May 07, 2026 [Storage Terminals Magazine]- Why mobile degassing is gaining importance in the industrial sector

Handling harmful emissions is a core operational task in many industries. In refineries, tank farms, chemical and petrochemical plants as well as in intermodal transport, gaseous pollutants are regularly generated that can enter the atmosphere directly if not treated properly. For operators of industrial plants, this is not only about environmental concerns, but also about safety, regulatory compliance, and the reliable execution of operational and maintenance processes.

Comment by David Wendel, Managing Director at ETS Degassing

Gaseous emissions arise as unavoidable by-products in many industrial processes – for example during the handling of raw materials and intermediates, when loading and unloading tanks, in storage operations, and in chemical processes. The resulting hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and hazardous air pollutants (HAP) are harmful to health and require controlled and safe handling.

It is therefore crucial to capture and effectively treat these emissions. Residual gases often remain in tanks, pipelines, ships, rail tank cars, or other components. Before maintenance, cleaning, product changeovers, shutdowns, and transport, these residual gases must be treated and removed. This is the only way to ensure that they do not enter the atmosphere untreated or trigger unwanted reactions when in contact with other substances. Equally important is the temporary replacement of stationary emission control systems: if a stationary vapor recovery or treatment system fails, processes often cannot continue without interruption. This can lead to delays, additional effort, or, in the worst case, shutdowns.

Mobile degassing: flexibility as a key advantage

Technologies for mobile emission control help to address these challenges. Mobile degassing offers a key structural advantage: emissions can be treated directly at their source. Mobile vapor combustion units can be deployed flexibly at various locations, from refineries and tank farms to ports and loading facilities for tank trucks or rail cars. This flexibility is a critical factor in complex process and logistics environments and also provides operational security. In the event of maintenance or unplanned outages, mobile units can temporarily take over the function of stationary systems. This allows processes to continue without violating emission regulations or having to shut down facilities prematurely.

Another advantage of mobile solutions is their rapid availability and ease of integration. They can be used both as standalone systems and as a supplement to existing infrastructure, with minimal impact on industrial workflows. This makes it possible to continue operations even in challenging situations with as few restrictions as possible.

Mobile vapor combustion units: technical functionality and applications

In the mobile degassing process, pollutants are extracted and guided via pipelines into a mobile combustion chamber. There, they are thermally treated and broken down – with an efficiency of over 99.99%, without an open flame and without odor or noise disturbance. These systems enable the treatment of gases, gas mixtures, and vapors in the hazard groups IIA, IIB, and IIC. This allows tanks, containers, pipelines, ships, and other components to be degassed, and stationary emission control systems to be temporarily replaced. Different combustion capacities ensure that the technologies are suitable for a wide range of applications – from short-term deployments to long-term projects lasting several months.

The thermal treatment of gases significantly reduces pollutant emissions. For an LNG fuel tank with a capacity of 1,280 m³, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) factor for LNG is, for example, 60.87 tonnes. When mobile emission control technology is applied, the GWP of the LNG is reduced to just 6.64 tonnes. This reduces emissions by 89%.

In combination with mobile nitrogen vaporizers, liquefied gases under pressure – such as LNG or ammonia – can also be treated. Through inerting and purging, a safe environment is created, allowing containers to be emptied. Applications include the maintenance of pipelines, tanks, ships, and large vessels, as well as the degassing of spheric al gas tanks, gas tankers, and gas containers. In LNG handling, mobile vaporizers can also be used for LNG cool-down processes.

Conclusion

Mobile degassing is a flexible and efficient solution for safely handling gaseous emissions in industrial process environments. It helps companies to align safety requirements, emission reduction, and regulatory compliance with the practical needs of operations. Especially in dynamic or disruption-prone situations, it can help to secure workflows, avoid shutdowns, and ensure reliable process continuity. As such, mobile degassing is an important component of modern industrial operating strategies.

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