Methods and compositions for vapor suppression

Abstract

The present invention is directed to vapor suppression of liquids through disposing a layer of surfactant onto the surfaces of liquids for surfactants having a density greater than the liquid and regardless of surface tension spreadability issues, and compositions comprising the surfactants in aerosolized form.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for disposing a surfactant onto an evaporating surface within an enclosure to reduce evaporation from the evaporating surface, the method comprising:
 providing an aerosolized liquid surfactant composition having nano-sized droplets;   depositing the aerosolized liquid surfactant composition onto the evaporating surface to form a layer thereon; and   decreasing the evaporation rate from the evaporating surface.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the nano-sized droplets range from one micelle to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the aerosolized liquid surfactant composition has a mean droplet size ranging from one micelle to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         36 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the enclosure is a vessel. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the evaporating surface is a surface of a hydrocarbon bulk liquid, a surface of a vessel wall, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the surfactant composition has a bulk density greater than the density of the hydrocarbon bulk liquid. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising flowing the liquid surfactant composition through an atomization nozzle to generate a stream of aerosolized liquid surfactant. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the atomization nozzle is a bifluidic, electrostatic, or ultrasonic nozzle. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising directing the stream of aerosolized liquid surfactant through an apparatus comprising a Venturi tube comprising a first inlet, a first outlet, and an elongated throat portion comprising at least two rings of jets therebetween, wherein the atomization nozzle is positioned proximal to and in fluid communication with the inlet of the Venturi tube. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising a second Venturi tube comprising a second inlet in fluid communication with the first outlet. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising heating or superheating the liquid surfactant composition. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising contacting the liquid surfactant composition with a heated or superheated atomizing gas. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the hydrocarbon bulk liquid is crude oil or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the vessel is a transportation vessel. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the vessel is a fixed storage tank. 
     
     
         67 . A method for disposing a surfactant onto an evaporating surface within an enclosure to reduce evaporation from the evaporating surface, the method comprising:
 aerosolizing a liquid surfactant composition with an atomization nozzle;   generating nano-sized droplets of a surfactant composition by flowing the aerosolized liquid surfactant composition through a Venturi tube comprising a first inlet in fluid communication with the atomization nozzle, a first outlet, and a first elongated throat portion comprising at least two rings of jets therebetween; and   depositing the nano-sized droplets onto the evaporating surface to form a layer thereon.   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  further comprising a step of flowing the nano-sized droplets through a second Venturi tube comprising a second inlet in fluid communication with the first outlet, a second outlet, and a second elongated throat portion comprising at least two rings of jets there between. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the nano-sized droplets have a mean droplet size ranging from one micelle to 1000 nm. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising heating or superheating the liquid surfactant composition. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 60 , further comprising contacting the liquid surfactant composition with a heated or superheated atomizing gas.