maxfill cng trailer filling solution · cng trailer leaves the depot with a trailer full of hot gas...
TRANSCRIPT
MAXfill CNG trailer filling solution
Eclipse has designed a filling system which significantly increases CNG Trailer usable
capacity by utilising existing station components and integrating our Cold fill controller valve
THE ISSUE Trailers filled with gas to MAWP of the cylinders suffer from heat of compression and
when leaving the compressor mother station are at a temperature higher than
ambient from 15-40 degC depending on fill times and equipment used. After
transport to the decanting site there can be as much as a 20% reduction in capacity
as the gas temperature has had time to settle.
Type 3 and 4 trailers this can be exacerbated due to the insulating effects of the
cylinder construction.
THE CAUSE A combination of station factors cause the gas to heat which when it cools reduces the trailer
capacity High Ambient temperatures
Time of day
No cover on the trailer tubes
Poor Pipe-design
Poor Compressor HX design
High fill speed
CNG trailer leaves the depot with a trailer full of hot Gas CNG trailer Arrives with reduced payload of cool gas
The capacity can be reduced by as much as 20%
THE SOLUTION
Remove the heat from the Gas!
Current solutions on the market is to use are to install large refrigeration systems to cool the
gas. This, in our opinion, is an expensive and high energy use solution.
Eclipse has developed retrofitable technology to significantly reduce the gas temperature
HOW IT WORKS
Natural Gas cools when subjected to pressure drop (Joule Thompson effect)
The Eclipse MAXfill cold filling system uses the technology of the existing CNG system and
integrates its cold fill control valve to act in a similar fashion to a refrigeration system.
When the trailer is empty the Cold fill controller is configured to utilise the
compressor cooling in conjunction with system sizing parameters to create colder
gas filling the trailers. As the trailer is filled the cooling reduces but the overall goal
is to fill the trailer close to its rated capacity and as close to Ambient air temperature
as possible. Generally the final filled temperature is within 5deg C of ambient
Compressor
Expansion Valve
Heat Exchanger
Closed Loop
refrigeration system
CNG
Compressor
Cold fill Controller
Evaporator
Eclipse Cold fill system
TECHNOLOGY
VFN-160 1” NPT Pilot operated Cold Fill Controller Valve
Bi Directional cooling on filling full flow on decant. Ideal solution for large capacity
trailer cylinders
APPLICATION
Large type 3-4 cylinders
Type 3 and 4 cylinder construction creates an insulating effect which reduces the
ability of heat to escape from the cylinder when filling through the walls of the
cylinder. Additionally the capacity of large type 3 and four trailers is double if not
triple the capacity of a type 1 steel trailer
The VFN-160 valve is designed to be installed on CNG trailers to ensure full
efficient flow to cylinder banks in each direction. Cooling the gas on filling and
high flow on decanting
Rated
5000psi
345BarG
CV
15.5
-45C
+85C
Thread size
1” NPT
-8SAE
Two-way
VPN-1612-DL 1” NPT Pilot operated Cold Fill Controller Valve
Ideal solution for trailer fill post solutions filling high volume cylinder trailers
APPLICATION
Steel trailers CNG Trailers with multiple tubes.
As steel trailers surface temperatures conduct and radiate heat the VPBN-1612DL
regulator is the ideal solution for these installations.
CONFIGURATION
The cold fill controller requires a pilot pressure to maintain its set point. Depending on
the site or trailer installation will determine the piping configuration of the pilot
Eclipse has developed a temperature compensating system which enables the
daytime fill pressure to be higher than at night
Rated
5000psi
345Bar
G
CV
9.5
-45C
+85C
Thread size
1” NPT
-8SAE
One-way
CASE STUDY
S.E. Asian Installation
Our S.E. Asian client installed Cold fill controller solutions into
their filling station.
THE RESULTS
Data was taken before and after the controllers were installed
CONCLUSIONS
The table of results showcase that the system increased the capacity experiencing a rise
between 12% and 20%. As the test site was on the extreme side of operating temperatures
the results were as expected and with some fine tuning the site will improve its overall fill
capacity
Cylinders 40Ft 12 tube type 1
Trailer G23 Trailer G-16 Trailer #G14
Before After Before After Before After
Cylinder WL
26,640
26,640
26,640
26,640
26,640
26,640
Density(kgm3) 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74 0.74
Pressure initial (Bar) 35 30 40 30 40 30
Pressure Final (Bar) 250 250 250 250 250 250
Final fill volume M3 6052 6994 6061 7371 6248 7075
Gas Temp final Deg C 51.5 43.0 48.8 40.1 40.3 39.4
When Filled Night Day Night Day Night Day
Ambient Temp Deg C 27 37 26 36 26.0 35.0
Gas / Ambient Temp D 24.5 6.0 22.8 4.1 14.3 4.4
Additional M3 % Additional M3 % Additional M3 %
942 13% 1310 18% 827 12%
ABOUT US
CNG Bio-CNG
Alt Fuels
Eclipse valves engineers have been designing
valves and technology for alternative fuel
systems since the 1970s being instrumental in
the development of technology which is used
now in almost every CNG station around the
world.
Eclipse along with its sister company’s Bison
Compression and Artic Cryogenics have
developed a modern range of technically
advanced systems for a wide range of Alternative
fuels applications improving efficiency and
accessibility to new markets.
LOCATION
Eclipse Valves and Fittings
113 North Road Clevedon Auckland New
Zealand 2582
Phone +6492929115
email [email protected]
web www.eclipsevalves.com