SBIR-STTR Award

The vapor recovery nozzle is an air pollution control device which relates to Stage II emission control equipment designed to capture gasoline vapors during automobile refueling at service stations. Although Stage II vapor recovery nozzles have been improving since their introduction in 1974, there is a high level of public dissatisfaction with the current products. The existing vapor recovery nozzles are difficult to handle, the bellows subject to cuts, and the vacuum assist pumps require frequent and costly maintenance. The Phase I investigation will determine the feasibility of an innovative design for a new bellowless vapor recovery nozzle. The new nozzle differs in its innovative design for a low friction automatic shut off mechanism which significantly reduces the overall size and weight of the nozzle. Its onboard vapor recovery pump allows it to maintain a stable vacuum level at the fillpipe/nozzle interface regardless of the number of dispensers in use or the change in the hose restriction due to variable vehicle to dispenser orientation. This design offers numerous benefits in terms of easy handling, low cost maintenance, and; most significantly, optimal vapor recovery performance during variable fueling conditions. In Phase I a preliminary model of the new nozzle will be constructed and tested in order to determine H&R Technologies, Inc.'s ability to achieve the requirements and the standards set for the nozzles.

The vapor recovery nozzle is an air pollution control device which relates to Stage II emission control equipment designed to capture gasoline vapors during automobile refueling at service stations. The existing vapor recovery nozzles are difficult to handle, the bellows prone to cuts, and the vacuum assist pumps require frequent and costly maintenance.The primary objective of this project is to develop a new, more effective, low initial cost and low maintenance cost vapor recovery technology. This technology is based on a proprietary bellowless vapor recovery nozzle with an onboard vapor recovery pump, and aims at solving major problems inherent in previous designs.In Phase I of the project a preliminary model of this nozzle was constructed, tested and evaluated. It has proved the proposed technology's feasibility of achieving compliance with all UL, California Air Resource Board, Weights and Measures, EPA and Fire Marshal agencies standards and regulations.Phase II of the project will consist of the improvement and fine-tuning of the vapor recovery nozzle developed in Phase I and the building of Phase II preproduction prototypes, which will comply with all standards and regulations of the regulating agencies.