Work Experience: Case Studies
Provided in this section is a listing of various projects and clients that our firm has served since 1994. While not exhaustive, it indicates the cross section and broad range of consulting we have provided over the last ten-plus years.
A particular aspect of this listing that our firm is particularly proud of is the number of repeat clients. Fuel Solutions regularly provides follow-up, secondary, or expansion-related consulting work for clients, several months or even years following the completion of the original work.
To illustrate our experience, a listing of project-design consulting that Fuel Solutions has provided in recent years is provided here. For brevity, only a representative sample of projects is listed.
Los Angeles County Metro
CNG On-Call Contract
Los Angeles County
2/10 to 1/15
Provide wide-ranging consulting for all CNG infrastructure needs at Metro’s nine CNG fueling facilities on an on-call basis for five years. Includes responsibilities such as conducting performance tests to verify facilities’ compliance with contract requirements, perform safety inspections, and supervise construction of new infrastructure to verify compliance with bid documents.
A specific task was to conduct moisture-content analysis of the gas at Divisions 1, 3, 5 and 7 to verify compliance with SAE standard J1616.
Los Angeles County Metro
Division 13 Bus Facility
Los Angeles, CA
2/09 to present
Design of a 4500-SCFM, four-lane CNG fueling facility for transit fueling. Includes preparation of performance and functional specifications for an integrated 10-year O&M contract and accompanying Excel-based price form. The facility also includes design of gasoline and diesel fueling system for fleet cars and trucks, which included a marina-style dispenser sump in order to avoid any buried piping per Metro requirements.
The project scope includes a Green Fueling Island providing B20, E85 and CNG fuels. The Green island is an additive alternate for the project, is planned to be located across a five-lane street from the Division 13 facility, and will include a credit card payment terminal. The CNG dispenser will be connected to the main transit-CNG system via 750’ long conduits and a 2" schedule XXS pipe.
City of Porterville Public Works & Transit Departments
Porterville Corp. Yard CNG Facility
Porterville, CA
1/08 to 9/09
Design CNG-fueling system with twin 250-SCFM compressor skids. System includes a hybrid design that features a two-hose public-access CNG dispenser with credit card payment terminal, as well as two separate 10-vehicle time-fill dispensing subsystems for overnight fueling, as well as a stub out for a future third time-fill subsystem, and each subsystem has a MicroMotion flow meter for tracking consumption by subsystem or department. An important part of the project scope was the upgrade of the electrical service and meter at the corporate yard, due to the added power requirements of the CNG system.
A cost-saving design improvement provided by Fuel Solutions was to relocate the CNG equipment and motor starters about 350’ closer to the electrical service vs. the preliminary location indicated by the City, which resulted in a substantial savings due to reduced footage for trenching, conduit and large power conductors.
RTC of Southern Nevada
Diesel & CNG Fueling Systems at Sunset BMF
Las Vegas, NV
2/06 to 9/09
Developed programming requirements and preliminary design of a high-capacity nine-island diesel-bus fueling facility, with 3 x 12,000 gallon aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and high-capacity pumps and dispensers. Also prepared design-build specifications and conceptual design drawings for a turnkey 1800-SCFM two-dispenser CNG fueling system. Included development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity), preparing all mechanical-equipment specifications, reviewing contractor’s design drawings and product submittals, and overseeing construction and startup to verify compliance with the bid specifications.
Design challenges for the project included efficiently accommodating the 3 large diesel ASTs and the CNG equipment in the same compound while still meeting NFPA- and NEC-required clearnces, as well as providing space for a future CNG-compressor skid.
Orange County Transportation Authority
Design Consulting for Three CNG-Transit Fueling Facilities
Santa Ana, Anaheim & Garden Grove, CA
8/05 to 11/08
Develop the design and specifications for one four-lane and two three-lane CNG-transit fueling facilities, each able to refuel buses with 62 diesel-gallon equivalents of CNG in 5 minutes. Work includes development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for turnkey fueling facilities, develop comprehensive performance-based narrative specifications for CNG systems including conceptual equipment plan, approve design and product submittals, conduct performance testing and verify project completion. Also includes developing custom Excel-based proposal form for comparing aggregated life-cycle costs for capital, maintenance per unit of fuel, and operating energy.
City of San Bernardino
Design Subconsulting for an LNG/LCNG Fueling Facility
San Bernardino, CA
1/05 to 11/07
Provide comprehensive engineering and technical support for an LNG fueling facility that will include an LCNG subsystem. Preliminary facility design includes a 15,000-gallon horizontal tank, submerged multifunction centrifugal pump (offload, conditioning, LNG dispensing and booting to LCNG reciprocating pump at up to 80 LNG GPM), saturation coil, LCNG vaporizing coil, simplex reciprocating pump (8 LNG GPM), LNG dispenser mounted on containment wall, and conventional multi-bank CNG subsystem with two-hose 3000- & 3600-PSIG hoses, as well as high-pressure mercaptan and lube-oil dosing panels. LNG system will be expandable to allow future installation of up to two LNG dispensers at fueling islands. Fuel Solutions scope of services includes preparing a system-wide conceptual P&ID and an equipment-site plan, coordinating conceptual 1-line electrical drawing by MDC Engineers, Inc., preparing performance-based technical specifications for the LNG/LCNG facility, reviewing the awarded Contractors design-construction drawings and equipment submittals, and verifying field performance of the facility upon construction completion. We are providing these services to Gladstein, Neandross & Associates on a subconsulting basis, as GNA is providing project management, coordination of Caltrans funding approval, environmental-assessment coordination and other similar work. Project has recently been awarded for construction.
Tempe East Valley Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility/RNL Design
Design and Manage Development of an LNG and L/CNG Fueling Facility
Tempe, AZ
July 2004 to present
Develop the design of a high-capacity four-island LNG bus fueling facility, with 2 x 30,000 gallon storage vessels, redundant, three multifunction submerged centrifugal pumps, and dedicated transport offload. System will include high-capacity CNG at two of the islands via a hybrid L/CNG subsystem, with expandability to four lanes of CNG fueling as required. Includes development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for a turnkey fueling facility, develop comprehensive performance-based narrative specifications for LNG and L/CNG systems including conceptual equipment plan, review contractor's design drawings and product submittals, oversee construction and startup to verify compliance with bid specifications. Also facilitate facility-use training, vehicle-fueling training and specifications for a facility preventative-maintenance contract. Fuel Solutions is working as a subconsultant to an architectural firm for this project. Preliminary budgetary estimate for construction with equipment: $2,600,000; award amount for construction with equipment: TBD. Project construction was completed September 2007.
Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority
Design and Manage Development of a CNG-Transit Fueling Facility
Birmingham, AL
April 2004 to May 2006
Develop the design of a two-lane transit-type CNG fueling facility designed to fuel two buses simultaneously with 60 diesel-equivalent gallons of CNG within an 8.5-minute fill-cycle time. Facility will also include an 'outside-the-fence' two-sided public-access fueling island. Includes development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for a turnkey fueling facility, preparation of '100% design' construction drawings and CSI-type specifications, for all piping-process-mechanical systems, review and approve contractor's submittals for equipment materials and methods, as well as oversee construction and startup of fueling facility for conformance to bid specifications. Also facilitate facility-use training, vehicle-fueling training and specifications for a facility preventative-maintenance contract. Fuel Solutions is working as a subconsultant to a general engineering-design firm for this project. Project is complete.
Sacramento International Airport
Design and Manage Development of a CNG Fueling Facility
Sacramento, CA
June 2003 to October 2005
Develop the design of a two-island public-access CNG fueling facility designed to fuel airport shuttle buses, school buses, shuttle vans, airport support vehicles and light-duty fleet vehicles. Includes development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for a turnkey fueling facility, develop comprehensive performance-based narrative specifications for CNG system including conceptual plot plan, review contractor's design drawings and product submittals, oversee construction and startup to verify compliance with bid specifications. Also facilitate facility-use training, vehicle-fueling training and specifications for a facility preventative-maintenance contract. Project is complete.
SANDAG / San Diego Transit
Design and Manage Development of a CNG-Transit Fueling Facility
Kearny Mesa, CA
March 2003 to present
Design expansion of an existing facility at Kearney Mesa Division, including adding a 2 x 1025 SCFM compressor system, as well as integration of emergency-shutdown systems and new dispensers with new and existing compressor system. Includes preparation of '100% design' construction drawings and CSI-type specifications, review and approve contractor's submittals for equipment, materials and methods, as well as oversee construction and startup of fueling facility for conformance to specifications. Facilitate facility-use training, vehicle-fueling training and specifications for a facility preventative-maintenance contract. Fuel Solutions is working as a subconsultant to a general engineering-design firm (Bureau Veritas) for this project. Project was completed in early 2007.
MTDB-SANDAG / San Diego Transit
Design and Manage Development of Two CNG-Transit Fueling Facilities
San Diego and Chula Vista, CA
July 2001 to June 2003
Design expansion of existing facilities at Imperial Avenue Division and South Bay Maintenance Facility, including adding 1500 SCFM compressor systems at each location, as well as integration of emergency-shutdown systems and new dispensers with new and existing compressor systems. Includes preparation of '60% design-build' construction drawings and performance-based specifications, review and approve contractor's drawings and submittals for materials and methods, as well as oversee construction and startup of fueling facility for conformance to bid specifications. Also facilitate facility-use training, vehicle-fueling training and specifications for a facility preventative-maintenance contract. Fuel Solutions worked as a subconsultant to a general engineering-design firm for this project. Budgetary estimate for construction and equipment installation for both facilities: $1,453,110 (equipment was procured separately and previously); award amount for construction and equipment installation: $1,448,240. City of Burbank Design and Manage Development of a CNG Fueling Facility Burbank, CA, January 2001 to September 2002 Develop the design of a two-lane fast-fill and public-access CNG fueling facility for fueling City refuse trucks and other fleet vehicles, as well as taxis and ride-share vans. Work included development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for a turnkey fueling facility, develop comprehensive performance-based narrative specifications for CNG system including conceptual plot plan, oversee construction and startup to verify compliance with bid specifications. Also included developing custom Excel-based proposal form for comparing aggregated life-cycle costs for capital, maintenance per unit of fuel, and operating energy. Budgetary estimate for construction with equipment: $906,565; award amount for construction with equipment: $815,000; estimated value of 10-year CNG fueling services: $3,067,016.
City of Burbank
Design and Manage Development of a CNG Fueling Facility
Burbank, CA
January 2001 to September 2002
Develop the design of a two-lane fast-fill and public-access CNG fueling facility for fueling City refuse trucks and other fleet vehicles, as well as taxis and ride-share vans. Work included development of sizing and capacity requirements (fueling demand vs. facility capacity) for a turnkey fueling facility, develop comprehensive performance-based narrative specifications for CNG system including conceptual plot plan, oversee construction and startup to verify compliance with bid specifications. Also included developing custom Excel-based proposal form for comparing aggregated life-cycle costs for capital, maintenance per unit of fuel, and operating energy. Budgetary estimate for construction with equipment: $906,565; award amount for construction with equipment: $815,000; estimated value of 10-year CNG fueling services: $3,067,016.
