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Thread: New project - Diesel tank
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24th May 2015, 01:10 PM #16GOLD MEMBER
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That link is good information to have.
Where I previously worked, we modified and repaired many truck fuel tanks, including hydraulic conversions, filler neck replacement and tank re skinning. I was particularly interested by the recessed filler neck idea as I had never seen one on any of the tanks I worked on.
I certainly agree with your comments regarding 44 Gal drums etc, particularly on petrol powered vehicles.
I was always amazed at how fuel tank design and construction seemed to reach a certain point and then plateau. Without even opening up a given fuel tank, we could predict the internal failures and what we would find by its manufacturer and were rarely wrong. One of the big truck brands, whose drivers spend all day looking up a dogs bum, was the worst as far as baffle failures and the resulting damage and leaks.
On a side note, wearing my other hat as a Volunteer Firefighter, the introduction of LNG powered trucks caught the attention of those of us who respond to road crashes. While well aware of the hazards that petrol and diesel powered vehicles posed in a road crash scenario and the procedures to mitigate such dangers, this new fuel posed many questions. After lengthy testing by all stake holders including the Tasmania Fire Service, it was found that the cryogenic tanks used to store the fuel on the trucks were substantially safer than any other fuel tank we were likely to encounter and the fuel itself was substantially harder to ignite than either petrol of diesel. Just goes to show how first impressions can be misleading.
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24th May 2015 01:10 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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24th May 2015, 06:46 PM #17SENIOR MEMBER
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That's really interesting. I remember one incident where a guy rolled a taxi. He got out quick as a flash and basically told bystanders to run for it as "she's going to blow". Watching too many stunt films? Nope - it blew up alright. He said he knew it was going to blow because it was LPG. After that I always had the view that LPG must be a pretty touchy fuel. Surely it is easier to light that diesel?
Genuinely curious
- Mick
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26th May 2015, 09:09 PM #18GOLD MEMBER
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Without knowing the exact circumstances surrounding the taxi roll over, I would be inclined to lean towards it being a bit of Hollywood hype that actually came true on that occasion. Out of all the LPG powered vehicles on the road, few burst into flames after accidents. I do however have a couple of beefs with the installation of LPG systems on vehicles, that being the lack of manual isolation valves on the cylinders and the lack of uniform identification of LPG powered vehicles. Only two States require a number plate sticker to easily identify such vehicles as I understand it.
The trucks mentioned are LNG powered, which is a very different beast to LPG. LNG is stored at very low temperatures and low pressure - less than 5psi, in a double skinned, insulated cryogenic tank. The double skin tank is much harder to breach than the thin skin of either aluminium or steel diesel tanks.
LNG has an auto ignition temperature of around 570 deg C, while Diesel is much lower at around 210 deg C, so LNG is much less likely to ignite from contact with hot exhaust or turbo components. Part of the testing carried out was to simulate various size spills then attempt to ignite them and finally fight and extinguish the fire. The tests ended up stopping at the second step more often that not as methods far outside normal conditions had to be employed in order to ignite the spill. Even in the event of a gas leak being ignited there was no substantial hazard posed by the easily controlled fire and simple cooling of the vessel by water spray was the only required tactic.
LNG poses less of an environmental hazard in the event of a road accident as it will not contaminate soil or waterways and does not leave a lingering slick waiting for the next rain to cause chaos. LNG can prove a hazard if allowed to enter the sewer or storm water system, but no more than petrol. In fact, of the very few serious incidents caused by LNG, at least one was due to the flammable gas entering the sewer system and travelling along it until it was ignited, causing a substantial explosion. This was not a leak from a truck fuel tank size vessel I must stress though, but from a much larger storage tank that had leaked undetected for a period of time.
As with any flammable fuel, LNG must be respected, but turned out to be far from the mobile bomb that we initially feared.
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26th May 2015, 09:35 PM #19Member
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A lot of excellent advise on this thread, Thank you all for your input and taking the time to post your experience and ideas. It is much appreciated. I have enough information now to commence this project once I source the material. I think I will go the mild steel route and paint it.
John
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26th May 2015, 10:30 PM #20SENIOR MEMBER
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3rd June 2015, 04:13 PM #21danielson
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just one last point to make in this fine thread and that is to consider using pickled and oil sheet.It will save you a lot of cleaning of the scale flakeing etc
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