Category: Safety & Standards

CNG is NOT for LPG Systems – Safety Bulletin

March 12, 2010 – 6:39 pm

Death Trap - an illegal CNG to LPG adapter

Recent incidents in Sweden have prompted the IANGV to issue a reminder to motorists that compressed natural gas (CNG) is not suitable for cars fitted with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas or propane) systems. As LPG systems are not designed to cope with the pressure of CNG systems, components and cylinders have been known to burst with drastic consequences. Despite strict standards being enforced worldwide for CNG dispensing systems, motorists have circumvented the system using dangerous, illegally manufactured adaptors. Motivated to save a few dollars on fuel, many motorists have paid a higher price through injury and even death.
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Categories: CNG Cylinders, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Safety, Safety & Standards | Tags: , , | Comments (1)

ISO Approves Natural Gas Fuelling Station Standards Project

February 23, 2010 – 9:05 pm | Switzerland, Geneva

Efforts to develop international standards for natural gas fuelling stations have moved one step closer with the International Standards Organisation (ISO) Technical Management Board (TMB) deciding earlier this month to establish a new Project Committee. The decision follows recommendations arising from last month’s preliminary meeting of stakeholders held in Zurich, Switzerland, which agreed with the need for separate standards on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations for fuelling vehicles. ISO numbers have yet to be assigned to the standards but drafting is already under way and a first meeting of the Project Committee is planned for the Netherlands on 22nd and 23rd June of 2010.


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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Infrastructure, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Safety & Standards, Standards | Tags: | Comments (1)

ISO Fuelling Station Standards Progressing

January 22, 2010 – 12:38 pm

The NGV industry wasted no time at the beginning of this year, getting down to business in the first week in Zurich, Switzerland for a preliminary meeting on the establishment of ISO standards for natural gas fuelling stations for vehicles (including CNG and LNG). The meeting was the continuation of a process initiated by the IANGV, which submitted a New Work Item Proposal (NWIP) to ISO in 2008. After a successful ISO ballot of member nations last year, the ISO Technical Management Board (TMB) approved the Preliminary Meeting, a precursor to final approval of a full project, which is expected at the next TMB meeting this March. Hosted by the Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association, SVGW, the meeting was attended by representatives from as far afield as Argentina, Thailand and Australia.


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Categories: Infrastructure, Safety & Standards, Standards | Tags: , , , , , | Comments (2)

CSA Standards CNG Fuel System Inspector Program Accredited by ANSI

August 21, 2009 – 11:52 pm

CSA Standards, a standards developer for gas-fired product and alternative energy standards based in Cleveland, Ohio has had its CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Fuels System Inspector Program accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Based on the international standard ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 General requirements for bodies operating certification schemes for persons, it is reportedly the only accredited certification program available in North America for CNG fuel system inspectors.
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CGA Publishes Revised Cylinder Valve Standard

April 19, 2009 – 2:00 pm

The Compressed Gas Association (CGA – USA & Canada)) has announced the release of a revised publication for valve standards, entitled ‘CGA V-9, Compressed Gas Association Standard for Compressed Gas Cylinder Valves’. The scope of the document clearly states those valves which are covered and defines how valves are designed, qualified and tested. “This standard is vital for manufacturers and users of compressed gas cylinders,” stated Roger Smith, Technical Director for the CGA. “Many significant changes occurred to ensure the safety of our industry moving forward and it’s an important addition to the library of valve manufacturers and gas manufacturers and users alike.”


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ISO 15500-15501 Draft Amendments Available for Review

March 6, 2009 – 6:47 am

The Secretariat responsible for ISO Standard 15500-15501 series (ISO TC22/SC25) has issued draft amendments to members of the working group for comment ahead of their next meeting in Prague (Czech Republic) this May. The IANGV has consultative status with respect to this standard, thus is seeking input from members and stakeholders on the proposed amendments. As well as technical considerations in the amendments, terminology clarifying natural gas vehicle types (bi-fuel, dual-fuel, etc) has also been introduced to the standard in an effort to harmonize references in all standards. Work has also gone in to harmonizing the proposed amendments with North American PRD1 and NGV 3.1 standards, with common modifications already agreed to. Comments are due for submission to the Secretariat no later than April 15. Members and stakeholders wishing to review the working drafts and submit comments may apply for copies of the working drafts by email to standards@iangv.org.


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Alternative Fuels Viable Option for Reducing Container Ports Pollution – Study

February 24, 2009 – 2:00 pm

USA, Colorado

Natural Gas the Leading Alternative Fuel for Goods Movement in USA

The switch to clean alternative fuels is gaining momentum at U.S. and international container shipping ports according to a new research study, “Container Ports and Air Pollution,” published by Energy Futures, Inc.

Reliance on diesel fuel for goods movement has contributed to a reputation for container ports being among the world’s biggest sources of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Now, progress is being made toward reducing harmful emissions. The study found that natural gas is currently the leading alternative fuel for goods movement at U.S. container ports, while hybrid electric vehicles are gaining popularity in Asia.


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Lessons from Philadelphia Gas Works CNG Cylinder Rupture

February 6, 2009 – 2:00 pm

USA, Philadelphia

On June 9, 2008, a Type 2 Lucas Aerospace CNG tank ruptured on a Ford E350 natural gas powered truck at a Philadelphia Gas Works facility in the Port Richmond area of Philadelphia. Type 2 CNG cylinders are designed so that the liner alone will withstand at least 1.25 times the system service pressure. The cylinder composite overwrap adds to the overall cylinder strength of at least 2.5 times service pressure. In this case both the overwrap and the liner failed. The fiberglass overwrap failure was the result of stress corrosion cracking, probably from an unidentified corrosive agent. The liner appears to have failed from being over-pressurized during fueling.

Amongst the lessons summarised last month to NGVAmerica members are:


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Study Guide Now Available for CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification Test

January 29, 2009 – 2:00 pm | USA

A new study guide is now available at no cost for candidates preparing for the CSA CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification test. The guide was prepared with funding from the Department of Energy as part of the Clean Vehicle Energy Foundation (CVEF) Natural Gas Vehicle Cylinder Safety, Training and Inspection Project.


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CNG Metering Standard Published

December 29, 2008 – 6:36 am

Yet another piece in the jigsaw of NGV standards had just been published. “Compressed gaseous fuel measuring systems for vehicles” OIML R 139 has been published by the International Organization for Legal Metrology.  This standard can be downloaded at no cost from www.oiml.org/publications/ document 139-e. The history of this standard starts in 1999 with the first committee draft of the standard being completed in 2000.


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CNG Engines Added to Transit Bus Certification Series

December 14, 2008 – 2:00 pm

USA, Iowa City

The US National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has announced two new additions to the Transit Bus Certification Test Series: Compressed Natural Gas Engines (H1) and Preventive Maintenance and Inspection (H8). “These new additions to our Transit Bus Series complete the requirements for a Master Technician Status,” says Tim Zilke, ASE president & CEO.

The Compressed Natural Gas Engines (H1) test content will cover the following areas:


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Vehicle CNG Metrology Recommendation Published

December 11, 2008 – 12:19 am

OIML R 139 – Edition 2007 (E)
International Recommendation: Compressed Gaseous Fuel Measuring Systems for Vehicles

OIML met in Sydney in late October 2008. At the Sydney meeting of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) the CNG metering standard, first commenced in 1999, was approved and published. It can be downloaded at no cost from www.oiml.org/publications/ – document 139-e. The OIML is a worldwide, intergovernmental organization whose primary aim is to harmonize the regulations and metrological controls applied by the national metrological services, or related organizations, of its Member States.


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Which Fuel Gets World’s First Ecolabel? Methane, Naturally!

December 10, 2008 – 4:28 pm

Sweden

Methane from the Swedish company FordonsGas Sverige AB has received the accolade of ‘world’s first ecolabelled fuel’, having fulfilled the stringent criteria of the Nordic Ecolabel. The Ecolabel concept is intended to stimulate interest within the automotive industry for alternative fuels, thereby contributing to sustainable consumerism. It looks at the entire product lifecycle from the raw materials to the finished product, in this case the fuel that is available to consumers at petrol stations.


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Draft LNG Tank Standard

December 3, 2008 – 5:31 am

IANGV has received a copy of the draft standard ISO/CD 12991 Liquefied natural gas — Fuel tanks for vehicles.  IANGV members who wish to review and to comment on this draft may request it from admin@iangv.org. The work on this draft standard is as a result of a “New Work Item Proposal” submitted by IANGV to ISO following the Roundtable on Regulations Codes and Standards held at ISO in Geneva in January 2007.


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DIY Conversions – Saving Money But Costing Lives

November 19, 2008 – 5:41 am

The real cost of do-it-yourself compressed natural gas (CNG) conversions has hit home this month with two serious incidents costing one life and narrowly avoiding killing several more. One man died in Melaka, Malaysia earlier this month while refuelling a van which had been reportedly fitted with an LPG cooking cylinder instead of properly certified high-pressure CNG cylinders. Three others were seriously injured in the incident. Meanwhile in Salt Lake City, USA, 4 children were hospitalized after natural gas fumes leaked into their vehicle during refuelling, due to leaks in the high pressure piping and fittings, reportedly the result of a home conversion to CNG.


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