Module 3: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol-Blended Fuels

Module 3: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol-Blended

Fuels

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Objective

Upon the successful completion of this module, participants will be able to describe how ethanol-blended fuels are transported and transferred and where the most likely points for error in these actions will exist.

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Introduction

Essential to quickly & effectively identify presence of ethanol / ethanol-blended fuels at scene of incident

Can be challenging because containers in which ethanol is transported not always clearly marked

Steps taken to ensure incidents managed effectively

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Transportation and Placarding

Gasoline & ethanol-blended fuels transported in same general types of containers & tanks

MC-306 / DOT-406 Multiple sizes &

compartment configurations

Local transportation issues

Copyright 2006, TEEX/ESTI

Standard MC-306 / DOT-406

Duel axle Capacity: 6,000–

9,500 gallons Custom built 3/8 inch aluminum 1–7 compartments

Property of Heil Trailers International, reprinted with permission

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Heavy Duty MC-306 / DOT-406

Tri-axle Capacity: 9,500–

15,000 gallons Custom built 1–7 compartments


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Michigan-Style MC-306 / DOT-406

Multiple axles Capacity: 13,800 gallons Custom built 5 compartments


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Truck and Pull MC-306 / DOT-406

Truck tank:– Capacity: 4,000–6,000

gallons– 1–4 compartments

Trailer tank:– Capacity: 4,000–8,500

gallons– 1–5 compartments

Custom built


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Military Refueler

Low profile Capacity: 5,000

gallons Single compartment Built to military

specifications Air transportable



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DOT:– Classifies according

to primary danger – Assigns

standardized symbols to identify classes

Ethanol & ethanol-fuel blends are flammable liquids

Copyright ERG


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Flammable tanker placards:– Lower ethanol

concentrations up to & including E-10 (E-01 to E-10) blended fuels: UN 1203

– E-85 (E-11 to E-94) blended fuels: UN 3475

– E-95, E-98 (E-95 to E-99) blended fuels: UN / NA 1987

– E-100: UN 1170 Copyright ERG


October 1, 2008:– U.S. DOT, Pipeline and Hazardous

Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued final rule creating a new proper shipping name & placard for ethanol-blended fuels with a percentage higher than 10% but lower than 95% (E-11 to E-94)

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Ethanol Proper Shipping Names

Ethanol ConcentrationPreferred Proper Shipping Name

E-1 to E-10 Gasohol (UN 1203) or Gasoline (UN 1203)

E-11 to E-94 Ethanol & gasoline mixture (UN 3475)

E-95 to E-99 Denatured alcohol (NA 1987) or Alcohols n.o.s. (UN

1987)

E-100 Ethanol (UN 1170) or Ethyl alcohol (UN 1170)

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April 22, 2009:– EPA received a waiver to lift arbitrary regulatory cap on

ethanol from a 10% blend of ethanol to a 15% blend of ethanol in our gas supply; must approve / disapprove by December 1, 2009

– Current cap dates back to 1970s– If approved, DOT-PHMSA will decide placarding; current

debate is to placard pure hydrocarbon gasoline with UN 1203 & E-1 to E-94 ethanol-blended fuels with placard UN 3475

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DOT 111 rail car: – Non-pressure general tank car– Current maximum capacity 34,500 gallons

Copyright 2009, IAFC

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Rail tanks identified similarly Pressure & vacuum relief devices

same as currently found on gasoline-style transport tankers

Bottom loaded & unloaded by standard 4-inch quick connect / direct connections

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Valving internal to tanks with breakaway piping & remote shut-off controls

Vapor recovery systems same as currently found on roadway gasoline tankers

Standard Non-Pressure TankTop Fittings Arrangement — Valves

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Standard Non-Pressure TankTop Fittings Arrangement — Manway

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Standard Non-Pressure TankBottom Outlet Valve Arrangement

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Most fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) transported by rail:– Some by waterway & very small amounts by

pipeline– Pipeline concern: corrosiveness – pH between 5 & 6 (slightly corrosive)

Storage depots with no access to rail receive it by road tankers:– Trans-loading

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NFPA 704 diamond:– Uses colors, numbers, & special symbols

to indicate presence of hazardous materials

– Higher number = greater hazard

NFPA 704 Diamond

23Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

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NFPA 704 diamond:– Health: Blue– Flammability: Red– Reactivity: Yellow– Special: White (special notice)

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NFPA diamond for E-100, E-98, E-95, E-85, & E-10 (gasoline):– 1: Blue health square: slight to

moderate irritation– 0: Reactivity yellow square– 3: Flammability red square: high

flammability with ignition likely under most conditions

– No commonly accepted special character (white)

NFPA Diamond for E-100, E-95, E-85, and Gasoline

26Copyright 2008, TEEX/ESTI

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Most hazardous materials incidents occur during transportation & transfer operations

Be aware of areas / routes where large shipments of ethanol & ethanol-blended fuels routinely pass

Fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) now leading single hazardous material transported by rail

Some refineries now shipping fuel fully blended

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Most of Midwest & other ethanol production facilities have access to rail sidings, many bulk storage fuel depots do not have rail sidings:– Much of the fuel-grade ethanol is

trans-loaded to tanker trucks for distribution to bulk storage facilities via highways

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Placards able to indicate high-concentration ethanol-blended fuels:– Does not distinguish between gasoline &

E-10 gasohol– E-10 requires AR foam for emergency

response


TRANSCAER:– Voluntary effort– Founded by Union Pacific & Dow

Chemical– Members– Resources may include:

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Activity 3.1 — Ethanol Spill Emergency

Purpose:– To allow participants to determine the

hazards associated with an ethanol emergency.

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Summary

Variety of sources for information about chemicals involved in spill / fire incidents:– MSDS– UN numbers– DOT placards– NFPA 704 placards

Fuel-grade ethanol (E-98, E-95) become leading hazardous material transported by rail:– Transfer commonly occurs via highways

Documents

Module 3: Transportation and Transfer of Ethanol-Blended Fuels