In an emergency that interrupts the ability to fuel a dedicated CNG
fleet, Pinnacle CNG can deploy a portable CNG station in as little
as four hours. The greatest technical difficulty is being sure that
the affected site’s gas service is reachable and that gas pressure
is available. If the gas service has been “compromised” then gas
must be delivered to the site using Gas Transport Modules (GTM’s)
and a portable CNG fueling station. If the local gas service is
usable and only the local compressors have been compromised then
only a portable station is required. These are two distinct
scenarios. Regardless of the availability of gas from the local
pipeline Pinnacle’s portable CNG fueling station are totally self
contained, readily portable, and can provide their own electric
power to operate.
In addition to a portable CNG fueling station
there must be a means of refilling the gas transport modules from
outside of or remote to the affected area. In China, South America
and several other countries where local gas distribution systems are
nonexistent this is called a Mother station. These Mother/Daughter
CNG stations become a virtual gas pipeline, utilizing gas carried in
Gas Transport Module trailers transported by trucks. The Mother
station, remotely located, is used to fill the gas transport module
and the Daughter station is used to transfer the CNG from the GTM to
the vehicles.
The emergency portable Station compression equipment is housed in a
20’ ISO container along with a CNG powered generator, which is
dispatched to the affected sites. The emergency station would be
sent with two prefilled GTMs. Each GTM would provide/contain 123,600
SCF or approximately 900 usable GGE at an average dispensing rate of
7 DGE/Minute. As each GTM trailer is depleted, it would be replaced
by a full GTM and the empty GTM would be returned to the Mother
station to be refilled. As need is determined, a second emergency
portable CNG station could be mobilized with its two GTMs.
Each emergency portable Daughter CNG Fueling station would be housed
in a separate, 20’ X 8’ ISO container equipped with two (2), heavy
duty vehicle dispenser hoses and a generator. If electricity is
unavailable in the relief area electric power would be produced from
the station’s own self-contained generator fueled with natural gas
from the GTM. The generator would provide 150 kW of power and only
require a gas connection to the GTM once delivered to the site.
Pinnacle’s Hydraulic Intensifier Compressor (HIC) is very responsive
to changes in suction pressure. At full GTM delivered pressure of
3,250 PSI the Emergency Portable CNG station (EPS) will dispense
fuel to 3,600 PSI at a rate of 1,800 CFM. At 925 PSI in the GTM the
EPS will dispense fuel to 3600 PSI at a rate of 520 CFM, and when
the GTM pressure drops to 300 PSI the EPS will dispense fuel to 3600
PSI at 100 CFM. The portable CNG station can dispense CNG from the
GTM down to 200 PSI, thereby utilizing 90% of the gas delivered in
each GTM.
Gas Transport Module (GTM) Design
Each “Gas Transport Module” (GTM) contains nine (9) steel vessels,
hoop-wrapped with resin infused fiberglass. The steel vessels are
built to United States Department of Transportation Special Permit
14266 Standards. Each vessel delivers 13,734 SCF (389 M3) of CNG at
3,250 psig. Each GTM Module delivers 123,600 SCF (3,500 M3) of CNG
at 3,250 psig.
The 3,250 psig module is capable of loading and transporting an
average of 30% more product per load than conventional 2,400 psig
transportation systems. This 35% increase in pressure capacity
enables GTM modules to be the most efficient and cost effective mode
of transporting gas on the market today.
The GTM modules are DOT compliant and approved for the transport of
compressed methane, oxygen, nitrogen, ethane, helium, hydrogen,
propane and argon, to name a few. GTM Modules are constructed from
welded steel pipe with the addition of conventional steel end caps.
The manufactured tubes are then wrapped with resin infused
fiberglass to maximize strength, reduce weight and increase
transport capacity. The finished nine-cylinder configuration is then
mounted in a frame installed inside an ISO container to be used for
transport. The GTM module revolutionizes the gas transport world by
offering faster, lighter and more efficient transportation. GTM
modules can also be acquired at costs of up to 40% less than
traditional gas transport systems.