Guidelines for the design and operation of petrol

vapour emission controls at distribution terminals

4th edition
 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR
EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

4th edition

Oct 2014

Published by
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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

CONTENTS
Page

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Guide to contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1 Introduction and scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.1 Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.2 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 Control technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.1 Above-ground storage tanks at terminals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3.2 Loading of mobile containers (road tankers, rail tank cars and marine vessels) . . . 8

2 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2 Floating roof tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.1 External floating roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.2 Internal floating roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.2.3 Seal systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
2.3 Vertical fixed roof tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3.1 Connection to a VRU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.4 Horizontal cylindrical tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3 Road tanker vapour system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.3 System design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.4 Control of vapour system integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.5 Principal components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.5.1 Pressure-vacuum breather valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
3.5.2 Emergency pressure relief valve (EPRV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5.3 Vapour transfer valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5.4 Connecting hose to vapour manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.5.5 Vapour manifold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5.6 Vapour manifold valve (optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5.7 Vapour down pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5.8 Vapour adaptor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.5.9 Interlock for hose coupler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.5.10 Pressure switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.5.11 Overfill prevention system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.6 Possible malfunctions when loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

4 Rail tank car loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

4.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3.1 Rail tank car depressurisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3.2 Top loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3.3 Bottom loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

4.4 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.5 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.6 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

5 Marine loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5.3 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.4 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.5 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.6 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

6 Vapour collection systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

6.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3.1 General considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3.2 Vapour collection system types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3.3 Connections to the vapour collection system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
6.3.4 Vapour piping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6.3.5 Vapour holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.3.6 Storage tank vapour balanced systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
6.3.7 Vapour collection system sizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
6.4 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6.4.1 Hazard and operability study (HazOp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
6.4.2 System over/under pressure protection and emergency venting . . . . . . . . . 38
6.4.3 Fire and explosion protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
6.5 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
6.6 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

7 Vapour recovery units (VRUs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

7.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.2 VRU types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.2.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.2.2 Carbon adsorption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
7.2.3 Membrane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.3 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.3.1 Design parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
7.3.2 Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
7.3.3 Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
7.3.4 Other consumables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.3.5 Control of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
7.4 Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4.1 Hazard and operability (HazOp) study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4.2 Hazardous area classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4.3 Discharge of vapour during VRU shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4.4 Ventilation of enclosed spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.4.5 Fire-fighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
7.5 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
7.5.1 Operational procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
7.5.2 Prevention of high temperature excursions in carbon adsorption type VRUs . . 50
7.5.3 Recovery measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
7.5.4 Performance and vent emission monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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8 VRU inspection and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

8.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8.2 Mechanical integrity inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
8.3 Maintenance plan considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.4 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.4.1 Spares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8.4.2 Specialised equipment and skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.4.3 Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.5 Testing of alarms, shutdowns and emergency shutdowns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.6 Daily maintenance and operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
8.6.1 Example of preventative maintenance checks and procedures . . . . . . . . . . . 58
8.7 VRU testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.7.1 Compliance and emission testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.7.2 Duty reclaim testing at duty suspended facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
8.7.3 Capacity test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Annexes:
Annex A Requirements of the European Directive 94/63/EC on the control of VOC
emissions during petrol storage and distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Annex B Sizing of vapour collection and recovery systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Annex C Thermal oxidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Annex D Vapour balancing during rail tank car off-loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Annex E Model sequence for dealing with a temperature excursion in a carbon
adsorption type VRU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Annex F VRU emission measurement test method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Annex G A model baseline survey for the development of a mechanical integrity
inspection programme for carbon adsorption type vapour recovery units . . 93
Annex H Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Annex I References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

FOREWORD

This publication has been prepared by the Vapour Recovery Working Group of the EIs Distribution
and Marketing Committee.

EU Directive 94/63/EC placed controls on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from
the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to filling stations. The first two editions
of this publication provided information to assist terminal operators and filling station operators
in their design and operation of vapour emission controls. The third edition, published in 2008,
focused solely on the design, operation and maintenance of petrol vapour emission control systems
at petrol distribution terminals, with comprehensive guidance on emission controls at filling stations
being provided in the joint EI/APEA publication Design, construction, modification, maintenance and
decommissioning of filling stations. This fourth edition provides an update on the 2008 publication
taking account of industry experience of the operation and maintenance of vapour emission control
systems over the last five years. As carbon adsorption type vapour recovery units are the norm in
the UK, more detailed guidance on the operation of these types of units is included, in particular
concerning the control of high temperature excursions.

The revision of the guidelines has been undertaken to incorporate good practice learnt during the
implementation of EU Directive 94/63/EC, both in the UK, and elsewhere in Europe.

Although this publication has been written in response to European legislation, it is the intent that
the recommendations are applicable wherever Stage 1 petrol vapour emission controls are to be
implemented.

The information contained in this code is provided as guidance only and while every reasonable care
has been taken to ensure the accuracy of its contents, the EI cannot accept any responsibility for any
action taken, or not taken, on the basis of this information. The Energy Institute shall not be liable to
any person for any loss or damage which may arise from the use of any of its publications.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Technical Department, Energy
Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7AR.

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This fourth edition of the guidelines was prepared by the EIs Vapour Recovery Working Group,
comprising:

Keith Bell ConocoPhillips

Ian Goldsworthy Valero
Robert Harris Amber Engineering Consultancy Ltd
Phil Lambeth BP Oil UK
Rex May BP Oil UK
Paul Miller ConocoPhillips
Tom Ramsey ExxonMobil
Jeff Robson SGS Roplex Ltd
Ray Sewart Total
Jonathan Silk Vopak (on behalf of the Tank Storage Association)
Brian Smithers Consultant (Chair)
Andrew Sykes EI
Toni Needham EI

The EI wishes to record its appreciation of the work carried out by them, and thanks are also extended
to Neil Bretherick (Emco Wheaton), John Robson (SGS Roplex Ltd) and Dave de Halle (Phillips66) for
their assistance in the updating of these guidelines.

Technical editing and project coordination was carried out by Brian Smithers (Consultant to EI) and
Andrew Sykes and Toni Needham (EI).

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

GUIDE TO CONTENTS

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

VAPOUR
EMISSION
CONTROLS
DURING:

SECTION 2 STORAGE

SECTION 3 ROAD TANKER

VAPOUR SYSTEM

SECTION 4 RAIL TANK CAR

LOADING

SECTION 5 MARINE
LOADING

VAPOUR COLLECTION
SECTION 6 SYSTEMS IN TERMINALS

SECTIONS 7 AND 8 VAPOUR RECOVERY

UNITS ( VRUs )

ANNEX C THERMAL OXIDATION

VAPOUR BALANCING
ANNEX D DURING RAIL TANK CAR
OFF-LOADING

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE

1.1 BACKGROUND

Concerns about the environmental and health effects of emissions of non-methane volatile
organic compounds (NMVOCs) have led to European legislation imposing emission controls on
the principal man-made sources of NMVOCs, e.g. solvents and petrol-powered automobiles.
In addition, Directive 94/63/EC mandates emission reductions during the distribution of
petrol.
The reduction in emissions during the storage, loading, and off-loading of petrol is
known as Stage 1 vapour control. Stage 1 is subdivided into:

Stage 1a: the control of emissions during the receipt, storage and loading of petrol
at terminals, and
Stage 1b: the control of emissions during off-loading of road tankers into service
station storage tanks.

European legislation has also been introduced to control emissions during the refuelling of
automobiles. Directive 2009/126/EC mandates so-called Stage 2 controls which require
modification of the petrol dispenser permitting the vapours displaced from the automobile
fuel tank to be fed back to the filling station storage tanks. The abatement of refuelling
emissions can also be undertaken, as is mandated in the USA, by using a larger version of the
carbon canister system which is currently installed on-board the automobile to control fuel
system evaporative losses.
Figure 1 shows the location of the stages diagrammatically. Both Stages 1 and 2 are
closed systems in which vapours are prevented from being vented to atmosphere by being
captured and collected for subsequent processing; for example, in a vapour recovery unit

(VRU).

Refinery

Loading, transport and Delivery to Automobile

terminal operations service stations refuelling

Stage 1 Stage 2
Stage 1a Stage 1b or onboard
carbon canister

Figure 1 The stages of vapour emission controls

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 GUIDELINES FOR THE DESIGN AND OPERATION OF PETROL VAPOUR EMISSION CONTROLS AT DISTRIBUTION TERMINALS

1.2 SCOPE

These guidelines focus only on the design, operation and maintenance of vapour emission
control systems at petrol distribution terminals, i.e. Stage 1a. The principles outlined may also
be used at other sites, e.g. refinery off-sites, bulk liquid storage terminals, etc, although these
may have their own additional specific considerations to be taken into account that are not
addressed here.
These guidelines apply to vapour collection and control systems for petrol vapour.
They may not be appropriate for the control of emissions from the storage or handling of
other products.
Although the guidelines have been influenced by the need to comply with Directive
94/63/EC, it is the intent that they may be used wherever petrol vapour emission controls
are to be installed. The guidelines have been written without reference to other legislation
or local requirements which also have to be met in the installation and operation of control
equipment.
Only single stage vapour recovery technologies are addressed in the guidelines.
No guidance is given on the installation and operation of more complex multi-stage units
designed to meet emission limits which are much more stringent than those required by the
Directive.
For marine loading, the guidelines discuss primarily the on-shore vapour collection
and control systems. For sea-going vessels the on-ship equipment requirements have been
formulated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in MSC Circular 585 Standards
for vapour emission control systems.

1.3 CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES

1.3.1 Above-ground storage tanks at terminals

It is possible to reduce evaporation in storage tanks significantly by covering the surface of

the petrol with an external or internal floating roof. This technique is already widely used
within the oil industry.
Alternatively, vapours formed by evaporation in a fixed roof tank can be captured by
connecting the vent of the tank directly to a vapour control system.

1.3.2 Loading of mobile containers (road tankers, rail tank cars and marine vessels)

Directive 94/63/EC mandates that petrol vapours displaced from mobile containers whilst
being loaded should be returned through a vapour-tight collection system to a VRU. At
terminals where petrol is loaded onto inland waterway barges under certain circumstances
vapour thermal oxidation can be substituted for recovery (see Annex A).
The vapours displaced during the loading of a mobile container can be captured and
fed to a vapour control system by the following means:
Bottom loading: the vapours can be collected by connecting the vapour space(s) of a
mobile container to a common vapour line. This can then be connected to a terminal
vapour collection system. This is the loading mode mandated in the Directive for road
tankers.
Top loading: the vapours can be captured by modifying the loading arm so that the
vapours are displaced directly into the terminal vapour collection line. This loading
mode is the most commonly used in Europe for rail tank cars.