Technical Committee Storage, Transportation and Distribution

Measurements to check vapour recovery systems of public retail stations in Hamburg (Phase I)

DGMK jointly with the local authorities of health and environment, in close co-operation with the environmental authorities of the city of Hamburg, are thoroughly examining the vapour recovery systems at all public service stations in Hamburg.

In phase I 50 sites were examined in August/September 1999 by several measuring methods called liquid-measurement, liquid-check, quick-check (UPA 50/Flo-Tester) and dry-measurement procedure.

They delivered proportions and causes of bad performing and defective devices leading to appropriate
maintenance.

The dry-measurement procedure commonly used with regular checks by itself is not satisfactory to prove overall performance of the vapour recovery equipment.

It should always be supplemented by a liquid-check procedure in order to ensure that the assigned vapour pumps work.
As the drymeasurement procedure simulates a fuel flow it cannot detect such defects.
Complete breakdowns of vapour recovery systems can be localised reliably with the quick check devices UPA 50/Flo-Tester. But due to high error tolerances, quick check devices are not suitable for quantitative measurement of vapour recovery rates on service stations.