ENERGY
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are an inherent safety risk, as operators must reduce the VOC concentration below the “Lower Explosive Limit” (LEL) to prevent combustion.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are an inherent safety risk, as operators must reduce the VOC concentration below the “Lower Explosive Limit” (LEL) to prevent combustion.
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Gas freeing of fuel and petrochemical storage tanks represents a real threat to life and property. The gas freeing methods commonly in use today are air purging and tank inerting with nitrogen or water. These methods have their own distinct disadvantages in terms of safety and time.
NANOVAPOR’S PATENTED SYSTEM
TankSafe, when activated with NanoVapor’s patented Model ST-1000 delivery unit, reduces the amount of time spent reaching a safe LEL, increases the amount of time that VOCs stay suppressed, and produces no hazardous byproducts.
The delivery unit is portable and compact, weighs only 100 lbs (45 kg) and is designed to be intrinsically safe with an ATEX Zone II rating with no electrical or moving parts. It has been specially engineered to use compressed air to activate and inject TankSafe in order to form an effective evaporative barrier at a molecular level. This molecular suppression stops further fuel vapor formation and can be optionally applied further for long-lasting suppression.
WHY NANOVAPOR?
Tank inerting commonly uses nitrogen gas or water-filling to reduce the flammability risk by removing the oxygen in the tank.
Removing oxygen also introduces a high risk of asphyxiation, particularly when tank entry is required.
In these situations, malfunctions in breathing equipment can lead to rapid loss of consciousness, and fatalities are not uncommon since rescue operations in confined tank spaces are very difficult at best.
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NO RESIDUE OR CLEANUP
Because less than one ounce of active molecular suppressant ingredient is needed to gas free 100 m3 of tank volume, NanoVapor degassing leaves no detectable residue behind. NanoVapor’s suppressant is also non-toxic, non-hazardous, and non-reactive, so it means a much healthier workplace. It is greener than any other gas freeing method, since NanoVapor is completely biodegradable and creates no hazardous waste, while effectively reducing the total amount of noxious fuel vapors released into the atmosphere.
​Industry Applications
UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS
There are hundreds of thousands of Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) globally that store petroleum or hazardous substances. When cleaning up a site, or inspecting a UST for safety or maintenance, the tank often must be opened and entered. Even after the tank has been drained, hazardous and explosive vapors remain which escape to the atmosphere and create an unsafe work environment for human entry.
Our proven technology suppresses VOC formation up to 50% faster, improving the air quality so your employees can work in an explosion-free, non-toxic environment. NanoVapor TankSafe is safe for people, plants, and animals – and completely biodegradable.
ABOVEGROUND STORAGE TANKS
Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs) at terminals, refineries, and tank farms require periodic inspection, cleaning, and other maintenance. This commonly involves removing the sludge at the bottom of the tank, fixing a leak, or inspecting the tank for problems. In addition, tank farms have frequent product changes. Traditional methods for degassing are time consuming, costly, produce more pollutants, and are potentially unhealthy and very dangerous. Air purging is typically used to remove fuel vapors from the tank to make it safe for work; however, this process is always time consuming (days to weeks) and the amount time required can be difficult to predict.
Our system provides a faster, safer, greener, and very cost effective alternative to air purging.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT
We understand that retail tank configurations can vary widely throughout the world, and we’re prepared to provide worldwide technical support for our customers. We offer a full set of ancillary equipment to help adapt the ST-1000 to your particular tank access configurations and operating limitations. This includes drop tubes for inside the tank, inlet adapters, modular venting system, ATEX ducting, air hose whip check wires, and a vapor collection system.
NanoVapor provides a comprehensive Operating and Training Manual for the Model ST-1000 Vapor Suppression System that walks you through the operational details. We also offer an optional two-day training package that includes classroom lessons, hands-on equipment familiarization, and live onsite practical training on the customer’s own fuel storage tanks.