Short answer: a useful vapor recovery unit quote starts with the right data, because the unit is sized to a vapor load that only the site can describe. A supplier needs to know what kind of site it is, where the vapor comes from and how much, what the vapor is made of, and what constraints the location places on the package. A request sent with those details returns a quote that matches the real duty; a request sent with none of them returns a number that has to be reworked the moment the real numbers appear. The few hours spent assembling the data are the few hours that make the quote trustworthy.
Start with the site type and duty
The first thing a supplier needs is what the unit will actually serve, because a terminal, a depot and a gas station have very different vapor profiles. A station sees mostly tank breathing and delivery displacement with a modest dispensing contribution, while a terminal sees large delivery and loading volumes that dominate the duty. Stating the site type, the number and size of tanks, and whether loading or unloading drives the vapor tells the supplier which duty case to size against. Without this, the quote may be built around the wrong scenario and the unit may arrive mismatched to the busiest hour the site actually has. The Stage III obligations overview frames what the local rule expects of the station side, and that expectation belongs in the request.
Quantify the vapor source and flow
The heart of any quote is the vapor load, expressed as a flow range the unit must handle and the peaks it must survive. Delivery displacement is usually the largest contributor: a tanker push can move a large volume of vapor out of the tank in a short window, and the unit must absorb that without letting tank pressure run away. Diurnal breathing adds a steadier, temperature driven load through hot days. Stating the delivery volume and frequency, the tank capacities, and the expected peak vapor flow lets the supplier size the machine against the real peak rather than a gentle average. A unit sized to the average will vent or alarm exactly when the site is busiest, which is the worst moment to discover the mistake.
Describe the vapor composition
What is in the vapor decides which recovery method and materials suit the unit, so the request should say what product the tanks hold. Gasoline vapor, diesel vapor and blends behave differently, and the presence of heavier or lighter fractions changes how the recovery stage is configured. Where the site handles multiple products or seasonal blends, stating the range matters more than naming a single product. A clear composition note prevents a unit being specified around a vapor it will rarely see, and it protects the recovery efficiency the quote promises. The ORVR background explains why vehicle side capture changes the balance of what reaches the station, and that balance belongs in the vapor description.
Share the site constraints that shape the package
The physical and regulatory limits of the site decide what package will actually fit, and omitting them produces quotes for units that cannot be placed. Available footprint and whether ground or elevated mounting is possible sets the skid size. Local separation rules for ignition sources and traffic set where it may sit. Power supply capacity and any noise limits set which options are viable. And the ambient temperature range, hot summers or cold winters, sets material and control choices. A request that lists these constraints returns a quote that is buildable on the first try, instead of one that survives review only after a redesign.
The data a supplier needs, summarized
Collating the request into a single sheet makes it easy to send and easy to answer, and most delays in quoting trace to one of these items being missing:
| Data item | Why the supplier needs it | Example to provide |
|---|---|---|
| Site type and tank count | Sets the duty scenario to size against | Station, 3 tanks, 30 to 50 cubic meter |
| Delivery volume and frequency | Sets the peak vapor flow | One tanker delivery most days, larger on weekends |
| Expected peak vapor flow | Prevents venting at busy hours | Peak around the delivery window, diurnal through afternoons |
| Vapor composition | Sets recovery method and materials | Gasoline with seasonal ethanol blend |
| Footprint, power, noise limits | Sets which package fits | Ground pad available, three phase power, quiet area |
The table is the minimum a serious quote rests on. Sites that send it get numbers they can build against; sites that send a one line request get numbers they must rebuild, often after the budget is already committed.
Steps to assemble a strong request
Building the request is a short task when it is treated as part of the project rather than a formality, and the order keeps it complete:
- Collect the tank data and the delivery pattern, because these define the load the unit must carry;
- Estimate or measure the vapor flow at the busiest point, using delivery volume and tank size as the basis if direct measurement is not available;
- Note the product range and any blend the site expects to handle across the year;
- Record the site constraints, footprint, power, separation rules and temperature range, so the package fits the place;
- Attach the relevant drawings, the tank and vent layout especially, so the supplier can confirm the connection rather than assume it.
A request built this way turns a quote from a guess into a specification, and the specification is what protects the buyer when the unit arrives.
What a vague request costs you
A request that omits the duty data looks faster to send but is slower and riskier overall. The supplier returns a generic number sized to an assumed site, the buyer commits budget against it, and the real duty appears during detailed design or after delivery, when changing the unit is expensive. Worse, a mismatched unit vents or alarms under load, which is both a compliance risk and a product loss. Spending the few hours on data up front converts the quote from a placeholder into a commitment, and the commitment is what the rest of the project can trust.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to measure vapor flow or can I estimate it?
Estimation from delivery volume and tank size is acceptable for a first quote, because those numbers give a sound peak load, and direct measurement can follow during detailed design. The key is to state that the figure is estimated, so the supplier sizes with margin rather than treating it as a measured value.
Why does the product blend matter to the quote?
Because vapor composition changes which recovery method and materials suit the unit, and blends with higher ethanol content behave differently from straight gasoline vapor. Stating the range lets the supplier configure the recovery stage for the vapor the unit will actually see, protecting the efficiency the quote promises.
Is a site drawing required to get a quote?
It is strongly recommended, because the tank and vent layout decides the connection length and the siting, both of which affect the package and the install cost. A request with drawings returns a quote that includes the real install conditions instead of assuming them.
The vapor system is only as good as its design data, and the sister site covers how the piping that carries the vapor is engineered to the same disciplined standard.
Luoyang Wohong Petrochemical Equipment Co., Ltd. builds vapor recovery and membrane separation packages for fuel terminals, depots and gas stations. Contact us for system sizing, configuration advice and spare parts support.