Challenge
The purpose of relief vents at biorefineries is to control evaporation losses, allow vapors to pass through, and protect fermentation tanks against excessive pressure or vacuum.
However, the seals and springs on the equipment being used on many distiller’s fermentation tanks are notoriously prone to corrosion, failures, and leaks, creating costly repair and maintenance headaches.
This is because these pressure/vacuum vents were designed for bulk storage tanks containing dry materials, not for wet service.
Additionally, ethanol producers are required to repair pressure relief valve equipment in a timely manner to comply with Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program guidelines set forth by regulatory agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
To address these repairs, maintenance workers must remove the equipment, usually with a lift, then transport it offsite for service, which can take days or even weeks, and costs the typical biorefinery $6,000 per unit/incident. Multiply that by the number of units at the site, plus the lost production, and the costs add up quickly.
