Liquid Natural Gas Fueling is Way Scarier Than I Thought

"Money Hustard" (moneyhustard)
08/18/2014 at 16:11 • Filed to: None

I've never seen LNG fueling in person, but I've always liked the idea of turning the gas line at my house into a gas station. When a client asked me to look into making a marketing splash about their recent pivot to CNG and LNG trucks I found the following photos.

Now this couldn't possibly be how it normally goes down at your average roadside filling station, but it does appear to be how a lot of trucks fuel up. It gives a whole new meaning to "no smoking," doesn't it!

Photo credit: Alison Yin for The Wall Street Journal

DISCUSSION (13)

Money Hustard > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:12

Kinja'd!!!

Seems like this is either too much or too little protection for the situations that might arise.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:16

I looked into doing this and never read about anything like this, although in the second picture it does look like he is filling a huge tank that will be under immense pressure.

When it comes to cars and 1/2 or 3/4 ton trucks, I think the process is not like this, or I likely would've read somewhere about all the protective gear you are supposed to get along with your home fueling station.

CalzoneGolem > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:17

Could this possibly be from the liquid expanding into a gas in an endothermic reaction?

Money Hustard > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/18/2014 at 16:21

Yeah, it's probably just for heavy trucks, which is what I'm researching this for. I can't imagine that all those Honda Civic CNGs are dripping LNG onto home garage floor (fingers crossed at least). It may also be a difference between CNG and LNG, LNG may just be a lot sloppier.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > CalzoneGolem
08/18/2014 at 16:24

Mmm.... frosties!

cazzyodo > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:24

I'm in the fuel supply industry and some customers have asked us (we're a team of 3 in a larger company) about CNG...it's apparently gaining some attention in the freight industry. Some companies approach larger distributors about installing stations at DCs but they are hesitant due to how relatively new it is for the industry.

Dr_Watson > CalzoneGolem
08/18/2014 at 16:31

The steam is definitely that. Just like liquid nitrogen, liquid methane is also very cold (about -160° C) so it boils off when it's out in the atmosphere. However it's coming from that drip you can see below the nozzle. This filling station is casually leaking dangerous greenhouse gasses. So yeah, kind of "messy".

Straightsix9904 > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:47

"I always like the idea of turning the gas line at my house into a gas station"

I know you may have said it a little jokingly, but this is NOT an easy thing to do. It involves taking a low pressure flamable gas and pressurising it to fit it in a tank, sounds simple but when it is pressurized it adds heat.. i.e. not good. There are home grade fill up stations but they take FORRREVVVERRRR to fill up a tank, are prohibitley expensive, and not a very good investment. I think the technology CAN be there, but it will take a massive shift in ideology .

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:51

Ah ok. In that case, I am of no help, I hope you figure it out though, haha.

nermal > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 16:59

A CNG station is right down the street from me. There's not much to be afraid of, they look just like regular gas pumps. Biggest difference is that instead of moving liquid, they move gas @ up to about 3800 PSI. Cost advertised is at about $2 per "gallon of gas equivalent".

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 17:01

CNG is much more end-user friendly.

There's a station an hour from my office. It's different than filling up with gasoline, but no more difficult or hazardous. If I commuted an hour a day, I'd definitely have a CNG fueled vehicle, but as a gearhead, I want something more than functional transportation...

Check out the price per gallon equiv. in Saskatoon! http://www.cngprices.com/station_map.ph…

CalzoneGolem > Dr_Watson
08/18/2014 at 18:33

Yeah that's gonna make me not want to run a vehicle on it.

StingrayJake > Money Hustard
08/18/2014 at 21:18

At my old summer job (HS and college) I was certified to fill propane tanks. People don't give it enough respect. That stuff can be scary.

I filled up LPG-powered vehicles occasionally too. Those guys said mileage wasn't that great compared to traditional unleaded fuel.