Compressed Natural Gas Fueling Stations
CNG stations are not basic and simple like diesel and gasoline fueling stations. Building a CNG station for a fleet or a retail application demands to calculate the right combination of pressure and storage required for the types of vehicles being fueled. Check out which is best for your transportation needs.
Types of CNG Stations
There are two kinds of CNG infrastructure: time-fill and fast-fill. The principal differences in the structures of both types are the compressor size and storage capacity. These elements determine the amount of fuel dispensed and time it takes for CNG to be delivered. So, it is relevant to answer a few questions before you decide on a fast-fill or time-fill station:
- What types of vehicles will be refueled? Light duty, route delivery, trash haulers?
- How many vehicles will be using this location?
- How much gas does each vehicle require?
- For how long you want the vehicles refueled?
Fast-Fill CNG Station
Fast-fill stations are best for light-duty vehicles such as sedans and vans that can fill up quickly. They can be set up in dispensers next to gasoline, diesel, or other alt fuels, and they do not occupy much space. The fuel in this situation comes from a local utility line, and once it is compressed, it is available for filling. It takes approximately five minutes to refill a vehicle with CNG.
The CNG dispenser shows the pressure and temperature going into the tank and then displays how many GGEs (gasoline gallon equivalents) are going into your vehicle.
Image by AFDC.
Time-Fill CNG Station
These stations are commonly for fleets that can be refuel overnight. There could be a bigger compressor at this station that delivers CNG directly rather than a tank filling the vehicle. The storage tank is intended for efficiency – to prevent the compressor from going on and off, wasting electricity.
Time-fill stations are deliberately designed based on the request. A trash hauling company may be fine filling trucks at three gallons per minute, while a transit bus may get 8-9 gallons per minute using a bigger compressor. All of these elements are the reasons behind the great variance in the cost of installation.
Check our blog section regularly for more information on alternative fuels in Denver. If you need a bus for your transportation needs, do not hesitate to contact Colorado West Equipment.