Section 3 – VOC generation systems in Crude Oil
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Marine Environment Protection Committee - MEPC.1/Circular.680 – Technical Information on Systems and Operation to Assist Development of VOC Management Plans – (17 July 2009) - Annex – Technical Information on Vapour Pressure Control Systems and Their Operation to Assist Development of VOC Management Plans for Tankers Carrying Cruide Oil - Section 3 – VOC generation systems in Crude Oil

Section 3 – VOC generation systems in Crude Oil

  3.1 Why limit VOC Emissions to the atmosphere? VOCs are a pollutant to the air and act as a precursor to the formation of Tropospheric Ozone – commonly termed Smog.

Thus, to control this emission, there are four criteria that impact on the extent and rate of evolution of gaseous non-methane VOC from crude oils and its subsequent release to atmosphere. These are:

  • .1 the volatility or vapour pressure of the crude oil;

  • .2 the temperature of the liquid and gas phases of the crude oil tank;

  • .3 the pressure setting or control of the vapour phase within the cargo tank; and

  • .4 the size or volume of the vapour phase within the cargo tank.

Each of these criteria are defined and briefly explained below together with any interaction between the criteria for general operational circumstances.

Parent topic: Annex – Technical Information on Vapour Pressure Control Systems and Their Operation to Assist Development of VOC Management Plans for Tankers Carrying Cruide Oil
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