In the end of 2013 Eric Mattheeuws had the idea to lead the transport companies in greener ways. Through the cooperation of Fluxys and Romac Fuels, we started in March 2014 with the construction of an LNG gas Station on our site in Veurne. This has been operational since November 2014. This LNG-station is accessible for each transport company with LNG trucks.

Early 2015, Romac Fuels was thinking about a way to find an environmental-friendlier solution for vehicles to fuel up. That’s why they decided to start a request for the construction of a CNG station, additional with the existing LNG station. The CNG fuelstation has been operational since begin November 2017. This station is accessible for private persons or independents. Don’t forget that you should inform us if you want to fuel up CNG and if you got the correct information of your car dealer concerning the use of CNG.

We work on a greener future. Hopefully you too?

 

CNG is an English abbreviation for ‘Compressed Natural Gas’. It’s gas but on high pressure that can be used instead of gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel or LPG. The combustion of CNG produces allot less undesirable gases than the fuels mentioned above. It’s been made from natural gas (which exists mostly of methane), with the needed pressure around the 200bar. Romac Fuels works works like this; the gas doesn’t come from the net, but direct from our existing LNG installation. LNG, the liquid natural gas is then re-pumped and conduct at the pressure needed to create CNG. This CNG can be used for your vehicle or van. The storage of the CNG will be situated next to the LNG installation in cylindrical shapes. LNG is stored in cryogenic tanks because this is liquid at temperatures of -130 until – 161°. Because CNG’s volumetric energy density, estimated around 42% of LNG and 25% of diesel fuel, we need about 30 cilinders to create a 2.4 cubic meters, enough to refuel enough of CNG vehicles. In your car you will have instead of a fuelsection, a gas cylinder. Same principle of LPG, but less dangerous.

LNG stands for Liquified Natural Gas.
Natural gas is liquified by cooling to-162 ° c at normal pressure. The liquefaction reduces the volume of the gas. In liquid form it takes about 600 times less volume than in gas form.
LNG can be transported easily from the source to a repository (e.g. LNG terminal Zeebrugge). LNG is due to its compact shape and high energy value an ideal fuel for heavy road transport.

Cheap

LNG is cheaper than other fossil fuels for the same energy content.
CNG is much cheaper than diesel fuel or gasoline for the same energetic content. CNG is sold per Kg- not per liter. Now is the price around 1 euro per kilo. This has a calorific value around the 11.5995 kWh/m3. CNG vehicles have also a lower maintenance costs than other hydrocarbon-fuel-powered vehicles.

Cleaner

LNG is an odorless, non-toxic and non-corrosive gas. It is the cleanest fossil fuel there is.
CNG has in comparison with gasoline a reduction of 20-25% CO2-emission. As to diesel fuel, a reduction of 9% CO2-emission. It also emits fewer particulate matter than petrol.

Secure

LNG is non-flammable. LNG evaporates quickly and leaves no traces on water or land. When there is a leak LNG will just evaporate.

CNG isn’t toxic nor corrosive, it’s like LNG: the cleanest fossil fuel existing at the moment. It’s ‘equally dangerous’ as the use of diesel fuel. So don’t be afraid to take the step of buying and driving a CNG car. CNG-powered vehicles are considered to be safer than gasoline-powered vehicles! Don’t forget the premium some car dealers give.

Natural gas is liquefied in the producing countries and stored in a tank before it is pumped into a LNG ship.w
Then the ship brings the LNG to its destination, where it is stored in insolated tanks back on-162 ° c. According to the demand it is made gaseous and sent back into the net. As in Belgium in the LNG terminal in Zeebrugge.
LNG is mainly produced in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, Nigeria and Trinidad.

We can find CNG on the gas-network of Belgium. We can make CNG of the gas in this network. Or we can also use shipped LNG to Belgium (we can make CNG+ of this LNG) – arriving in the port of Zeebrugge at the terminal of Fluxys. They have the infrastructure to unload ships – store the LNG – load trucks so they can unload at our site in Veurne to store the LNG in our cryogenic tank, ready to be used for the truck or to make CNG+ of it. The origin of LNG is different. When there’s a source of oil, there’s also a source of gas, where they can make LNG of it. The upcoming fabrication LNG-countries (and so also CNG) are Qatar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Trinidad, Mozambique, UAE, Oman,…

The LNG is tanked in a similar way as any other fuel. There are some additional measures necessary because one works with a cryogenic liquid (liquid at an extremely low temperature, here-162 ° c). You have to wear safety glasses, and insulating gloves.
The tank in which LNG is tanked is a well-insulated tank. It can be compared with a large thermos. It keeps the cold LNG liquefied. In order to use LNG as fuel, it is first evaporated to a gas. This gas is then delivered to the engine to be burned.

There are two ways to use LNG as fuel:

  • Dual-fuel: There are two ways to use LNG as fuel:
  • Mono-fuel: only LNG is used as fuel.

Dual-fuel:
In a dual-fuel engine nothing changes the operation of the diesel engine. Gas injectors are placed in the air intake of the diesel and an additional motor control is installed. A part of the diesel is replaced by LNG. This can amount to 60%-70% substitution. The energy efficiency of a diesel engine is so maintained. This results in a cleaner combustion and a reduction in CO2 emissions. This engine can drive on 100% diesel if LNG is not available. Mono-fuel:
A mono-fuel engine works as a gasoline engine. The gas is burned through an ignition plug.

To drive on CNG in your vehicle or van, it’s the same way like you do now with gasoline or diesel fuel. You take the pistol out of its holder & couple this to the filling spout. Push the lever of the pistol and you will feel a little pressure, then you know your pistol is locked. You should push on the start-button to start filling. Measurements shall be made during fueling up, but when the car is fully loaded, the fueling will be stopped automatically. If you don’t want to fill up completely, you can always push the stop-button. Further you should uncouple the pistol and pull out of the filling spout to place it again in the holder. Romac Fuels will work with a fast-fill-system, so filling your tank with CNG will be going as fast as diesel fuel. No longer waiting lines at the pump. We should also know whether you got the needed information to fuel up CNG. Do not hesitate to contact us with problems.

Are you interested in buying a CNG vehicle/van? We can help you find your best choice. We notice that already a lot of known car-manufacturers have a CNG-car in their series. The surpassing manufacturer is Fiat. Fiat is Italian and in Italy the CNG market is already quite developed because of the early use of CNG after the WW2 as alternative fuel. Besides, also Volkswagen has 7 vehicles on CNG, Volvo has 2 cars on CNG, Seat now has 2 cars in its possession of CNG and Opel has the Zafira and Combo Tour as CNG-vehicles. Audi now has also the A3 in CNG. Mercedes and Lancia also have 1 CNG car. Other brands and models are on the way!