A METHOD FOR CLEANING A MIXTURE OF AIR AND VAPOUR FROM VOLATILE CRUDE OIL WITH RECOVERY OF THE HYDROCARBONS, AND A SYSTEM FOR USE IN THE METHOD

摘要

In a method for cleaning a mixture of air and vapour from volatile crude oil with recovery of the hydrocarbons, wherein the vapours are absorbed in an absorption means (3) by direct contact with a petroleum distillate, such as 'petroleum' which has been cooled sufficiently beforehand to cause combined cooling condensation and absorption of the hydrocarbons, the petroleum distillate having a substantially constant hydrocarbon concentration is transferred from the absorption means (3) to a buffer tank (5), from which it is conveyed either to a stripping means (4) in which the hydrocarbons dissolved in the petroleum distillate are stripped so that the petroleum distillate circulates in a substantially closed circuit, or for further processing or use. Prior to absorption under pressure in the absorption means (3) the entering mixture of air and vapour is compressed in a compressor (1) and washed with crude oil under pressure in a washing column (2). The hydrocarbons recovered in the stripping means (4) are recirculated to the compressor (1). This makes it possible to recover vapours from very volatile crude oil having a high gas content in a system, which occupies less space than traditional systems and can therefore be installed e.g. on board tankers.