Thursday, May 2, 2024
Warehousing & Materials Handling

Yale triples benefits

Economy and safety: A Yale CNG-powered truck being refuelled

Yale has developed a new generation of compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks (2,000 kg to 5,000 kg) to provide the combined benefits of cleanliness, economy and safety.

Throughout Europe, indoor air quality is acknowledged as perhaps the single most important factor in the working environment. With tough new emissions standards forecast and a new European legislative programme to be introduced over the next decade, cleaner and more environmentally-friendly fuels are becoming increasingly crucial.

Natural gas is the world's cleanest burning fossil fuel and, because it contains demonstrably fewer harmful pollutants other fuels, it is unique in exceeding all current and anticipated indoor air quality standards.

Performance characteristics and running costs compare favourable with conventional LP gas and battery alternatives. Fleet operators can achieve cost savings even allowing for the installation costs of storage and compressor facilities.

Safety is another vitally important factor in the workplace and neither personnel nor product safety can be compromised by the presence of forklift trucks. Since CNG is lighter than air and has a narrower flammability range than LP gas and diesel, accidental ignition is almost impossible. Also, Yale's CNG tanks are puncture resistant and incorporate special vents which release gas into the atmosphere in the event of excessive pressure caused by exposure to fire or heat. If this gas should then ignite, it will burn with a controlled flame.

Working of the system

The lift truck is installed with a fuel storage tank. The tank is filled with natural gas at 200 bar. Pressurized gas flows to a primary pressure regulator which reduces the line pressure to 10.34 bar. Gas then travels through a vacuum actuated fuel-lock and filter. This cuts off the fuel flow when the engine is switched off, explains the spokesman.

"Next in line is an adjustable secondary regulator. This provides precise fuel metering based on engine demand.

Finally, the gas from the regulator is mixed with air and this is metered directly to the combustion chambers in the engine.

The refueling equipment required is a FuelMaker or other gas compression and storage facilities.

Depending on site requirements two types of refuelling is done:

a) Overnight or opportunity refuelling - the lift truck is connected to a FuelMaker. Gas is taken from the mains by the FuelMaker, charged to 200 bar, and delivered to the lift truck's storage tank, at the rate of 4 litres per hour. This takes about 6 hours to fill the tank; and

b) Fast Fill Refuelling - the FuelMaker is connected to a fuel station. This station is charged and maintained with gas at full 200 bar pressure.

The lift truck then plugs into this station for immediate refuelling whenever more fuel is required. This takes about 4 minutes to fill the tank, equivalent to the time taken to refill a diesel tank. This system is ideal for more intensive operations.

The benefits of CNG are:

  • No smoke or odour;

  • Virtually lead-free;

  • Reduced levels of carbon dioxide;

  • Reduced levels of carbon monoxide;

  • Other exhaust hydrocarbons reduced

  • CNG is lighter than air thereby eliminating fuel puddles at ground level, which can be ignited;

  • CNG containers incorporate special vents which overcome excessive pressure build up if exposed to fire;

  • Yale CNG tanks are puncture resistant, tested to the relevant standards and have an excellent safety record;

  • CNG has a narrower flammability range than diesel or LP gas making it less likely to ignite;

  • CNG has smoother combustion characteristics and produces less engine stress resulting in longer engine life, reduced maintenance and longer service intervals;

  • Natural gas supplies are plentiful and readily available.;

  • The performance of CNG powered trucks compares favourably with LP gas models;

  • In normal applications, a full CNG tank will support a full 8-hour working shift.

  • Natural gas cost is comparable to LP gas.

  • Rates are regulated and stable unlike other fuel sources.

  • Costs are minimized - you pay for what you use.

  • Taking full installation and fuel costs into consideration, CNG trucks can become cost effective with fleets of 8 or more trucks on intensive applications.

    Low cost, low emissions and widespread availability ensure that compressed natural gas will become increasingly popular as companies continue to develop positive environmental policies. CNG is cleaner and safer than other conventional fuels and, by adopting it earlier rather than later, companies may be confident of staying ahead of new legislation limits on toxic emissions.

    (Contributed By Yale)

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