HYDROCARBON EMISSION CONTROL IN REFINERIES AND PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS IN GERMANY

摘要

Hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) together with nitrogen oxides can form smog through complex photochemical reactions in the atmosphere. There are also public health concerns about exposure to hydrocarbon vapours, including benzene. Therefore, one of the main efforts of government environmental policy concentrates on hydrocarbon emission reduction. To this effect, relevant legislation in the Federal Republic of Germany was tightened in the mid-80s. It has become effective in the eastern part of Germany following reunification in 1990, with a corresponding delay.The main anthropogenic VOC sources are road traffic and the production and use of solvents (in 1990 some 40 wt% each). Emissions from the petroleum sector (refining and gasoline distribution) make up about 5 wt%.In spite of the closed system which refineries represent due to the flammability of crude oil and its products, hydrocarbon emissions do occur. They amounted to 25 000 tons from German refineries (total capacity 110 million tons) in 1994. The following main sources of emissions will be considered:1. process units2. process point sources3. storage of crude oil and refinery products4. loading areas.A second section will discuss the VOC emissions from gasoline distribution systems and the impact of' Stage Ⅰ' and 'Stage Ⅱ' vapour recovery systems for emission control.