UL ALTERNATIVE FUELS & STANDARDS UPDATE - 2008 Presented at the 2008 EPA UST Annual Tank Conference ROLAND RIEGEL - PRIMARY DESIGNATED ENGINEER Flammable Liquids Containment Products
REVIEW of PREVIOUS UL FUELS INFORMATION New bio fuels continue to increase in use globally so why can t current requirements simply include them along with traditional petroleum fuels? Any why are existing test fuels not suitable? 1. The fundamental property and characteristic differences between biomass and petroleum based fuels have created new challenges for both materials and products with respect to compatibility and overall safety performance. 2. All fuels can change after biomass processing or petroleum refining and blending due to contaminants entering the fuel distribution chain and storage tanks at various points. Most existing test fuels do not address these real world conditions. 3. There are no mandatory requirements to verify the quality of fuels delivered to local stations, and no mandatory requirements to inspect or maintain fueling system components to mitigate local fuel contamination problems (water +?, microbes, etc.). These principals are the primary drivers behind UL revisions to test fuels used in our research, standards and certifications that address both bio fuels and fuel contaminants.
REVIEW of PREVIOUS UL FUELS INFORMATITON Critical Properties and Characteristics of Bio Fuels and Petroleum Fuels are Different, where Bio Fuels Have 1. Higher Electrical Conductivity >>> Accelerates Metal Corrosion Mechanisms 2. Higher Hygroscopic Attraction >>> Increases Fuel/Water Phase Separation Potential 3. Smaller Size & More Polar Molecules >>> Increases Permeation, Solvency and Extraction 4. Decreased Molecular Stability >>> Increases Oxidation and Fuel Decay 5. Different Fire Characteristics >>> Misunderstanding of Fuel Properties, Storage & Use Factors Conclusion - None of these fundamental differences between bio and petroleum fuels properties and characteristics have changed, or are ever expected to. Blends of biomass and petroleum fuels are expected to exhibit variable properties, depending upon the type(s) and concentration(s) of the final fuel blend.
REVIEW of PREVIOUS UL FUELS INFORMATION UL has been leading efforts to develop new test fuels that more accurately represent real world commercially available flammable and combustible fuel blends for evaluating compatibility of all materials. To Achieve This Goal - New UL Test Fuels Include Strategic Blends Of: 1. Major Fuel Components Necessary to evaluate different effects on material components. A. Alkanes (such as, aliphatics, paraffins, etc.) B. Aromatics (such as toluene, xylene, benzene, etc.) C. Oxygenates (such as alcohols, ethers, esters, etc.) 2. Major Fuel Contaminants Necessary to evaluate expected fuel contaminants & by-products. A. Water (suspended solution or phase separated) B. Salts (various organic or inorganic types) C. Acids (various organic or inorganic types) The final type and mixture of aggressive test fuel(s) will depend upon the product application (containment, dispensing, consuming, component etc.), product usage factors and development process type.
NEW UL TEST FUELS FUEL CONTAINMENT PRODUCT New UL aggressive test fuels developed for material compatibility evaluations of storage and containment products for use with the widest range of both flam & comb bio/petro fuel blends in commercial production, blending and motor vehicle fueling applications are: CM15a, CE85a, ULB100 & Random Gas = Motor Vehicle Fuels Rating 1. Developed by 971 STP with External Technical Expert Input Proposed in UL971 Ballot Comments on R&R of Random Gas Future Revision? - FB20a & FB80a Replaces ULB100 Future Revision? - Additive Gas Replaces Random Gas Urgent Need for UL STPs to Successfully Ballot New Test Fuels 2. Future Proposals? - Other UL Containment Product Requirements Tanks/Liners - UL1316, UL1746, SU1854, SU1856, UL2085, UL2085 Pipes/Sumps UL971, UL971A, SU2039, SU2447, SU2248, SU2405 3. Future Proposals? - 0ther UL Requirements for All Fuels Multi-Fuel Containers Specialty & Portable Types Multi-Fuel Components Gaskets, Seals, Labels, Wire
NEW UL TEST FUELS FUEL DISPENSING PRODUCTS New UL aggressive test fuels developed for material compatibility evaluations of dispensing products for use with specific ranges of either flam or comb bio/petro fuel blends in commercial motor vehicle fueling applications are: CE25a & CE85a = Gasoline/Ethanol Fuel Blend Rating 1. Developed by UL with External Technical Expert Input (E85 Forum) Published Oct 07 in SU87A Dispenser Testing Underway! Can Cover Dial-a-Blend Dispensers for Rated Fuels Does Not Cover Any Gasoline/Methanol Fuel Blends Future Revision? Add FB20a & FB80a Diesel/Biodiesel Rating Future Revision? Add CM15a Option Gasoline/Alcohol Rating Future Revision? Add Random or Additive Gas and Diesel 2. Future Proposals? - Other UL Dispenser Component Requirements UL79 Pumps, UL25 Meters, UL330 Hose, UL429 Valves 3. Future Proposals? - Other Consumer Fuel Container Requirements ASTM F852, ASTM F976, ASTM F2234, ASTM F2517, UL1314
NEW UL TEST FUELS COMBUSTIBLE LIQ PRODUCTS New UL aggressive test fuels developed for material compatibility evaluations of combustible liquid only products for use with specific bio/petro fuel blends in commercial or consumer motor vehicle and heating appliance applications are: FB20a & FB80a = Diesel Fuel/Biodiesel Blend Ratings and/or FB20a & FB80a = Heating Fuel/Biodiesel Blend Ratings 1. Developed by UL with Combined External Technical Expert Input Published Feb 08 in SU2258 Plastic Oil Tank Testing Underway! Proposed for Next UL180 Ballot Replaces K25/F25/B50a Future Revisions? - Replace ULB100 in Containment Product Stds. Future Revisions? Replace #2 Fuels in End Use Product Stds. Future Revisions? Add or Replace Test Oils in Component Stds. 2. Future Proposals? - Other UL Comb Liq Only Motor Vehicle Req. UL87A Dispensers, UL79 Pumps, UL25 Meters, UL330 Hose 3. Future Proposals? - Other UL Comb Liq Only Heating Appliance Req. UL296 Burners, UL731 Heaters, UL343 Pumps, UL331 Filters
NEW UL TEST FUELS FUEL CONSUMING PRODUCTS New UL aggressive test fuels developed for material compatibility evaluations of fuel consuming end use products for use with specific ranges of either flam or comb bio/petro fuel blends in either commercial or consumer applications are yet to be determined: Potential Flammable Liquid Test Fuel(s) and Fuel Blend Ratings May Be: CM15a or CE25a & CE85a = All Gasoline/(Alcohol or Ethanol) Blends CE85a or CM85a = High Blend Gasoline/(Methanol or Ethanol) Blends CM15a or CE25a = Low Blend Gasoline/(Alcohol or Ethanol) Blends Potential Combustible Liquid Test Fuels and Fuel Blend Ratings May Be: FB20a & FB80a = All (Diesel Fuel or Heating Fuel)/Biodiesel Blends FB80a = High Blend (Diesel Fuel or Heating Fuel)/Biodiesel Blends FB20a = Low Blend (Diesel Fuel or Heating Fuel)/Biodiesel Blends Future Proposals? Potentially all UL Fuel Consuming End Products: Generators & Turbines, Washers & Cleaners, Heating Appliances, Lift Trucks, Automotive Equipment, Marine Equipment, Portable Tools, Hand Pumps, Specialty Containers and their Components.
NEW UL TEST FUELS FINAL CONSIDERATIONS Although UL had developed these new test fuels through collaborative efforts that address material compatibility of traditional petroleum fuels, new biomass fuels, blends thereof and real world fuel changes, the final decisions will need to be made through individual standard or outline processes. A few key development options, driver dynamics & technical issues to consider are: Development Options - Standards (STP consensus or IAG non-consensus), or Outline development of requirements greatly depend upon balance of time needs vs consensus needs vs user acceptance factors. Driver Dynamics - Changing Global/Fed/State legislative requirements, fuel producer needs, product manufacturer needs, regulatory needs and consumer market needs for bio fuels types, blend % and availability. Technical Issues Marked rating range from high and low test points, individual product use and misuse factors, potential hazards, and issues of consistency vs special needs in each standard.
NEW UL TEST FUELS DISPENSER RESEARCH UL in partnership with DOE has been conducting static & dynamic research testing on gasoline dispensers designed for high blend ethanol fuels since mid 2007. Although the research testing and data analysis are still continuing, the general results on identification of inorganic elements (metals) and organic compounds (polymers) suspended in the test fuels have confirmed earlier theories on bio fuels properties & characteristics. The weekly GC/MS fuel analysis of CE25a & CE85a test fuels used in a typical E85 dispenser in both static & dynamic systems shows: 1. Extracted Metals (High-Low) - Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Ti, Al, Ba, Pb Low/No traces of other alloy metals - Be, Cd, Cr, Mg, Mb, Vn. Weekly quantity trends varied (increase/decrease/stable) Some higher values for CE85a than CE25a (Fe, Ni) Some unexpected results (Ni & Fe higher, Al lower) 2. Extracted Polymers Plasticizers, Stabilizers & Additives Identification of many individual compounds is difficult Quantitative & source analysis of data is ongoing
NEW UL TEST FUELS CONTINUING RESEARCH Additional fundamental bio fuels research at UL is expected to continue in order to provide independent scientific data to support development of proper bio fuels requirements and product certifications. Areas of bio fuels research likely to continue or start in the near future are: 1. Dispensers Static & Dynamic testing with Biodiesel Blends (FB20a & FB80a) for system failure mode analysis with orgainic and inorganic qualitative/qualitative fuels analysis. 2. General Material Compatibility Long term compatibility of basic metallic, polymer and elastomer materials with variable blends of gasoline & alcohols, diesel & biodiesel and w/wo aggressive components and specific additives. 3. Consumer Fuel Container Research Evaluation of portable container liquid/vapor leakage/permeation resistance, physical abuse resistance and CRC effectiveness comparison between current ASTM test fuels and new UL test fuels.
- Thank You - Questions? Contact Information Roland Riegel PDE Flammable Liquids Containment Products Underwriters Laboratories 1285 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11717 roland.a..a.riegel@us.ul.com (631) 271-6200 x 22421