presents

1. Wise Gas, Inc. presents Natural Gas Safety

2. Wise Gas & CNG Safety Wise Gas, Inc. is entirely committed to CNG safety at every opportunity. From vehicle conversions & maintenance to station design and operation to the individual who refuels a Natural Gas Vehicle.The reality of Natural Gas is that it’s safer, cleaner, less expensive and simpler to use than either gasoline or diesel. It’s a known fact that the fears are largely based on one simple equation: change. The frightening news reports we hear about natural gas explosions inside of homes are fairly uncommon when the number of homes using natural gas nationwide is considered and the primary factor which causes this sort of accident is a large build up of natural gas inside a closed home which becomes ignited by a spark. For Natural Gas Vehicles, this is not a factor. CNG Stations are outdoor facilities and if a leak were to occur, the gas would simply rise and dissipate into the air since natural gas is lighter than air. Inside of a vehicle, the system is sealed preventing any sort of leaks from occurring and the fueling system inside the vehicle is constructed of strong and durable materials which are resistant to punctures and are even tested with gunfire to ensure their safety. Wise Gas, Inc. is happy to provide training at every level of Natural Gas use to train-the-trainer in safety and use. We believe that videos, demonstrations, training and explanations will offer every participant a sense of comfort and a strong conviction of personal safety at the conclusion of each training.

3. General Facts About Natural Gas & Safety • Natural gas and NGVs (Natural Gas Vehicles) have a stellar safety record which is based upon two facts: • The physical properties of natural gas make it safer than most other fuels. • The fuel systems designed for NGVs are built to stringent standards. • Natural gas itself is safer than either gasoline or diesel fuel. It has a limited range of flammability, meaning it requires the correct mixture of air and fuel to burn—somewhere in the 5 to 15 percent range, and an ignition temperature of approximately 1100 degrees F. Compare that to gasoline and diesel fuel which both have lower concentrations of flammability and lower temperatures of ignition. • Natural gas is lighter than air. If a leak were to develop, the gas would rise and disperse through the atmosphere giving little chance for ignition. Compare that to gasoline and diesel fuel, both of which are dense liquids that tend to pool and are easily ignitable. • Raw natural gas is odorless, so a distinctive odorant that smells very much like strong sulfur is added prior to distribution. This strong odor makes the presence of a leak very easy to detect. • Natural gas is non-toxic. • According to the American Gas Association, safety-related incidents involving natural gas have decreased 29 percent since 1988, even though the use of natural gas has risen 20 percent during that same time period. 

4. Question:If natural gas is so safe, why has it taken so long for it to become an automotive fuel? Answer:Humans, by nature, are resistant to change. Although gasoline has a lower ignition point, pools on the ground and is held in thinner tanks than natural gas, it is a known fuel to all of us; it has been the primary automotive fuel since the internal engine was invented, so we perceive it to be safe. In the same vein, natural gas is a known fuel for heating our homes. Can you imagine if someone suggested pumping gasoline through our homes to fuel our furnaces, clothes dryers and kitchen stoves?! Source: http://www.getbus.org/stories/storyReader$81

5. NGV Safety • Natural gas vehicles are very safe, for not only do they have all the same standard safety equipment as conventional cars (passive restraints, air bags, head restraints and anti-lock brakes), but they are subjected to the same crash safety tests as well. • Because compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems operate at pressures in excess of 3000 PSI, the fuel tank and associated plumbing have to be incredibly rugged and strong enough to contain that pressure. The on-board tanks are made of steel up to one half-inch thick and often wrapped in protective reinforced fiberglass sheathing. Plus, newer tanks are constructed of polymers and composites that are stronger than steel. • Contrast this with standard gasoline and diesel tanks in regular vehicles. These tanks are usually made from stamped steel shell halves, just a few sixteenths of an inch thick, that are welded or crimped together. In the event of a traffic accident, the ability of rugged, durable CNG tanks to withstand rupture or puncture certainly exceeds that of simple stamped steel. • But the safety of NGVs doesn’t just stop with the robust construction of the fuel tank. To take it a step further, most CNG systems have automatic release valves. In a situation of excessive heat or pressure build-up, the valve will open and release the gas to the atmosphere—and since it is lighter than the surrounding air, it will rise and dissipate. The low threshold is set well above ambient temperatures and the high threshold is set well below the ignition temperature of the gas. In the event of a fire, the fuel is safely evacuated from the car before it ever has a chance to catch fire. Gasoline and diesel vehicles simply can’t do that. • A manual shut-off valve also exists just downstream from the CNG tank to allow user intervention if the need arises. A neat side benefit of this valve might be the ability to use it as an anti-theft device. Shut off the fuel supply and any would-be thief wouldn’t get much further than a mile down the road and off shuts the engine. That is the epitome of clever thinking. • So fear not, the use of compressed natural gas as a motor fuel— from compression, storage and fueling to vehicle manufacturing—must meet stringent industry and government standards. And it’s all in the name of clean, efficient and utterly safe motoring.Source: http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/naturalgaspropane/a/safenaturalgas.htm

6. NGV Safety In the US a survey was taken of more than 8,000 vehicles that cumulatively traveled approximately 278 million miles from 1987-1990. The survey found that the injury rate for NGVs per vehicular mile traveled (VMT) was 37 percent lower than the rate for gasoline-powered fleet vehicles and 34 percent lower than the entire population of registered gasoline vehicles. In addition to the lower injury rate, no deaths were recorded for the NGVs in the survey. In contrast the deaths associated with the gasoline fleet vehicles surveyed came to 1.28 deaths per 100 million VMT. The US national average was 2.2 deaths per 100 million VMT for all U.S. gasoline vehicle. Source: http://www.ngva.co.uk/index/fuseaction/site.articleDetail/con_id/5036

7. NGV Vehicle Maintenance A natural gas powered vehicle, like any other vehicle or piece of equipment, is easier to maintain and repair if you understand how it works and what unusual characteristics it might possess. Natural Gas vehicles don’t differ much from their gasoline counterparts (except, of course, much lower emissions). They use basically the same kind of spark ignition engine, and all other parts in the drive train are identical. The one major difference that affects the maintenance of these vehicles (other than the type of fuel burned), is the fuel storage and delivery system. In order to properly maintain your natural gas powered vehicle, it helps to understand this unique system. The Fuel Tank – The Plumbing • To maintain Natural Gas in its stored state, it must be held under very high pressure—around the 200-plus PSI range. To accommodate these high pressure requirements, natural gas vehicles are equipped with specially constructed high pressure storage tanks to contain the fuel, along with pressure regulators that step-down the final delivery pressure for the fuel metering system. All of these components are built to exacting standards and are able to withstand any ordinary exposure that the vehicle may encounter. Maintenance Tip: • Periodic regular inspection of the tank and its attendant plumbing and pressure regulators should be part of the regular maintenance process. Clean Burning – Clean Engine – Long Life • The accumulation of unburned fuel, soot and acids are the major contributors to the breakdown of motor oil. It’s not that the oil “wears out,” rather it’s the depletion of additive packages from the cumulative effects of time and mileage that renders the oil ineffective. When motor oil is kept relatively clean, the anti-oxidants, anti-scuff compounds, viscosity index improvers (and myriad other additives) don’t take such a “lickin,” so they can keep on “tickin.” • One of the biggest benefits of natural gas as automotive fuel is the clean burning characteristics. Natural Gas fuels burn so cleanly that not only does it produce scant tailpipe emissions, but also releases virtually no by-products of combustion (carbon particulates and acids) into the motor oil. Maintenance Tip: • Because the oil stays cleaner longer, it’s reasonable to expect longer intervals between oil changes—furthermore, the engines themselves often have a longer service life and reduced maintenance costs. And that means regular service parts that last longer. Source: http://alternativefuels.about.com/od/generalmaintenance/a/gaspropanemaint.htm

8. CNG Under Fire The fuel storage cylinders used for CNG are much, much stronger than petrol tanks. The design of the cylinders is subject to a number of "severe abuse" tests such as heat and pressure extremes, gunfire, collisions and fire. The systems are also fitted with valves and other safety devices to prevent leakage and eliminate the risk of an explosion - actually making them safer than the legal requirements stipulate. Source: http://www.ngva.co.uk/index/fuseaction/site.articleDetail/con_id/5036

9. Natural Gas Safety Q&A Is natural gas a safe fuel? Natural gas has proven itself over the years as a safe, economical and reliable source of energy. In fact, it's the same fuel that heats our homes and cooks our food. Although not widely known, natural gas has been used as an automotive fuel for many years, so the technology for natural gas is well developed. Is natural gas, stored at high pressure in vehicles, dangerous? In automotive applications, natural gas is stored in specially designed and engineered cylinders at either 3,000 or 3,600 pounds per square inch. Natural gas cylinders must pass rigid federal safety standards and they have been thoroughly impact-tested. One auto manufacturer, for example, uses natural gas cylinders constructed of an aluminum liner covered with a special high-strength fiberglass wrap for maximum safety and durability. An epoxy-based coating is then applied to protect the cylinder from environmental damage. Natural gas cylinders are safe! What if there is a collision so serious the natural gas cylinders are punctured? Due to the integrity of the natural gas fuel system, a failure of this kind is highly unlikely. In fact, there are reported cases where natural gas-powdered police cruisers have been involved in horrendous accidents following a high-speed chase, yet the natural gas fuel system remained intact. But if a puncture or leak were to occur, it's important to know that, unlike gasoline, natural gas is lighter that air and would dissipate quickly from the area. Are there any special safety precautions that need to be used when refueling a natural gas vehicle? None, other than the same common sense precautions drivers have used for years refueling gasoline-powdered vehicles, namely extinguishing smoking materials and shutting the engine off. Is it possible to overfill a natural gas cylinder and cause an explosion? No the fill pressure is pre-set on the station compressor. Also, there are different fill connectors for different natural gas systems; in addition, interlocks prevent overfilling a 3,000 pound per square inch system with 3,600 pounds per square inch of natural gas. Is natural gas more volatile and flammable than gasoline? In fact, natural gas has a higher ignition point that gasoline which means it takes a higher temperature - approximately 1,200 degrees - to ignite natural gas whereas gasoline can ignite at approximately 600 degrees.

10. CNG Refueling Refueling of NGVs is easier and safer than refueling with gasoline or diesel - it takes about the same amount of time, but you don't get smelly stains on your shoes or spills down the side of your vehicle. The refueling nozzle simply clicks onto the receptacle on the vehicle and you are ready to fill. When the cylinder is full, the dispenser automatically shuts off and you are ready to disconnect again. Options for refueling include public station, depot based and home refueling. The main difference between each situation is the volume and speed at which the fuel is dispensed and the means of paying for the fuel.

11. Public Refueling Much like refueling with gasoline or diesel. The driver pulls up at a dispenser, switches the engine off and then connects the nozzle to the receptacle. Some nozzles have an isolator fitted, which prevents the engine from being switched on while connected to the dispenser.In some converted vehicles, the refueling receptacle may be located under the hood or in the trunk. In most OEM vehicles though, the receptacle is located where the gasoline or diesel inlet is. Refueling usually takes the same amount of time as a gasoline or diesel vehicle, though if demand is particularly high, a resulting pressure drop may extend this time a little.Public refueling stations are usually supplied either by piped natural gas (just like at home), or by 'tube trailers'. A station supplied by a tube trailer is part of a 'mother-daughter' system, where the fuel is compressed at the mother station and delivered via the tube trailer to the daughter station. Mother-daughter systems are usually used when piped natural gas is not available.IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE If the receptacle on the vehicle and the nozzle on the dispenser do not match, do NOT use an adaptor to refuel the vehicle. Industry standard nozzles and receptacles have been designed with optimal safety in mind to prevent accidents. If an adaptor is used, safety can be compromised, particularly in relation to the high pressure these systems operate under.

12. Depot Based Refueling A depot based station usually services a limited fleet, though facilities are often shared with fleets or private vehicle owners that are not related to the depot. A depot based CNG refueling system may be either a fast-fill or a time-fill (aka slow-fill) system.A fast-fill CNG system will fill a vehicle in a 'normal' time of around five minutes or less. A time-fill system fills the vehicle over a period of time, often overnight, and is usually used for vehicles that have extended periods where they aren't operated - e.g. refuse trucks, courier vans, private vehicles, lift trucks, etc.The main advantage of a time-fill over a fast-fill system is that it usually has lower cost. Fast-fill systems require 'cascade storage' which essentially stores fuel at pressure which is then fed to the dispenser. With a time-fill system, the fuel is fed directly from the compressor to the vehicle's on-board storage cylinder. This means less space is required for equipment and lower up-front and maintenance costs. A refueling equipment or gas supplier can consult with depot operators to find the most suitable system for a particular depot.

13. Home Refueling Home refueling is a relatively recent, yet exciting development for natural gas vehicles. As the name suggest, a vehicle is refueled at home (or business), using a wall or floor mounted unit called the Phill, in a garage or on an outside wall. The main advantages of home refueling are convenience and low cost.With home refueling, you not only avoid the hassle of having to visit a service station for fuel, but you also have the convenience of paying for your fuel along with your home or business natural gas bill.