CNG and Methanol AVI systems
With most countries moving towards clean and sustainable energy, the technology behind conventional fuels needs to adapt as well as our dependency on fossil fuels.
From an oil perspective, it is estimated that the world’s oil reserves will be depleted in the next 50 years if the current burn rate continues. Oil has only been used for the last 200 years and we are now in the final stretch of using this limited resource.
Whilst CNG was introduced in 1991, it took a decade before major adoption occurred. By 2011, 14.8 million motor vehicles worldwide have been adapted to CNG. By the end of 2019, this figure rose to 29.5 million vehicles. OTI PetroSmart has long since supported the advancement of cleaner energy by ensuring that the Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) technology in use with traditional fuels is also compatible with CNG type requirements and can be fitted to most nozzles and pumps dispensing CNG. CNG is known for producing fewer undesirable gases than fossil fuels and poses less of a threat from spills since it can disperse quickly. CNG also has some drawbacks – the fuel requires a special pressurized tank to store the gas, which requires regular inspection. Considering the number of vehicles fitted with CNG, monitoring these tanks is a major challenge for both the public and private sector.
OTI have addressed this challenge by including verification of the tank inspection information at the time of refuel. Vehicles that are not authenticated using AVI and that don’t have a valid inspection certificate (stored in the memory of the vehicle tag) will be denied fuel.
Introducing Methanol as a clean and sustainable fuel source
Methanol may be a solution to the carbon emission problem, but a major drawback is Methanol poisoning that can cause severe illness or death. Introducing Methanol as a motor fuel needs to be done in a responsible way. Several denaturants have been introduced to bitter the taste, add a colorant as well as an odorizing agent, these however, do not prevent spillage.
OTI PetroSmart addressed the primary safety aspect using AVI technology by adjusting the reading range between the encoded vehicle tag and the Methanol nozzle, which ensures that dispensing only occurs while the nozzle is fully inserted into fuel tank inlet. If the nozzle is removed during the refueling process, the pump is automatically shut down.
OTI PetroSmart has subsequently also developed a smart solution that allows refueling of methanol to a safe level before shutting down the pump. The solution also requires certain conditions to be met adding additional layers of safety.
OTI PetroSmart are the only company to offer fit for purpose AVI solutions across all fuel types, thereby supporting the transition to cleaner fuels. We are also currently exploring new solutions for Hydrogen refueling as part of our collaboration with customers committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions.
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