section background img

Vapor Combustion Units (VCU)

Leveraging advanced combustion technology, these systems deliver high destruction efficiency while maintaining compliance with the latest environmental standards.

Models

  • Can accommodate single bay loading up to 10+ bays
  • 2 and 3 stage systems available for high flow
  • Marine loading with multiple berth capability
  • Single VCU’s range in size up to 13’ diameter

Markets & Applications

  • Downstream Product Loading Terminals

    • Truck Rack
    • Marine Barges and Vessels
    • Railcar
    • Storage Tanks
  • Refineries

  • Cleaning Facilities

    • Truck Tanker
    • Railcar
  • Compatible with many products: Gasoline, Crude Oil, Condensate, Distillates, Ethanol, Methanol, MTBE, Avgas, Naphtha and more!

  • Advantages

    • Highest DRE’s achievable up to 99.9%
    • Ultra Low NOx options available
    • Minimize assist gas usage with temperature control
    • Cost effective solution
    • PLC control with locally mounted HMI
    • Simple installation
  • Engineering and Support

    Our engineering team are experts in biogas collection and control and are available to support our customers when they need assistance. Beyond initial sizing of the equipment, we can model new conditions with process simulation software, calculate hydraulics, and perform other studies, to support field operations.

  • In-house Fabrication

    Cimarron utilizes in-house equipment fabrication at several different manufacturing shops. By eliminating the reliance on third party vendors, Cimarron can ensure the quality of the equipment and minimize lead times. Our strategically located manufacturing locations provide flexibility by allowing us to distribute work across multiple shops and ensure proximity to our customers with reduced freight costs.

  • Reliable Pilots and Burners

    Cimarron’s combustion engineering team collectively has centuries of experience creating, troubleshooting, iterating, and improving on combustion processes yielding the most robust and leading combustion products available today. When you need to rely on your combustion system, rely on Cimarron.

  • Comprehensive Field and Aftermarket Services

    We have a dedicated in-house service team with extensive vapor combustion commissioning, operating, and troubleshooting experience across the US. Rest assured that Cimarron will be available to support the product throughout its life.

Technical Information

Expand sections below to see more information. If you’d like even more details, be sure to check out full Technical Library below.

  • How It Works

    A Vapor Combustion Unit (VCU) is a device used to safely and efficiently combust volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrocarbon vapors. These systems are engineered to prioritize safety, ensure reliability, and minimize operational costs.

    Cimarron’s VCU utilizes an enclosed combustion chamber to thermally incinerate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) displaced during transfer operations. These systems use proprietary anti-flashback burners (AFB) to safely burn the flammable mixture within the stack, and the industry’s most robust VCU pilot to reliably ignite the operation each time.

  • Additional Technical Information

    VCU Design Features

    • Automatic ignition source via electric spark pilots to ignite vapors
    • Anti-flashback burner design to avoid potential flashbacks and safe operations (USCG approved)
    • Automatic control of combustion air fans via “variable frequency drives” (VFD’s) to achieve complete and smokeless combustion.
    • Automated PLC-based Control Panel with instrumentation and controls for safe and low maintenance operation.
    • Able to fully integrate with site controls and processes
    • High “destruction rate efficiency” (DRE) up to 99.9%+ or 1 mg/L loaded is ensured by proper residence time, efficient mixing, and continuous temperature monitoring in the combustion stack.
    • Simple, robust design with relatively low maintenance requirements.
    • Can handle varying flow rates and vapor concentrations.
    • Fully shop tested prior to shipping
  • Design Parameter Considerations

    Application Sizing Requirements:

    Truck Loading:

    • Type of products being loaded
    • Number of Loading Bays and Arms
    • Maximum Flow Rate per Arm
    • Maximum instantaneous flow rate
    • Minimum loading rate
    • Piping isometrics

    Marine Loading:

    • Type of products being loaded, product loading temperature and RVP
    • Number of Docks
    • Maximum Loading rate
    • Piping isometrics
    • Inert and non-inert loading profiles

    Rail Loading:

    • Type of products being loaded
    • Number of Loading Cars and Number of Arms connected
    • Minimum loading rate
    • Piping isometrics
    • Rail Car Starting pressure

    Optional Equipment:

    • Knockout Drum (KO) to prevent any liquid going to the burners.
    • Vapor blower – to help move vapors from the source to the VCU due to pressure drop.
    • Ladders and Platforms – hot-dipped galvanized ladders and platform for easy access to the TE and sampling ports on the stack
  • Sizing Charts

    Truck Loading Standard Sizes based on 60% Propane

Want More Information?

For more documentation on all Cimarron’s products visit the Technical Library.

View Our Technical Library