Preparing Maintenance Facilities for Alternative Fuel Vehicles

Copyright © 2014 Sierra Monitor Corporation
Preparing Maintenance Facilities
for Alternative Fuel Vehicles
by Corey Miller, Senior Sales Engineer

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•Provide insight and promote discussion on what it will take to
prepare your maintenance facility for Alternative Fuel Vehicles
(AFV)
•Define alternative fuels as non-gasoline/diesel. Includes CNG,
LNG, LPG, Hydrogen, and Fuel Cell
•Review hazardous nature of these fuels
Executive Summary

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•Various codes and ordinances that influence design
•Equipment commonly used in operation of system
 Detection
 Alarm
 Mitigation
•Cost of ownership
Executive Summary (cont’d)

• Natural Gas (Methane, CH4)
 100% LEL = 5% by volume
 Lighter than air
 Odorless
 CNG = Compressed Natural Gas
 LNG = Liquid Natural Gas
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Alternative Fuels

•Hydrogen (H2)
 100% LEL = 4% by volume
 Much lighter than air
 Odorless
 Used as fuels in two methods:
• Combustion engines
• Fuel Cell – to create electricity
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Alternative Fuels

•Propane
 100% LEL = 2.1% by volume
 Heavier than air
 Odorless
 Liquefied for storage and transportation but gas
for combustion
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Alternative Fuels

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•International Code Council
 International Fire Code (IFC 2012)
• Section 2311.7
• Requires gas detection equipment for non-odorized gases
• Shall be “performance approved”
 International Mechanical Code (IMC 2012)
 International Building Code (IBC 2012)
Codes and Regulations

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•National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 NFPA 30A (2012) – Repair Garage-Major, where lighter-than-air gaseous
fueled vehicles are repaired or stored
• The terms “repair garage – major” are intended to correlate with Article
511.3 of NFPA 70 ®, National Electrical Code ®
• Within 18 inches (450 mm) of ceiling, except as noted below
• Class 1 Div. 2
• Within 18 inches (450 mm) of ceiling where ventilation of at least one
ft3/min./ft2 of floor area is provided and suction is taken from a point
within18 inches (450 mm) of the highest point in the ceiling
• Unclassified

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•National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
 NFPA 52 (2013) Vehicular Gaseous Fuel Systems
 NFPA 88A (2015) – Standards for Parking Structures
 NFPA 59 (2015) – Standard for the Storage and Handling of
Liquefied Petroleum Gases at Utility Gas Plants

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•Note that the ICC code series and NFPA 30A, 52, and
88A are codes that, if adopted, are adopted
voluntarily by states and enforced by the local
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
•Local AHJ may enforce additional requirements
beyond the national codes and thus should be
consulted directly before final design of any
modifications

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• Type of work being conducted on vehicles
 Major or Minor
• Solicit the services of a qualified engineer (NFPA 52)
• Building structure
• Natural ventilation
• Surrounding buildings
• Security
• Occupation
• Ignition Source
 Heaters, grinding and welding areas
• Geographic and climate considerations
Design Consideration

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•Gas detection has two deployment
alternatives
 Portable – used as personnel protection and is not used
as detection method in maintenance facility
 Fixed – used for area protection and alarm activation
Gas Detection

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•Controller based system
 Pro
• Control and interface from a single point
• Easier to install with fewer wires
• Third party approval for a complete system
• Simpler calibration technique
 Con
• Size limitation
Fixed Gas Detection

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•Sensor based
 Pro
• More flexibility in system design
• Third party approvals for sensors only
 Con
• Requires data wires and power wires
• Calibration can be more cumbersome
Fixed Gas Detection

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•Open Path Gas Detection
 Pro
• Less cost per area
• Fewer components
 Con
• Not accurate for point gas level analysis
• Measures in LEL/meter
• Difficult to install
• Not accepted by some local AHJ
Fixed Gas Detection

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•Open Path Gas Detection
Fixed Gas Detection

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•Catalytic Bead
•Infrared
•Electrochemical
Sensor Technology

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•Combustible materials (CH4 and H2)
•Performance approved by a NRTL
 UL 2075, FM 6320 or CSA 22.2 No. 152
•Requires periodic calibration
Catalytic Bead Technology
DC Supply
Active Bead
Output
Passive Bead

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• Light hydrocarbons, C1-C6 (excluding Hydrogen)
• Large measurement range
• Located within 18 inches of the ceiling
• Low maintenance
• Performance approved
• 1 year calibration interval
• Accurate & stable
Infrared Technology
Detector
Sample Cell
Source

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• CO and NO2
• Located in the “breath zone” (4 ~ 7 ft. off grade)
• Current generating electrolytic reaction
• High sensitivity for PPM levels of toxic gas
• Specificity to gas of interest
Electrochemical Technology
Capillary Diffusion Barrier
Sensing Electrode
Counter Electrode
Electrolyte
Sensor Pins
Current
Collectors
Separator

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Sensor Technology

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Sensor Technology

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Sensor Technology

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Sensor Technology

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Sensor Technology

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Sensor Technology

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•Design Consideration
 Sensor Location
• Spacing
• Height
• Combustible
• Hydrogen (H2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Propane
• Toxic
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Use of common sense
Sensor Technology

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•Notification
 Required at 25% LEL of combustible level
 Visual from all points
 Audible to all
 ADA compliant
 First responder intuitive
 Allow the authority to know when it is safe to return
 Evacuation if required
•Audible and Visual are different than “Fire Alarm”
•Auto dialers, where required
Alarm and Notification

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Alarm and Notification

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•Natural air flow
•Pressurization of office areas
•Evacuation of air
 Exhaust fans
•Produce make-up air
 Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)
 Doors and vents
Mitigation

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•“Push/Pull” Design – simplified
 Air is 100% cubic feet per minute of outside air
 Air handling unit(s) “push” air into the building
 Exhaust fan(s) “pull” the air from the building and exhaust to atmosphere
•Two modes of operation
 NORMAL (low fan speed) – 24 hours/day, 7 days/week
 EMERGENCY (high fan speed) – activated on flammable gas concentration of not
more than 20%
Mitigation

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•Air Volume (CFM) Requirements
 NORMAL (low fan speed)
• Minimum one (1) CFM per 12 cubic feet of room volume
[room volume = length (ft.) x width (ft.) x height (ft.)]
• Minimum per National Fire Protection Code (NFPA 52)
 EMERGENCY (high fan speed)
• Change the volume of air eight (8) times every 60 minutes (vs. NORMAL at five (5) times
every 60 minutes)
• Eight (8) air changes every 60 minutes equals about 45% more EMERGENCY air volume
(CFM) than NORMAL air volume
Mitigation

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Mitigation Mechanicals

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•Security
 Vents over doors
•Shunt trip and shut down
•Explosion proof requirements
•Signage
Additional Considerations

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•Total Cost of Ownership
 Utility cost
• Moving the air
• Heating the air
 Equipment cost
• Installation
• $75K to $150K estimated per bay
• Includes design and build
Cost of Ownership

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•Total Cost of Ownership
 Equipment maintenance cost
• Annually, estimated $25~$150 per sensor
• Access to the sensor
• Ladder
• Scissor Lift
• Bucket Lift
• Full system test:
• Horns
• Strobes
• BBU
 Safety
Cost of Ownership

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Request a quote from Sierra Monitor:
sales@sierramonitor.com
Request information from Sierra Monitor:
info@sierramonitor.com
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Preparing Maintenance Facilities for Alternative Fuel Vehicles

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