Study finds raising fill levels for doughnut-shaped LPG tanks is safe
Tank safety devices worked normally with no deformation or damage
Plans to ease restrictive rules on vehicles with pressurized fuel tanks
[Asia Times — Kim Ji-soo] The Korea Transportation Safety Authority (TS) plans to relax regulations on LPG vehicle fuel tank fill levels to improve driver convenience.
On the 12th, TS said a joint field study conducted last year with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport found that increasing the fill level of doughnut-shaped tanks installed in LPG vehicles is safe.
Specifically, the study found that safety devices continued to operate normally at higher fill levels and that the tanks showed no signs of deformation or damage.
Based on the results, TS is proposing to raise the current 80% fill limit for doughnut-shaped tanks to 85%.
If regulators approve the change and it takes effect in the first half of this year, vehicles fitted with tanks produced after the revision would be able to carry about 5% more fuel, extending range by roughly 30 kilometers (about 19 miles).
For the study, TS worked with the Korea Gas Safety Corporation, the Korea LPG Association and tank manufacturers to measure tank expansion as LPG temperature changes and to verify whether liquid expansion would damage tanks or trigger safety devices.
Jung Yong-sik, chairman of TS, said, \”This field study is a meaningful achievement born of close cooperation between the LPG industry and government agencies. We will continue to lead efforts to revise unreasonable regulations affecting vehicles equipped with pressure vessels, such as hydrogen and LPG tanks, to create a safer and more convenient transportation environment.\”
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