With the upcoming government requirement to stop using gasoil in favour of standard taxed diesel, many fleet operators have chosen to terminate usage of their gasoil facilities and rely solely upon the use of their existing diesel facilities.
For most operators, this is an acceptable option as it can avoid the very large costs involved in thoroughly cleaning the old gasoil tanks to ensure that no trace of the red die used in gasoil is detectable as well as the other associated costs. As diesel tanks are generally of a larger capacity than gasoil tanks, they can therefore accommodate this option.
For other fleet operators, there is sometimes no choice as they can retain some equipment that can legitimately use gasoil whilst having some items that now must use taxed diesel. It is at this point that problems can arise.
Fleet operators with larger vehicles generally wish to fuel their vehicles as quickly as possible and therefore adopt pumps using large-bore nozzles at a fuelling rate of 90 litres per minute. This rate is far too fast for cars, vans and smaller items of plant which are designed to be filled at no more than 50 litres per minute with a slimline type of nozzle, normally associated with garage forecourt use.
The historic solution to the issue of mixed fleets has been to make provision for two fuel pumps or a twin pump with one rated as high flow (90LPM) and the other as standard flow (50LPM). However, this can involve additional bases, pipework and electrical supplies.
Since then, Merridale has created the solution to this problem with its MX-P Dual-Hose Pump. This offers one hose and nozzle capable of delivering the higher rates and a second hose and nozzle designed for fuelling those vehicles and items requiring much slower delivery rates on a non-simultaneous basis. A twin pump option is also available for when simultaneous operation remains a must.
The Merridale dual hose pump is fully ATEX certified and can, in most cases, be fully fitted to the existing installations and fuel management systems without the need for major modification and at a cost not substantially higher than a replacement of a standard single hose pump would be. Other options are available for Merridale pumps such as longer or high masted hoses, break off couplings and hose reels, and single or dual-sided display units.
To find out more about Merridale’s refuelling options and tank management systems, contact Merridale on 01902 350 700 or visit www.merridale.co.uk.
