CNG and RNG are abbreviations used in the fuel market. CNG stands for “Compressed Natural Gas” and RNG for “Renewable Natural Gas”. The storable fuel consists to a large extent of methane (CH4), which is produced as natural gas (CNG) or produced in biogas plants (RNG). The biogas is processed into biomethane using a biogas processing plant. CNG and RNG are used as fuels in, among other things, cars, trucks and in buses.
The model range of CNG cars is broad. Various manufacturers offer, among other things, small cars, mid-range cars and SUVs (see the video of the SEAT ARONA TGI). The gas station supply network is dense. According to NGVA Europe (Natural & bio gas Vehicle Association), there were 3,785 gas stations across Europe in April 2020, of which around 837 were in the Federal Republic.
Stadtwerke Augsburg is considered a pioneer in the use of CNG in local public transport. They have 85 buses in use that are fueled with biomethane and run in a CO2-neutral manner. New Holland introduced a CNG tractor for agricultural use in 2019, which will soon be ready for the market. And among the commercial vehicle manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz, VOLVO, SCANIA and IVECO, among others, offer models with CNG engines.
When it comes to refueling, it has to be safe, fast and reliable. Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH is one of the market-leading providers of CNG filling stations. Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH has now implemented more than 600 CNG filling stations in Russia and Europe. There are around 450 Schwelm taps in Germany. Customers include local gas suppliers (municipal utilities), industrial companies, especially the automotive industry, agricultural businesses and trucking companies who value the advantages of CNG.
Environmental and financial benefits
CNG vehicles, especially RNG vehicles, score points compared to gasoline, diesel and electric vehicles in terms of range and CO2 avoidance.
With 10 euros in the tank, cars with CNG / RNG can travel 247 km. With petrol or diesel in the tank, however, they can reach 147 or 189 km.1) A CNG refueling process only takes a fraction of the time compared to an electric charging station – a crucial advantage, especially on business trips. CNG / RNG are also ahead when it comes to CO2 emissions. CNG engines avoid a lot of CO2. Compared to a gasoline engine, 65 percent less carbon dioxide is emitted and compared to a diesel vehicle, 77 percent less carbon dioxide is emitted. In addition, compared to the diesel standard Euro 6D temp, CNG vehicles avoid 80 percent of NOx (nitrous oxides) and 91 percent of fine dust.
In addition to the lower fuel price, cars also benefit from vehicle tax benefits until 2026. The tax for a CNG Seat Arona, for example, is 42 euros per year. For the same vehicle with a petrol engine, the annual tax is 90 euros and for the diesel model it is 238 euros. Purchases of CNG vehicles are also subsidized by the state with up to 8,000 euros.
Haulage companies that rely on alternative fuels such as CNG will benefit from a toll exemption until the end of 2020. An extension is currently being discussed and was recently recommended by the Transport Committee of the German Bundestag.
Environmental and economic advantages can be combined through lower CO2 emissions, low fuel costs and lower taxes. Trucking companies, bus fleet operators and agricultural businesses can achieve competitive advantages by using alternative fuels.
Structure and functionality of a CNG filling station
Natural gas filling stations are visually similar to a conventional filling station for petrol, diesel and autogas (LPG). The natural gas or bionatural gas is taken from the public gas network or directly from a biogas processing plant with the applied supply pressure (usually 0.02 bar to 70 bar) and fed to the compressor via a dryer. The compressor technology of a Schwelm CNG filling station enables compression to up to 300 bar and delivery quantities of between 15 and 3,000 Nm³/h.
Refueling concepts
Slow fill – refueling concept: the natural gas flows directly into the vehicle tank via a slow fill filling point. For example, refueling a car takes around 4 – 8 hours. With this concept, a bus fleet can be filled virtually “overnight”.
Fast fill – refueling concept: the natural gas is first temporarily stored in a cascade storage with a storage pressure of approx. 300 bar. The storage size is designed by Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH according to the customer’s individual specifications. The vehicle is refueled from this buffer via the pressure difference to the vehicle tank. Depending on the size of the tank, the refueling process takes approximately 4 – 6 minutes (cars) and around 15 minutes for buses.
Special features of the Schwelm CNG filling stations/collateral
Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH offers a tailor-made design for every location. The compressor performance and high-pressure storage are optimally dimensioned according to customer requirements. Two different filling couplings for car/truck refueling in a modern two-hose system are available.
The high-performance fuel pump is monitored and controlled throughout the entire refueling process. The maximum pressure of the vehicle tank of 200 bar at an ambient temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (temperature-compensated filling) is safely maintained. The safety technology includes, among other things, a safety pressure limiter, a hose rupture protection, a hose breakaway coupling, a drive-over protection and an emergency stop system. The standard interface is the data line to the cash register system or to a self-sufficient fuel terminal. The taps can be implemented with or without calibratable gas measurement, for example. B. in depot facilities.
Projects, references and personal offers
Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH is based in the district town of the same name, Schwelm, in North Rhine-Westphalia. The origins of the former parent company “Schwelmer Eisenwerk” go back to 1886. This has e.g. B. the automatically shut-off fuel nozzle used to date was developed. Today, Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH is a provider of chemical plants, a leading manufacturer of biogas processing and biogas feed systems as well as natural gas filling stations. In 13 European countries as well as in eastern countries such as. B. Moldova, Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH has successfully created projects.
It takes approximately 6 months from the commissioning to the commissioning of a CNG filling station. This includes approximately 2 weeks for the assembly of the CNG filling station units on site. If you are interested in an individual offer, please contact Schwelm Anlagentechnik GmbH directly.
A greenValue article by Daniel Kellermann published on May 27, 2020.
Source: 27 May 2020, www.greenvalue.de
More information about the CNG market can be found at gibgas.de.