Generally, fast-fill stations are best suited for retail situations where light-duty vehicles, such as vans, pickups, and sedans, arrive randomly and need to fill up quickly. The space needed to store the equipment measures about the size of a parking space. CNG can also be delivered via dispensers alongside gasoline or other alternative fuels dispensers. Fast-fill stations receive fuel from a local utility line at a low pressure and then use a compressor on site to compress the gas to a high pressure. Once compressed, the CNG moves to a series of storage vessels so the fuel is available for a quick fill-up. Drivers filling up at a fast-fill station experience similar fill times to a conventional gasoline fueling station—less than 5 minutes for a 20 gallon equivalent tank. CNG at fast-fill stations is often stored in the vessels at a high service pressure (4,300 psi), so it can deliver fuel to a vehicle faster than the fuel coming directly from the compressor, which delivers fuel at a lower volume. Drivers use a dispenser to transfer CNG into the tank. The dispenser uses sensors to calculate pressure and measure the number of GGEs delivered to the tank, taking temperature into account.
Reach out to one of our Supporting Members for more information on how they can help your refueling needs:
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