Numerical Simulation of Using Solar Energy to Reduce the Evaporation Rate of Gasoline in Fuel Storage Tanks

In this research, a new type of vent pipe named solar vent pipes has been designed Using the solar chimney effect to reduce the amount of gasoline evaporation from storage tanks. The obtained results from the experimental and numerical analysis show that by using the new vent geometry, it is possible to increase the amount of positive pressure on the surface of gasoline inside the tank, which means reducing the amount of gasoline evaporation. Also, the results show that if new geometries are used for the tank vent, the amount of gasoline wastage can be reduced by ۷۵%. The tested samples were two completely identical ۲۲۰-liter tanks that were simultaneously tested for ۱۷ days with identical weather and temperature conditions. For tank number one, which used a conventional vent, about ۳.۵% of the volume of the initial gasoline was evaporated. While for tank number two, which used the geometry proposed in this research for the vent, the evaporated amount of the initial gasoline was decreased to ۰.۹%. This way, the proposed geometry of the above-mentioned led to a ۷۵% reduction in the gasoline evaporation rate.

Keywords:

Solar Energy , vent valve , fuel evaporation , chimney effect