AMOCO OIL UNVEILS NEW STAGE II PUMP NOZZLE

Amoco Oil Co. has developed a new vapor recovery service station pump nozzle designed to eliminate problems with the cumbersome predecessors used throughout California since the late 1970s and currently being introduced into other markets.

Start of the new design's trial use in California occurs at a time when U.S. refiner/marketers are taking steps to begin installing Stage 11 vapor recovery systems in key nonattainment areas to comply with Environmental Protection Agency rules expected to take effect soon.

Although affected states are still working out state implementation plans (SIPS) related to Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments, some cities are jumping the gun.

Philadelphia passed an ordinance requiring all service stations with sales of more than 100,000 gal/month in the city to have Stage 11 systems by June 25. Pennsylvania is likely to add Pittsburgh and Reading metropolitan areas, both considered moderate air quality regions, to its SIP, which is not expected to be submitted to EPA under the regulatory negotiation process for at least another 6 months.

Meanwhile, in introducing its Stage 11 vapor recovery pump nozzle at 13 high volume stations in the Philadelphia area, Sun Refining & Marketing Co. has begun a demonstration program for self-serve customers to learn how to use the accordion seal design nozzles the Amoco design seeks to replace.

BACKGROUND

Under CAA amendments passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush last fall, vapor recovery systems will be required at all service stations in federal air quality nonattainment areas of the U.S.

The American Petroleum Institute estimated installing Stage 11 controls in nonattainment areas will cost refiner/marketers about $100 million/year (OGJ, May 14, 1990, p. 40).

A vapor recovery system was implemented in California beginning in 1977, requiring recovery of gasoline vapors during auto refueling as part of a state smog reduction program.

The experiment with Stage 11 type controls in California was unpopular with many motorists, especially in early stages of the program, because of problems handling the heavy, unwieldy accordion-like bellows to capture gasoline vapors. The bellows seal also created a new pollution problem with frequent splashback or bellows tears, sometimes releasing more hydrocarbon vapors than they were designed to collect.

AMOCO DESIGN

The California Air Resources Board last month began a 90 day certification test of Amoco's new V-1 design nozzle at a Beacon Oil Co. service station in Sacramento.

The test is intended to ensure the V-1 nozzle cuts vapor emissions by at least 95% with each use. Thereafter, the nozzle will be available throughout the state.

The V-1 nozzle controls as much hydrocarbon emissions during refueling as current models but uses a vacuum created by the flow of gasoline to draw hydrocarbon vapors into the underground storage tank. It does not require a positive seal between the nozzle and auto tank fill pipe. A vacuum pump draws vapors from the fill pipe into perforations in the tip of the V-1, returning them to the storage tank through an annular passage within with pump hose. It is operated like a conventional, prebellows design nozzle.

Like its predecessor, the V-1 captures about 1 gal of equivalent hydrocarbons in vapor form for each gallon dispensed, CARB said.

ADVANTAGES

CARB said, "This was the type of gasoline nozzle we envisioned when we started the vapor recovery program, and we think it has the potential to set the standard for future vapor recovery programs."

Amoco, noting its new design is the result of more than 10 years of engineering research and development, contends the V-1 is less bulky and much easier to use than other models. In addition, the V-1 weighs about 50% less than earlier models.

By eliminating the bellows seal, the V-1 avoids an added source of pollution caused when the seals tear or break down from lack of maintenance, one of the main causes for enforcement citations issued to service station operators by air pollution inspectors, Amoco said.

By installing a vapor control valve inside the nozzle, the V-1 eliminates possible spills of gasoline vapor condensates that can collect in vapor return hoses, thus avoiding those added emissions.

Amoco introduced the V-1 in St. Louis in 1989 and Washington in 1990 as part of its environmental initiatives program.

Amoco stations in Philadelphia and 12 stations in Baltimore were to be equipped with V-1 nozzles by July 1. As manufacturing capacity increases, Amoco stations in other nonattainment areas will be equipped with V-1 nozzles.

Copyright 1991 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.