a of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorbent 9b of the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, while the gasoline vapor is desorbed by the other of the adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b. Then, by alternately switching between adsorption and desorption, continuous operation is made possible.

[22]
The third electromagnetic valve 27a and the third electromagnetic valve 27b further lead or do not lead the air after the gasoline vapor has been adsorbed through one of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b therethrough through control of opening/closing. The first decompression valve 2 8 decompresses the air having passed through the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b. The outlet 10 is used to discharge into the atmosphere the air having been decompressed by the first decompression valve 2 8 and reached through the air discharge pipeline 36. The gasoline adsorption pipeline 29 is a pipeline that leads the air containing the gasoline vapor. Each of the electromagnetic valves is controlled by control means (not shown) such as a microcomputer or the like. The air discharge pipeline 36 is a pipeline that leads the air after adsorption of the gasoline vapor in the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b.

[23] [Gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2] When the gasoline vapor is desorbed by the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, the gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2 is constituted by an inlet 11, a second decompression valve 31, a fourth electromagnetic valve 32b, the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, a fifth electromagnetic valve 33b, and a desorption pump 5 sequentially connected by a gasoline desorption pipeline 35. On the other hand, when the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, the gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2 is constituted by the inlet 11, the second decompression valve 31, the fourth electromagnetic valve 32a, the adsorption/desorption tower 4a, the fifth electromagnetic valve 33a, and the desorption pump 5 sequentially connected by the gasoline desorption pipeline 35.

[24]
By controlling the switching between the fourth electromagnetic valve 32a and the fourth electromagnetic valve 32b as well as the switching between the fifth electromagnetic valve 33a and the fifth electromagnetic valve 33b in accordance with control using each of the electromagnetic valves in the gasoline vapor adsorption circuit Ai, the gasoline vapor is desorbed by one of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the
adsorption/desorption tower 4b. That is, the function of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the function of the adsorption/desorption tower 4b are switched between as appropriate by controlling each of the electromagnetic valves in the gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2 along with each of the electromagnetic valves in the gasoline vapor adsorption circuit Ai.

[25]
The inlet 11 takes in the air used for desorption of the gasoline vapor from the outside air. The second decompression valve 31 decompresses the air taken in through the inlet 11. The fourth electromagnetic valve 32a and the fourth electromagnetic valve 32b have a function of allowing or not allowing the air decompressed by the second decompression valve 31 therethrough through control of opening/closing. The adsorption/desorption tower 4b constituting the gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2 functions as a desorption tower that desorbs the gasoline vapor as described above. Also, the adsorption/desorption tower 4a when constituting the gasoline vapor desorption circuit A2 also functions as a desorption tower that desorbs the gasoline vapor similarly to the adsorption/desorption tower 4b.

[26]
The fifth electromagnetic valve 33a and the fifth electromagnetic valve 33b have a function of allowing or not allowing the air containing the gasoline vapor to pass therethrough through control of opening/closing. The desorption pump 5 has a function of sucking air from the outside atmosphere through the inlet 11 in order to supply desorption air to the adsorption/desorption tower 4b or the adsorption/desorption tower 4a. The gasoline desorption pipeline 35 is a pipeline that leads air and the air containing the gasoline vapor. The gasoline desorption pipeline 35 is connected to the gasoline adsorption pipeline 29 between the first electromagnetic valve 22 of the gasoline vapor adsorption circuit A1 and the gasoline vapor pump 1.

[27] [Refrigerant circuit B]

The refrigerant circuit B is mounted on a freezer 6 and is constituted as a heat pump cycle in which a compressor 41, a condenser 42, a throttle device 43, and a refrigerant evaporator 44 are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipeline 45. That is, the refrigerant circuit B cools the brine 7 filled in the condensation tower 2 by directing the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipeline 45 so that the refrigerant circulates each of the constituent devices. Also, in the vicinity of the condenser 42, a blower 46 such as a fan or the like that supplies the air to the condenser 42 is disposed.

[28]
The compressor 41 sucks the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipeline 45 and makes the refrigerant be in a high-temperature and high-pressure state by compressing it. The condenser 42 emits condensation heat of the refrigerant and condenses and liquefies the refrigerant. The throttle device 43 is constituted by a decompression valve, an electronic expansion valve, a temperature-type expansion valve, a capillary tube and the like and decompresses and expands the refrigerant. The refrigerant evaporator 44 gets rid of heat from the brine 7 (that is, cools the brine 7) and evaporates and gasifies the refrigerant. The refrigerant that can be used in the refrigerant circuit B is not particularly limited but any refrigerant can be used.

[29] [Brine circuit C]

The brine circuit C is constituted by the condensation tower 2, the brine pump 8, the adsorbent cooler 13a, and the adsorbent cooler 13b sequentially connected by a brine pipeline 54. The condensation tower 2 is constituted in a cylindrical shape in order to reduce an installation area and has a function as a brine tank that reserves the brine 7. The brine 7 is an antifreezing liquid constituted by a petroleum-based substance such as propylene glycol, gasoline, kerosene and the like. This brine 7 maintains a predetermined temperature range (a range of 1 to 3°C, for example) when the refrigerant circuit B is controlled. That is, in the condensation tower 2, the brine 7 is agitated when the brine 7 is cooled, whereby the temperature is adjusted.

[30]

The brine pump 8 sucks/pressurizes the brine 7 stored in the condensation tower 2. That is, the brine 7 is circulated through the brine circuit C by the brine pump 8. The adsorbent cooler 13a and the adsorbent cooler 13b cool the inside of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b using the brine 7 supplied from the condensation tower 2. By lowering the inside temperatures of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b, the gasoline vapor adsorption capacity can be increased. The brine 7 flowing out of the adsorbent cooler 13a and out of the adsorbent cooler 13b merges with each other and flows into the condensation tower 2 again.

[31]
Also, on the side face of the condensation tower 2, a liquid-level meter 55 that detects a liquid level of the brine 7 inside is disposed. Moreover, in the condensation tower 2, a brine temperature detector 12 such as a thermistor, a thermometer or the like that detects the temperature of the brine 7 inside is disposed. Temperature information detected by this brine temperature detector 12 is sent to the control means, not shown, that controls the refrigerant circuit B so that the temperature of the brine 7 is maintained within a predetermined range. This control means controls opening/closing of each electromagnetic valve, the driving frequency of each pump, the driving frequency of the compressor 41, the revolutions of the blower 46 and the like.

[32]
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100. On the basis of Fig. 2, an example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, in the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100, a frame 120 is constituted by two side frames (a side frame 114 and a side frame 115), a ceiling panel 111 that is to become an upper face, and a base plate 119 that is to become a bottom face. Inside this frame 120, a plurality of panels (a freezer panel 112, an air gap panel 113, a condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, a desorption pump panel 117, and a gasoline vapor pump panel 118) are installed in the horizontal direction so as to form spaces in which each of the above-described devices is contained.

[33]
That is, the freezer panel 112, the air gap panel 113, the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, the desorption pump panel 117, and the gasoline vapor pump panel 118 are installed in the horizontal direction so as to divide the inside of the frame 120 with predetermined intervals and form the spaces in which each of the above-described devices are contained. These panels are bonded to the side frame by welding. As a result, vertical movement of heat in each space can be suppressed. Therefore, hear radiation of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b is suppressed, and temperature rise inside can be suppressed. Thus, the adsorption capacity of the gasoline vapor can be increased, whereby the gasoline vapor recovery efficiency can be improved.

[34]
The freezer panel 112 is installed in the uppermost stage of the frame 120, a space (non-explosion-proof area 125) is formed between the ceiling panel 111 and the freezer panel 112, and the freezer 6 is installed on the freezer panel 112. Under the freezer panel 112, the air gap panel 113 is installed, a space is formed between the freezer panel 112 and the air gap panel 113, and this space serves as an air gap 110. This air gap 110 is disposed as a space that separates explosion-proof components (components for which special technical measures have been taken so as not to become an ignition source of a flammable material, referring mainly to explosion-proof electric equipment here) from non-explosion-proof components (components for which special technical measures have not been taken so as not to become an ignition source of a flammable material, referring to the freezer 6 and control substrates on which the control means is mounted and the like here) from the safety point of view and is also required to be installed by law.

[35]
Under the air gap panel 113, the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116 is installed, a space is formed between the air gap panel 113 and the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, and the condensation tower 2, the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b are mounted on the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116. The condensation tower 2, the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b cool and recover the gasoline vapor, and the space where they are installed is cooled, and thus, this space will be referred to as a cooled area in the following explanation.

[36]
Under the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, the desorption pump panel 117 is installed, a space is formed between the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116 and the desorption pump panel 117, and the desorption pump 5 is mounted on the desorption pump panel 117. Under the desorption pump panel 117, the gasoline vapor pump panel 118 is installed, a space is formed between the desorption pump panel 117 and the gasoline vapor pump panel 118, and the gasoline vapor pump 1 is mounted on the gasoline vapor pump panel 118. The desorption pump 5 and the gasoline vapor pump 1 generate heat by being driven and the space where they are mounted will be referred to as heat- generation area in the following explanation.

[37]
Then, the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 and the gasoline meter 101 are installed on an installation base 121 formed in the gas station. Also, inside the installation base 121, an in-island pit 122 is formed, in which a power source, the air discharge pipeline 36, and the outlet 10 are disposed. The size, shape, thickness and material of the installation base 121 are not particularly limited but may be determined in accordance with the size, shape, and installation number of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 and the gasoline meter 101 or the size or purpose of the gas station (exclusive for passenger cars or if large-sized cars can also use it, for example).

[38]
Here, a basic operation of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 will be described on the basis of Figs. 1 and 2 First, the refrigerant circuit B is operated so as to lower the temperature of the refrigerant evaporator 44. Specifically, the compressor 41 is driven and the refrigerant is circulated so as to lower the temperature of the refrigerant evaporator 44 disposed in the condensation tower 2. At this time, the brine 7 filled in the condensation tower 2 is lowered to a predetermined temperature. Then, when the brine 7 reaches the predetermined temperature, the driving of the compressor 41 is stopped, is stopped

[39]
If the temperature of the brine 7 rises from a predetermined range, the driving of the compressor 41 is resumed. That is, the control means, not shown, controls the compressor 41 in the refrigerant circuit B on the basis of temperature information from the brine temperature detector 12 so that the temperature of the brine 7 is maintained within the predetermined range. Since the temperature of the brine 7 in the condensation tower 2 is controlled within the predetermined range as above, K preparation for a gasoline vapor recovering operation is completed. Then, liquefied gasoline is fed to an automobile or the like from the gasoline meter 101, whereby the gasoline vapor recovering operation is started.

[40]
The gasoline vapor recovering operation starts by sucking the gasoline vapor expelled through the filler opening when the liquefied gasoline is fed to a gasoline tank of an automobile or the like from the filler nozzle 102 into the gasoline vapor condensation circuit A. That is, by an operation of the gasoline vapor pump 1 constituting the gasoline vapor condensation circuit A, the gasoline vapor is sucked into the gasoline vapor condensation circuit A through the filler nozzle 102, whereby the gasoline vapor recovering operation is started.

[41]
The sucked gasoline vapor passes through the in-island pit 122 located inside the installation base 121, flows from below to above in the frame 120 and is led into the condensation tower 2 (an arrow (a) shown in Fig. 2). The gasoline vapor having been led into the condensation tower 2 is gradually cooled and flows through the gasoline condenser 24 in the condensation tower 2 from above to below. The cooled gasoline vapor is partially liquefied and flows out of the condensation tower 2. The liquefied gasoline is trapped and recovered by the gas-liquid separator 3 and is separated from the air containing the gasoline vapor. The liquefied gasoline trapped by the gas- liquid separator 3 is returned to the gasoline meter 101 and reused.

[42]
Also, the gasoline vapor not liquefied flows into the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b. That is, since all the gasoline vapor cannot be liquefied / recovered only by the condensation tower 2, the gasoline vapor is adsorbed and desorbed by the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b and recovered. If the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by the adsorption/desorption tower 4a, the second electromagnetic valve 26a is open- controlled, while the second electromagnetic valve 26b close-controlled, and the air containing the gasoline vapor flowing out of the gas-liquid separator 3 flows into the adsorption/desorption tower 4a.

[43]
In the adsorption/desorption tower 4a, the gasoline vapor is adsorbed by the adsorbent 9a disposed inside the adsorption/desorption tower 4a. Therefore, since the gasoline vapor is adsorbed from the air containing the gasoline vapor, gasoline vapor concentration is further lowered. For example, the adsorbent 9a lowers the content of the gasoline vapor to 1 vol% or less by adsorbing the gasoline vapor. Then, this air is emitted to the atmosphere through the outlet 10 via the third electromagnetic valve 27a and the first decompression valve 28, which are open- controlled (an arrow (b) shown in Fig. 2).

[44]
On the other hand, in the adsorption/desorption tower. 4b, the gasoline vapor adsorbed by the adsorbent 9b is desorbed. Specifically, by means of driving of the desorption pump 5, the air having been taken in through the inlet 11 is decompressed by the second decompression valve 31 and flows into the adsorption/desorption tower 4b through the fourth electromagnetic valve 32b (an arrow (c) shown in Fig. 2). At this time, a pressure inside the adsorption/desorption tower 4b is a negative pressure. That is, the gasoline vapor adsorbed by the adsorbent 9b is desorbed from the adsorbent 9b by means of an action of the negative pressure of the air having flown into the adsorption/desorption tower 4b. Then, the content of the gasoline vapor contained in the air is increased (that is, the gasoline vapor concentration is raised) so as to flow out of the adsorption/desorption tower 4b to be reused.

[45]
The gasoline vapor having flown out of the adsorption/desorption tower 4b is sucked by the desorption pump 5 and flows into the gasoline adsorption pipeline 29 (that is, the gasoline vapor adsorption circuit Ai) again. Then, it merges with the gasoline vapor having flown in from the filler nozzle 102 and flows into the condensation tower 2. In this way, in the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100, the gasoline vapor recovery efficiency is improved. The inside of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b is kept at a low temperature in order to improve condensation performance and adsorption performance, while the temperature of the brine 7 is maintained positive in order to prevent freezing of a moisture contained with the gasoline vapor.

[46]
The adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b switch the functions thereof with a predetermined time interval or in accordance with the gasoline vapor concentration in the vicinity of the outlet of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a or the adsorption/desorption tower 4b. That is because an amount that can adsorb the gasoline vapor by the adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b has predetermined limitation and adsorption and desorption of the gasoline vapor need to be switched in order to perform a continuous operation. In the above-described example, such a case is assumed that the adsorption/desorption tower 4a having been functioning as an adsorption tower is made to function as a desorption tower, while the adsorption/desorption tower 4b having been functioning as a desorption tower is made to function as an adsorption tower.

[47]
Here, arrangements of each device in the frame 120 will be described in detail.
As described above, in the frame 120, the freezer 6 is arranged on the uppermost stage and then, the air gap 110, the cooling area, and the heat generation area are formed in order. Also, the outlet 10 that discharges the air to the atmosphere is installed in the in-island pit 122, that is, at a position below the heat generation area. Moreover, the gasoline desorption pipeline 35 is arranged in the cooling area so as to be connected to the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b. That is, the inlet 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b so as to suck the desorption air from the side frame side.

[48]
In the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, the desorption pump panel 117, the gasoline vapor pump panel 118, and the base plate 119, through holes are formed through which the gasoline adsorption pipeline 29, the gasoline desorption pipeline 35, and the air discharge pipeline 36 are inserted, and each of the pipelines is installed through the through holes. In the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 with such layout configuration, the air discharge pipeline 36 through which the air cooled by gasoline vapor recovery leads can be routed through the installation space of the desorption pump 5 and the installation space of the gasoline vapor pump 1, which are the heat generation areas.

[49]
Therefore, the air led through the air discharge pipeline 36 can be heated without using special means, and condensation on the air discharge pipeline 36 can be effectively prevented. As a result, there is no more need to wrap the air discharge pipeline 36 with an excess insulation material, which can contribute to cost reduction. Also, by discharging the discharged air downward, diffusion of a small amount of the gasoline vapor contained in the discharged air can be prevented. This utilizes the characteristic that the gasoline vapor is heavier than the air. Moreover, diffusion of the gasoline odor can be also prevented, and discomfort to a user performing a filling work in a gas station can be reduced.

[50]
Since the inlet 11 of the desorption air is disposed above the outlet 10 for air discharge, the gasoline vapor contained in a small amount in the air discharged to the desorption air is not mixed. Therefore, the performances of the adsorbent 9a and the adsorbent 9b can be maintained for a long time. Also, since the cooling area is disposed above the heat generation area, as compared with the case in which the cooling area is disposed below the heat generation area, condensation on the air discharge pipeline 36 can be effectively prevented without special insulation for the air discharge pipeline 36 itself.

[51]
By dividing the inside of the frame 120 by the plurality of panels (the freezer panel 112, the air gap panel 113, the condensation tower and adsorption/desorption tower panel 116, the desorption pump panel 117, and the gasoline vapor pump panel 118), vertical movement of heat can be suppressed, and the condensation on the air discharge pipeline 36 can be prevented further effectively.

Also, heating from the outside (such as the heat generation area, for example) to the cooling area can be prevented, an extra operation of the freezer 6 can be suppressed, and an operation cost can be reduced.

[52]
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100. On the basis of Fig. 3, another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 will be described. In Fig. 2, the case in which the inlet 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the adsorption/desorption tower 4a and the adsorption/desorption tower 4b is shown as an example, but in Fig. 3, a case in which the inlet 11 is disposed at a height position equal to the outlet 10 is shown as an example. It is only necessary that this inlet 11 is disposed at a height position equal to or higher than the installed position of the outlet 10. Through the inlet 11, the desorption air that desorbs the gasoline vapor adsorbed by the adsorbent 9a or the adsorbent 9b is taken in (an arrow (C1) shown in Fig. 3). It is preferable that this desorption air does not contain the gasoline vapor component.

[53]
Then, in Fig. 2, the inlet 11 is installed above the position installed the outlet 10 so that the small amount of the gasoline vapor component contained in the air discharged through the outlet 10 is not contained in the desorption air. However, depending on the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100, there can be a case in which the inlet 11 needs to be installed at the height position equal to that of the outlet 10. Thus, in Fig. 3, the inlet 11 is set so that the direction thereof is not the same as that of the outlet 10. In this way, too, the small amount of the gasoline vapor component contained in the air discharged through the outlet 10 (an arrow (bi) shown in Fig. 3) is not contained in the desorption air taken in through the inlet 11.

[54]
As shown in Fig. 2, in an apparatus in which the outlet 10 is provided within the in-island pit 122, if the inlet 11 is disposed at a height of a grounding surface or above of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus, the air discharged from the outlet 10 is not taken in from the inlet 11. However, as shown in Fig. 3, in an apparatus in which the inlet 11 and the outlet 10 are installed at the equal height positions, if the inlet 11 is arranged in the same direction as the outlet 10, the air discharged from the outlet 10 is taken in from the inlet 11. In order to avoid such a problem, the direction of the inlet 11 is set so that it is not the same as the direction of the outlet 10 in Fig. 3.

[55]
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating still another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100. On the basis of Fig. 4, still another example of the layout of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100 will be described. In Figs. 2 and 3, the inlet 11 is described to be disposed at a height position equal to or higher than the installed position of the outlet 10 so that the air discharged through the outlet 10 is not taken in through the inlet 11, but in Fig. 4, a device to further prevent the air discharged through the outlet 10 from being taken in through the inlet 11 will be described.

[56]
In Fig. 2, the case in which the outlet 10 is directed downward in the vertical direction and in Fig. 3, the case in which the outlet 10 is directed to the horizontal direction are described, respectively as examples, but it is only necessary that the outlet 10 is disposed so as to be directed within this range, that is, in a range from the horizontal direction to downward in the vertical direction (that is, in a range from the arrow (b) to the arrow (bi) shown in Fig. 4). Since the gasoline vapor component is heavier than the air, by discharging the air within this range, the gasoline vapor odor does not rise to the height higher than that. Therefore, diffusion of the small amount of the gasoline vapor contained in the discharged air can be prevented, and discomfort to a user performing a filling work in a gas station can be reduced.

[57]
On the other hand, in Figs. 2 and 3, the case in which the inlet 11 is directed to the horizontal direction is shown as an example, but as shown in Fig. 4, it is only necessary that the inlet 11 is disposed so as to be directed within a range from the horizontal direction to upward in the vertical direction (that is, in a range from the arrow (c) to the arrow (C2) shown in Fig. 4). By adjusting the direction of the inlet 11 and the direction of the outlet 10 as appropriate, the air discharged through the outlet 10 can be prevented from being further taken in through the inlet 11. The direction of the inlet 11 can be adjusted by bending the gasoline desorption pipeline 35 and the direction of the outlet 10 can be adjusted by bending the air discharge pipeline. Therefore, on the basis of the size, the shape and the like of the gasoline vapor recovery apparatus 100, the number of routing selections of each pipeline can be increased, the layout of each pipeline can be determined, and contribution can be made to space saving or better design.

We claim:

1. (Amended) A gasoline vapor recovery apparatus comprising:

a gasoline vapor pump that sucks gasoline vapor discharged from a gasoline tank;

a condensation tower, the inside thereof being filled with brine, that cools the gasoline vapor sucked by said gasoline vapor pump;

an adsorption/desorption tower that adsorbs the gasoline vapor sucked by said gasoline vapor pump using an adsorbent and desorbs the gasoline vapor adsorbed by said adsorbent;

a desorption pump that supplies desorption air to said adsorption/desorption tower;

a frame that contains said gasoline vapor, said condensation tower, said adsorption/desorption tower, and said desorption pump therein; and

an air discharge pipeline that leads air to the atmosphere after said gasoline vapor is adsorbed in said adsorption/desorption tower, wherein

in said frame, said condensation tower and said adsorption/desorption tower are arranged at a position higher than said gasoline vapor pump and said desorption pump; and

said air discharge pipeline is routed through a heat generation area in which components generating heat by being driven are installed.

2. The gasoline vapor recovering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

a freezer that cools the brine filled in said condensation tower, wherein

in said frame, said freezer is arranged at an uppermost part.

3. The gasoline vapor recovering apparatus of claim 2, wherein

said freezer, said gasoline vapor, said condensation tower, said adsorption/desorption tower, and said desorption pump are arranged in spaces divided by panels disposed in the horizontal direction.

4. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

an outlet disposed at an end portion of said air discharge pipeline is arranged below the spaces containing said gasoline vapor pump and said desorption pump.

5. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of claim 4, wherein said outlet is directed within a range from the horizontal direction to downward in the vertical direction.

6. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of claim 4 or 5, further comprising

a gasoline desorption pipeline that leads desorption air that desorbs said gasoline vapor adsorbed by said adsorbent in said adsorption/desorption tower, wherein

an inlet disposed at an end portion of said gasoline desorption pipeline is arranged at a height equal to or higher than an installation position of said outlet.

7. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of claim 6, wherein

said inlet is installed at a position higher than said outlet, and

said inlet is directed in the horizontal direction and said outlet is directed downward in the vertical direction.

8. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of claim 6, wherein

said inlet and said outlet are installed at equal heights, and

said inlet and said outlet are directed in different directions.

9. (Amended) The gasoline vapor recovery apparatus of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein

said inlet is directed within a range from the horizontal direction to upward in the vertical direction.