Thursday, December 3, 2015
National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) technical staff participated via teleconference in a recent meeting held in the Netherlands tasked with developing an international standard for LP-gas vehicle refueling connectors. The working group meeting was under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
NPGA comments that development of a standard is significant as the U.S. propane industry continues its work to update NGPA 58 to reflect current fuel system technologies used in vehicle conversions. Within the proposed Chapter 12 to NFPA 58, developed through the combined efforts of NPGA and the Propane Education & Research Council, is a requirement for the refueling connection to be a K-15 type, which is the connector that the Staubli dispenser nozzle utilizes.
Because of its safety characteristics, this connection was determined to be the most appropriate to promote propane autogas into the mainstream of alternative vehicle fuels. The need to develop a refueling system where heavy gloves and eye protection are no longer required is necessary to achieve significant market penetration, notes NPGA.
The association adds there are competing connections proposed by European and Southeast Asian entities that may not provide the same robustness or flow rates accommodated by the K-15 connector. Although there is no imminent adoption of an ISO standard planned in the U.S. by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or other entities, NPGA will continue to stay involved as the standard development process advances so that the K-15 connector remains at the forefront.
NPGA comments that development of a standard is significant as the U.S. propane industry continues its work to update NGPA 58 to reflect current fuel system technologies used in vehicle conversions. Within the proposed Chapter 12 to NFPA 58, developed through the combined efforts of NPGA and the Propane Education & Research Council, is a requirement for the refueling connection to be a K-15 type, which is the connector that the Staubli dispenser nozzle utilizes.
Because of its safety characteristics, this connection was determined to be the most appropriate to promote propane autogas into the mainstream of alternative vehicle fuels. The need to develop a refueling system where heavy gloves and eye protection are no longer required is necessary to achieve significant market penetration, notes NPGA.
The association adds there are competing connections proposed by European and Southeast Asian entities that may not provide the same robustness or flow rates accommodated by the K-15 connector. Although there is no imminent adoption of an ISO standard planned in the U.S. by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or other entities, NPGA will continue to stay involved as the standard development process advances so that the K-15 connector remains at the forefront.
