October, 1995

The world's first entirely automated Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Dispensing Station has been successfully brought on-line.

Superior Controls, responsible for the control system design and implementation, started up the Bloomfield, New Mexico, system this past year.

Jeff Beale, president of CH IV Cryogenic and designer of the refueling system, noted that "LNG is proving to be a clean and viable alternative to gasoline and diesel fuels." Historically, LNG's biggest challenge has been how to handle its -260-degree F temperature. "Using our patented process and Superior Controls' automated control and monitoring system, we were able to implement the world's first publicly accessible, self-serve LNG vehicle fueling station. This is the only LNG fueling station that does not require a full-time operator."

The PLC- and PC-based system monitors and controls the compressors, valves, motors, and instrumentation associated with the station.

An LNG vehicle driver fuels a vehicle in a manner similar to fueling a car at a gas station.

The PLC controls temperature, flow, and pressure. The PC, using custom code and a relational database, monitors and collects process data.

Additionally, the system automatically faxes back process alarms to CH IV's and Superior Controls' corporate offices. An engineer also can go on-line, real time, over phone lines and troubleshoot the control system.

Beal notes, "The Bloomfield station has been in operation for nearly a year with drivers fueling over 3,000 vehicles," CH IV and Superior Controls are now implementing a second station in Denver, Colorado.