ASSESSMENT OF EVAPORATION LOSSES OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS DURING TRANSPORTATION IN MALAWI

Petroleum products contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) with different boiling points. The objective of this study was to evaluate the amount of evaporation loss of petroleum products (petrol and diesel) during transportation in Malawi. The study used the descriptive research design as it aimed at answering the what, when and how questions. Two mathematical models were also used; pressure loss and evaporation loss percentage models. Based on the results, it was found that evaporation loss amounted to total volume loss of 5,021,345.649 liters from 2015 to 2022 due to pressure changes.
The results also give a total volume loss of 3,597,925.4592 liters from 2015 to 2022 as a result of travel time and temperature changes during transportation. Reduction of evaporation loss of petroleum products during transportation will give attractive economic returns as well as air pollution. This reduction could be achieved by reducing the vapour space capacity inside the tank trucks by maximum filling of tanks trucks when loading the petroleum products. Reduction in ambient temperature and pressure can also be achieved by plantation of trees along the roads. This increases the shadow area around the tank’s truck during transportation which would be considered as metrological condition control action. The use of vapour recovery systems, maintaining the tank wall thicknesses and pressure management are also some control measures that can be implemented to reduce the evaporation losses of petroleum products during transportation in Malawi.
Key words: Evaporation loss, Temperature, Pressure, Pressure losses and Travel time.