Picture this. You’re standing near a gas compressor, observing its massive engine powering up to move tons of natural gas through pipelines. Suddenly, you’re hit by a smell so pungent that you almost lose your lunch.
Congratulations, my friend, you’ve just had a whiff of one of the most common hazards of gas compression – VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds.
Thankfully, we’ve got the solution to saving your nose and your lunch. A Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) is the unsung hero that not just captures these smelly clouds of fumes but helps reduce air pollution.
Join us as we take a closer look into what vapor recovery units are all about.
You could be silently puffing away your profits in the form of lost vapors
Stop losing money to thin air. Here’s a simplified rundown of the VRU process.
These bad boys have been around for decades, helping industries reduce their carbon footprint and meet emission standards. Basically, they’re like a vacuum cleaner sucking up the gas fumes and recycling them back into the system instead of releasing them into the atmosphere. Vapors are processed through a series of filters and scrubbers to remove any harmful impurities and can be converted into a liquid product.
Vapors and/or the liquidized molecules are then redirected and either sold as a separate product to third parties or recycled back into the compression process. This not only reduces air pollution (hallelujah!) but also helps you maximize your profits.
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty
Now that we know what VRUs are and how they work, let’s talk about why they’re so great for the environment and your wallet.
1. Save the Environment
We only have one planet, and we need to take care of it!
VRUs can help you to do your part in reducing your carbon footprint. Vapor recovery units reduce the amount of toxic chemicals and gasses that are released into the atmosphere, leading to better air quality and a healthier environment. Plus, with the increasing demand for environmental responsibility, using vapor recovery units help you stay ahead of the competition.
2. Cut Costs, Save Money
Aside from the environmental benefits, there’s also the potential for big savings. How? By making sure that every drop of product is captured and accounted for.
Businesses can save up to tens of thousands of dollars a year by capturing gasses and vapors that would have otherwise been lost. By installing a VRU, you’re essentially recovering lost revenue. Remember the vapors that were once just escaping into the air? Those are now valuable resources that can be reused, sold, or used for fuel. It’s like a hidden treasure that you didn’t know you had.
Some VRUs are better suited to capturing high-quality gas that can be reused, while others are better suited to capturing lower-quality gas that can be sold to a third party.
3. Increase Functionality
Vapor recovery units also increase the efficiency and functionality of your business. With more accurate tracking of gas volumes, there is better inventory management. Reduced gas leaks shorten the time of delivery and faster maintenance schedules can be targeted to improve equipment performance.
4. Versatility
VRUs can be installed in various industries that handle volatile organic compounds, such as gas stations, oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and chemical manufacturing facilities. They can be designed to fit the specific needs and requirements of your operations, making them a customizable and versatile solution.
You tell us what you need. We’ll handle the rest.
So you’re interested in a VRU? Here are the basics we cover before setting your gas compressor system up with one of our high-quality units:
- The amount of gas you need to recover
- Quality of gas you’re recovering
- Factors like flow rate, inlet pressure, and gas composition
- Your budget and bottom line
Don’t worry, you likely won’t have to buy an entirely new gas compression system to get the benefits of vapor recovery. VRUs can usually be integrated into your existing gas compression operation.
We’ll take a look at what you’re currently working with and make equipment recommendations based on your specifications and requirements.
Start breathing easier
At Unimac, we offer high-quality, reliable equipment, and our team of experts is always available to help with any questions or concerns you may have. We pride ourselves on our expertise and our commitment to providing high-quality products to better our customers and the environment.
Reach out to us today to start breathing easier and putting money back in your pocket!