Intermodal transport without downtime: mobile emission treatment in freight transport
Treating emissions and reducing released pollutants are becoming increasingly important in intermodal transport. In a sector that integrates the transportation of goods across different modes such as road, rail, and water, high demands for efficiency, safety, and sustainability converge. During the storage and transportation of liquid and gaseous substances, gases and vapors inevitably develop and must be treated professionally – especially prior to processes such as product change, maintenance, and onward transportation.
Tank trucks, rail cars, and tank vessels transport large quantities of fuels, chemicals, solvents, and liquefied gases every day within complex supply chains. Processes must be closely coordinated, and time windows must be adhered to precisely. However, when liquid or gaseous substances are transported, volatile emissions inevitably develop. Harmful emissions and vapors are generated particularly during loading, unloading, and product changeovers. In addition, tanks often contain considerable amounts of residual gases. Uncontrolled releases of emissions such as hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) can endanger both the environment and human health, while also causing operational disruptions.
Why emission treatment is essential
Emission treatment includes the capture, reduction, and elimination of gaseous pollutants generated during industrial or logistical processes. In intermodal transport, this is especially important because different modes of transport are closely connected and processes frequently take place at interfaces where emissions occur. Insufficient emission treatment can create environmental and safety risks and can also lead to delays in operations. Efficient emission treatment, on the other hand, ensures that transport processes are carried out smoothly, in compliance with regulations, and in an environmentally responsible manner.
Mobile emission treatment systems can be deployed directly where emissions and pollutants are generated – in tank farms, refineries, ports, docking facilities, logistics centres, or loading terminals. Mobile solutions make it possible to treat emissions at short notice and independently of existing infrastructure. This helps to avoid bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and reliably comply with environmental and safety requirements at the same time.
Mobile degassing and temporary replacement
Transportable vapour combustion units mounted on trailers or as containers enable the thermal treatment of gases, gas mixtures, and vapors directly at their source. Pollutants are led into the combustion unit via pipelines, where they are almost completely eliminated with a degradation rate of over 99.99% – environmentally-friendly and without open flame, odor or noise emissions.
Typical applications include the degassing of all types of tanks, ranging from storage tanks to tank trucks, rail tank cars, and tank vessels, as well as underground tanks. Pipelines can also be cleared of exhaust and residual gases in this way. The environmentally-friendly removal of gases and pollutants from tanks is particularly important in order to render containers completely gas-free in preparation for maintenance work, cleaning, repairs, or loading and unloading operations. It is also essential that tanks are gas-free before product changes and the refilling with different substances in order to avoid unwanted reactions.
In many facilities, stationary systems are essential for the treatment of gases and vapours during production processes or loading and unloading operations. If a stationary VRU (vapour recovery unit) unexpectedly fails, the worst-case scenario may involve a complete shutdown of the facility. Mobile vapour combustion units can bridge the downtime of the stationary system by temporarily taking over emission treatment. This helps to avoid costly shutdowns. Typical applications in intermodal transport include temporary replacement solutions at terminals and loading facilities, ensuring that the loading and unloading of vessels, tank trucks, and rail tank cars can continue without interruption.
Conclusion
Mobile emission treatment in intermodal transport is a key component of safe, efficient, and sustainable logistics processes. Thanks to rapid availability and high flexibility, it significantly expands operational capabilities, particularly in dynamic and infrastructure-intensive environments. The controlled treatment of hazardous vapours and pollutants directly on site reduces downtime, minimises safety risks, and helps to ensure compliance with environmental standards in freight transport.
About ETS Degassing:
ETS Degassing is an expert in safe, clean and sustainable emission reduction and mobile degassing. As the successor to SIS and ENDEGS, companies that have been successful for over 18 years, ETS Degassing has extensive experience in the environmentally-friendly combustion of harmful emissions such as hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The company’s mobile vapor combustion chambers burn all gases, gas mixtures and vapours in hazard groups IIA, IIB and IIC with a combustion efficiency of over 99.99%, without an open flame and completely odorless. ETS Degassing’s technologies play a key role in helping customers reduce their emissions and ensure compliance with even the strictest environmental regulations and legislation.
