GTI develops FuelMule mobile fast-fill CNG fueling station

17 September 2012

Research teams at Gas Technology Institute (GTI) are working on several fronts to lower the costs of adoption of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and their fueling infrastructure, particularly first-cost entry. One example of these initiatives is a new mobile fueling technology, the FuelMule.

Rendering of the FuelMule. Source: Ultimate CNG. Click to enlarge.

The FuelMule is a mobile fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station that gives NGV fleets fueling capability at their home base or anywhere without the need to build a fueling station. GTI has worked with Ultimate CNG to bring the technology to fruition and help reduce barriers to market entry for NGVs.

The FuelMule station is equipped with a reciprocating gas compressor capable of dispensing 8 diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) per minute at a pressure of 3,600 pounds per square inch (psi). The FuelMule’s payload area is fitted with light-weight, carbon composite tanks (Type III Dynetek, 3,600 psig) providing on-board storage capacity of 700 DGE.

One of the novel aspects of the system is that the CNG compressor is driven by the same dedicated natural gas engine under the hood of the truck that is used to motor the vehicle down the road. It can fuel 35 to 50 medium to heavy-duty vehicles, and separate electronic metering allows filling two vehicles simultaneously. Loading of the FuelMule can take as little as 2 hours, also utilizing the on-board compressor.