R110 approval provides single-source fuel delivery solution to CNG vehicle builders
Posted: 12 August 2004
Parker Instrumentation has secured ECE R110 approval for its range of ball valves, check valves and filters. In conjunction with Parker's existing R110-approved tube fittings, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle builders can now obtain all the components for fuel filling and routing from a single source - reducing procurement time and costs.
"Clean air legislation and incentives are stimulating a rapid growth in the use of alternative fuels, and especially CNG which is proving highly popular as a means of powering public transport," says Parker's Product Support Engineer Graham Johnson. "This new component range provides vehicle OEMs with a single source of supply delivering real design freedom for fuel delivery systems - which has been confirmed by a number of coach and truck builders who have already approached us."
The approval is to the latest Amendment 1 of the ECE R110 introduced in 2003, which added compulsory tests to assure integrity in the presence of ozone and dry heat. Parker has added special high-performance elastomeric seals into the valves to meet this new requirement, and believes it is one of the first to offer components conforming to this mandatory new regulation.
Another key aspect of the certification is the breadth of the approval. Instead of submitting just the popular sizes of fluid flow components used for gas delivery to the test house, Parker chose to submit a full range. The result is a very wide choice of sizes that give vehicle developers much greater design freedom, supporting any fluid flow requirements right up to the very largest vehicles. For example, the check valves are available in six sizes spanning the 1/8-inch/3mm to 1-inch/25mm range.
The component range meets all the functional requirements of vehicle builders for CNG tank filling and onward routing. The check valves ensure that the gas can only flow in a single direction. The ball valves provide a fast-action isolation function to seal the tank after filling. The filters - which are available in inline or 'T' configurations - meet the needs for particulate filtering of the gas at the entry or exit to the tank. Parker's existing R110-approved twin-ferrule compression tube fittings provide the other required component function, to couple to the interconnecting tubing. The components are equally suitable for the various fuel delivery applications in CNG refuelling stations, from the central storage tank to the vehicle-filling pump on the forecourt.
Why CNG
CNG is methane, derived from underground sources, and compressed to pressures of around 3000 PSI (206 bar). Compared to petrol/gasoline, CNG generates some 80% less ozone forming emissions (carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides). The fuel burns extremely cleanly, supporting much longer engine lifecycles. Combined with governmental incentives for its use, this makes it a particularly attractive proposition for high-mileage vehicles such as buses and trucks.
As vehicle exhaust emissions are the largest contributor to air pollution in urban areas, the benefits in terms of reduced healthcare costs from using CNG - which generates virtually no particulates when engines are tuned properly - are considerable.
There are numerous major projects to support the adoption of CNG in Europe, including: in France, every second new town bus must now be CNG powered; 1000 CNG Refueling stations will be available in Germany by 2007; there is no 'congestion charge' in London for alternative fuel powered vehicles; and ENGVA (European Natural Gas Vehicles Association*) is pushing for 10% of all vehicles in Europe to be powered by CNG, by the year 2020.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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