A vapor recovery system turns vapor into liquid, and that liquid becomes someone’s responsibility. Where it collects, how it moves and how the movement is documented are small topics with outsized consequences, because condensate mishandled is both an environmental exposure and a bookkeeping problem.
Where Condensate Collects
Condensate pools at the designed low points: collection pots, separator bodies and buffer tanks. Each needs a level indication a person can actually check and a drain path a person can actually reach. Collection points hidden behind piping or buried beneath access covers get ignored, and ignored collection points overflow on the coldest, busiest day of the month.
Transfer Practice
Whether condensate moves by gravity to storage or by transfer pump, the practice is the same: dedicated equipment, closed connections where possible, and a spill kit within reach. Pump transfers deserve attention to the discharge condition, so a closed valve or blocked line raises a pressure signal instead of a failure. Keep transfer hose in good order; the cheapest hose on the site is usually the one that fails first.
Documentation That Holds Up
Every transfer gets a record: date, source vessel, destination, approximate volume and operator. The log serves three masters: operations tracking recovery performance, accounting for product movement, and inspection questions that arrive years later. Ten minutes of paperwork per transfer is the premium on all three.
Water Separation and Product Routing
Condensate carries water. Separation before the product returns to storage keeps that water out of the tank, and separated water is disposed of through the site’s permitted path rather than a floor drain. Confirm the routing with the site’s compliance documentation so the physical practice and the paperwork describe the same system.
| Step | Practice | Record |
|---|---|---|
| Collection | Checkable level, reachable drain | Level log frequency |
| Separation | Water leg drained on schedule | Drain entries |
| Transfer | Dedicated equipment, closed connections | Volume, date, operator |
| Disposal | Permitted path for separated water | Manifest or log reference |
Common Questions
How often should collection pots be drained?
On the schedule the operating log establishes. Drain frequency follows observed accumulation, and the log exists to turn that observation into a routine.
Can condensate return to the storage tank directly?
With water separated first and the return path designed for it, yes. The site’s compliance documentation should describe the routing that practice follows.
Does VOHON advise on condensate handling for its vapor recovery systems?
Yes. VOHON provides condensate handling guidance with its Stage III vapor recovery equipment, and the team can be reached at lixiang@vohon.cn.