At first glance, fueling systems at retail fueling sites appear to be nothing more than rough-and-tumble setups – a big hole is dug in which a long tube is buried before a heavy-duty pump pushes the fuel through the dispenser nozzle and into a customer’s vehicle. In reality, they are delicate ecosystems in which a number of finely tuned parts need to function in harmony to consistently produce the desired result.
Beyond dispensing fuel efficiently, one of the most important “desired results” is an underground storage tank (UST) system that prevents fuel leaks that can create hazards for the fueling site and environment, the escape of transient vapors into the atmosphere and the intrusion of water into the UST where it can compromise fuel quality. To combat these challenges, OPW Retail Fueling has developed a number of cutting-edge fueling system components, including:
- Double-Wall Spill Containers: EDGE™ spill containers install easily in the same space as traditional single-wall models, but double the protection against product leaks or spills. The thick-walled polyethylene spill buckets are roto-molded for long life and durability. An integrated test port allows for vacuum testing versus hydrostatic testing, which significantly simplifies and reduces testing costs. All of these features also help lower maintenance costs.
- Testable Overfill-Prevention Valves: The 71SO-T valves prevent UST overfills by providing positive shutoff during product delivery. Halting spills before they can occur saves costs related to cleanup, repair and remediation. The true innovation of these overfill valves, however, is their ability to be tested from the UST’s surface without requiring removal from the tank, which takes as little as 60 seconds, rather than 60 minutes.
- Composite Manhole Covers: The three styles of OPW composite manhole covers have been engineered to provide the same level of reliability and protection as steel covers, but their lighter weight makes them easier to handle and maneuver, while a slip-resistant tread pattern helps prevent slip-and-fall incidents. The composite covers will also not rust, corrode or deform, which increases their ability to prevent water intrusion.
- Emergency Shut-Off Valves: The 10 Plus Series is a double-poppet valve that utilizes a special SmartGuard™ covering over the shear groove, ensures that undetected leaks in the shear-groove, which are caused by low-impact incidents, driveaways or dislodged dispensers, will not result in fuel leaking into sumps. This reduces the risk of fire, explosion, personal injury, property damage, environmental contamination, product loss, cleanup and remediation. Now available in 2” for truck stop applications.
- Dripless Fuel Nozzles: The OPW 14 Series Nozzles feature a patented, free-draining spout that drains the residual fuel out of the spout and then into the vehicle when the dispensing process is halted. The series includes two dripless enhanced conventional gasoline nozzles, both of which exceed CARB dripless-nozzle requirements and have been approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Underwriters Laboratories Canada (ULC). For fueling sites with a diesel-fuel option, a third member of the 14 Series family has patented diesel-capture technology to allow any retained fuel in the spout to migrate back to the diesel-capture device, which secures the fuel in a diesel-capture chamber until the next fueling cycle begins.
- No-Drill Tank Sumps: The ElectroTite No-Drill Tank Sump is the industry’s first and only sump that has factory-installed conduit ports and electrical wiring box, which enables the sump to be installed as-is at the fueling site, with no drilling required. This eliminates the risk that unintended leak points will form in the system due to the drilling of entry points and compromised conduit entry fittings.
- Watertight Fueling-System Components: To help prevent the entry of water into fueling systems, OPW has developed the Watertight Wonders product line. This family of fueling system components consists of composite multiports with watertight lids; composite manhole covers; sealable cover spill containers; no-drill dispenser loop sumps; and no-drill tank sumps. The result is a portfolio of products that can virtually eliminate the chance that water will invade USTs and the overall fueling system.
Fuel retailers who introduce any or all of these components into their fuel storage systems will significantly increase the likelihood that their systems will not be subject to fuel leaks, excessive vapor loss, harmful and costly levels of water intrusion. These products also align with OPW’s Defining What’s Next philosophy of ensuring strong Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) operating principles that have been designed to help protect people and the environment while enhancing the business performance of its clients.