Vapor Combustion Units (UCV/VCU)
FLOW manufacturing
Vapor Combustion Units (UCV or VCU in English) are devices used to control atmospheric pollution through the thermal destruction of waste emanating to the atmosphere in the operations of loading trucks, ships or wagons and filling tanks in terminals. They are enclosed flame flare type equipment, with efficiency higher than 99%, with no apparent fire and no black smoke emanation. They are usually indicated when it is not possible to use a Vapor Recovery Unit.
Operation principle
When there is no product movement, the VCU is in stand-by, with the pilot flame off, with the fans off and the stage valves closed. Upon receiving a transfer start signal, the unit starts the start-up procedures, which consist of the following events:
- The auxiliary air fan purges the chimney ensuring that there are no flammable vapors before the pilot lights up.
- The pilot gas valve opens and the pilot is lit electronically.
- After pilot ignition, the auxiliary gas valve opens and the temperature rise is controlled so that the unit is ready to receive the vapors.
- Vapors enter the VCU.
- Normal operation.
The VCU has a pressure control system in the supply line, and when the pressure reaches predetermined levels, a regulating valve will automatically open, allowing the steam mixture to flow to the burner, where the pilot starts burning the combustible vapors.
The control system monitors the internal temperature of the combustion chamber, controls the inlet air flow into the combustion chamber through adjustable dampers, and the supplementary flow of fuel gas injected into the combustion zone.
When the transfer operation is completed, the pilot will automatically turn off and remain in stand-by until the header pressure reaches the pre-set levels in the system again.