If you have any questions about Franklin Fueling Systems EVO ATGs or would like to receive a quote, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-451-4021 or Email Us with any further questions or inquiries.
The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!
About the Author:Ed Kammerer is the Director of Global Product Management for OPW, based in Cincinnati, OH, USA. He can be reached at ed.kammerer@opwglobal.com. OPW is leading the way in fueling solutions and innovations worldwide. OPW delivers product excellence and the most comprehensive line of fueling equipment and services to retail and commercial fueling operations around the globe. For more information on OPW, please visit OPWGlobal.com.
OPW’s Watertight Wonder, the ElectroTite Tank Sump
Tank sumps are critical components in the fueling systems at retail and commercial fueling sites in their role as isolation chambers that provide secondary containment for tank fittings, valves and submersible pumps, along with easy access to the storage tank itself for service and maintenance. Since the creation of underground fuel-storage systems, however, fuel-site operators have waged a constant battle against water intrusion into their tank sumps.
This is a major concern as water that enters a tank sump can trip alarms, cause microbial growth, induce rusting of metal parts and, in the worst-case scenario, invade the fuel that is contained in the underground storage tank (UST), which will compromise its quality. Preventing water intrusion is so difficult because there are a number of ways it can enter the tank sump and fuel-storage system: through leaking tank-sump lids; cracks in sump walls; damaged entry fittings; and, most commonly, through conduit runs.
When water intrusion does occur and an alarm is tripped, the sound that accompanies it may as well be the ringing of a cash register, since the site operator will soon be reaching for his or her checkbook in order to pay not only for the service call, but for a pump out of the tank sump. The cost for the following hypothetical pump out example is based on conversations with the service manager of a United States UST service and installation company based on the East Coast:
Sump Pump Out Cost Calculator
Activity
Input
Cost
Labor Hours
4 hours
$358.00
Travel Miles ($0.85/mi)
65 miles
$55.25
Vacuum Trailer Rental Fee
1
$75.00
Gal/Petroleum-Containing Waste (PCW); $1.80/gal
350 gallons
$630.00
TOTAL COST
$1,118.25
The costs, miles and hours for a pump out will obviously vary from site to site, but the price for this average example – multiplied by the 15-20 pump outs per UST, on average, that can occur annually at a fueling site – will result in an exorbitantly high cost to remediate water-intrusion events, with many fuel-site operators unable to reconcile this expense.
To The Rescue
The year 2017 will be looked back on as a landmark one for fuel-site operators in their constant battle against tank-sump water intrusion. It was then that OPW Retail Fueling, Smithfield, NC, introduced the revolutionary ElectroTite No-Drill Tank Sump to the market. What made ElecroTite a true game-changer was its status as the industry’s first and only tank sump that featured factory-installed conduit ports with an integrated electrical wiring junction box. This allows the sump to be installed as-is at the fueling site, with no intrusive drilling required. This feature eliminates the risk that unintended leak points will result due to the drilling of entry points, while also optimizing installation time.
Other beneficial features of the ElectroTite tank sumps include:
Water Tightness
Sealed conduits are located above the water table
Elimination of all conduit entry fittings
Reduced entry points lower number of potential leak points
Accessibility
Conduit lines can be installed, inspected and repaired through the top of the sump
Can access wiring box for inspection without entering confined sump area
Versatility
Explosion-proof junction box allows space to reroute or daisy-chain communication wires to spill containers and tank monitors, eliminating additional conduit runs to the tank field
Electrical shield allows positioning of high- and low-voltage sensor wires in same box
Conduit can be potted entering box, exiting box, or both
Consolidation
Will replace up to six:
Conduit entry fittings
Conduit sealoffs
Explosion-proof junction boxes
The bottom line is that the design and operation of ElectroTite tank sumps make it the most watertight system available, resulting in a fueling system that optimizes efficiency, reliability, cost-effectiveness, environmental protection and the safety of both the site and the customers who patronize it.
Seeing Is Believing
Of course, it’s easy to say that something is the best thing since sliced bread, but proving it is a different matter entirely. Well, after nearly four years of observation of in-the-field installations, the ElectroTite has more than lived up to its advance billing. The chart below compares tank-alarm remediation costs for two United States sites that have had ElectroTite tank sumps in operation for nearly four years to an average non-ElectroTite site:
SITE 1
SITE 2
NON-ELECTROTITE SITE
# of Months Installed*
40
42
40
Total Tank Sump Alarms
0
1
48
Avg. Pump Outs/Month
0
0.024
1.2
Gals/PCW Removed
0
250
12,000
Cost to Remove PCW ($/gal)
$1.80/gal
$1.80
$1.80
Overall Tank-Sump Maintenance Cost
$0.00
$450.00
$21,600.00
*-as of January 2021
Let’s take a closer look at the individual installations and the conditions the sumps have encountered:
Site 1: Three ElectroTite tank sumps were installed at this Midwestern U.S. site in November 2017, one each for unleaded gasoline, premium gasoline and diesel USTs. As you can see, this is turning out to be the poster child for the effectiveness of the ElectroTite tank sumps. In that time, not one single tank-sump alarm event has been recorded, resulting in zero cost for the overall maintenance of the sumps.
Site 2: Two ElectroTite tank sumps were installed at this Southeastern U.S. location that is situated near an extremely high water table in September 2018, one each on the unleaded and premium gasoline USTs. Since then, two alarm events have been recorded at the site (both on the unleaded sump in July 2018 and September 2020), but only one required a pump out.
Conclusion
Fuel-site operators have always had to keep water from intruding into their below-ground fuel-storage systems, but that has proven to be easier said than done. Until 2017, that is. With the introduction of no-drill tank-sump/conduit-less technology to the market, epitomized by OPW’s ElectroTite system, the battle against water intrusion is being won more often by site operators. The result is a fueling operation that can more reliably deliver uncompromised fuel to its customers while helping to make expensive, time-consuming and frustrating sump pump outs a welcome thing of the past.
You can also find many other great OPW products in our webstore as well.
And if you don’t find the ElectroTite tank sump in the configuration you are looking for , have further questions about them or any other OPW product, feel free to contact us at 1.800.451.4021 or email us!
The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!
At this time, OPW Edge DW Spill Container is being shipped without the Visigauge assembly due to a shortage from their vendor.
The product is being produced with a temporary plug cap in its place to allow the factory and the installer to perform the interstitial test to verify the integrity of the containment.
We apologize for the inconvenience and OPW will send out a replacement Visigauge to distributors who purchased this product. It will include a Visigauge assembly and one replacement o-ring seal.
Once you have received the Visigauge, please follow these instructions to install it. (Click here to read OPW’s Edge PDF) Step 1: First, identify the temporary plug cap as the part with the hexagonal shaped head that is installed at the top of the round white gauge riser. Step 2: Please unthread the temporary plug cap from the round white gauge riser. Step 3:Next, install the replacement 0-ring onto the underside seat of the Visigauge as shown below. Step 4: Finally, thread on the Visigauge into the white gauge adapter. This should be tightened to a quarter turn past finger tight. Step 5:The Visigauge is now installed and the spill container can be vacuum tested to verify tightness.
NOTE:Spill Containers with this plug installed will be identified with the below label beside the OPW part# label on the outside of the box.
Looking to purchase OPW products, you can find them online at johnwkennedyco.com ? Can’t find what you are looking for? Not to worry – feel free to contact us by email or give us a call at 1.800.238.1225.
Click on the links below. Not only will you have access to these videos but very handy reference cards that can be downloaded and printed!! These are just a few of the videos. There are many more videos to explore once you click on the links!
Do you have any more questions about Gilbarco Passport POS system or require service? Feel free to call us at 1.800.451.4021 or email us using the link below: EMAIL US
The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!
…That sumps are requiredto be tested every 3 years for tightness according to EPA Regulation 40 CFR Part 280.35?
Here area few links to check out the text of the regulation: Govinfo.gov and EPA.gov.
Third-Party Certified For 15 Minute Test
The CLD Series Sump Tester is available in one to eight probe versions. Each system is conveniently stored in a durable case equipped with wheels for ease and accessibility. Pull up, set up, and test in as quick as 15 minutes. Results print out and can be stored internally.
Each system includes:
(1) Case with wheels
(1) PROTEUS OEL8000III-CLD* microprocessor-based controller with printer
(1) RS-232 port
(*) MTG-probe input connectors (1 per probe)
(*) MTG-probes with suspension chains with “s” hooks (1 per probe)
(*) 50ft MTG-probe cables (1 per probe)
(1) 12ft three-pronged power cord *quantities reflect CLD Series version purchased (ie. CLD 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5 , 6 7, & 8)
CLD Series Model Options (includes all components above – click model # to see in our web store)
TARGETING THE ISSUE AND PREVENTING IT AT THE SOURCE
Water ingress and corrosion of fueling equipment is a systemic problem that is becoming increasingly more complex with Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), the adoption of biofuels, and new engine technology that demands strict fuel quality. Most site owners are aware of this problem and are looking to take corrective and preventive steps against corrosion. When issues necessitate more-than-regular maintenance, it is time for action.
Cumberland Farms was actively seeking a solution to their corrosion challenges and were interested in trying out HydrX. Drawn to the product feature-set and comprehensive support of Veeder-Root, HydrX seemed like a no-brainer. The simplicity and support proved essential, as the HydrX test results spoke for themselves; especially during the unprecedented environment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The HydrX Fuel Conditioning System’s ability to remove standing water from the lowest point of a fuel tank coupled with our unique fuel filtering technology helps site owners avoid costly equipment failures and downtime caused by excessive corrosion.”
– Stephen Coppola, Global Product Manager, Veeder-Root
A FAMILIAR PROBLEM – WATER
The systemic issues Cumberland Farms experienced at their initial HydrX installation site are not unique to the industry. When fuel, microbes, and water combine, the result is a corrosive environment.
Advancements in diesel fuel, particularly Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel and Biodiesel, create an environment where microbial growth can flourish. Water entry into the diesel storage environment is inherent in the process as it enters through leaky seals, flooded spill buckets, atmospheric moisture, and deliveries. Water entrained in a warmer fuel load may fall out of suspension when it enters the tank and cools down. It is the fuel-water interface that is central to microbial growth because the water provides a suitable environment for microbes to thrive within the underground storage tank.
For Cumberland Farms, that meant frequently troubleshooting emergency line leak test failures by replacing check valves, replacing dispenser filters due to slow flow, and even performing full STP replacement within 1.5 – 2 years from the date of installation.
ASSESSING THE SITUATION
Jim Scholes, Senior Project Manager of Construction, and his team at Cumberland Farms, knew that HydrX could help optimize the health of their diesel tanks by reducing water contamination and the Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) that comes with it.
To fix these problems at the source, the Veeder-Root team began with a preliminary site inspection and evaluation. This included obtaining baseline fuel samples from the tank and nozzle, analyzing samples for baseline acidity and moisture content, and taking site measurements for the HydrX Fuel Conditioning System.
Site measurements were critical to understand how the tank was tilting. The Water Intake Device (WID) of HydrX is designed to extract water from the lowest point in the tank and is customized to work with the unique conditions at any site.
The fuel samples from the tank showed the expected symptoms for any site being affected by long-term water issues. There was visible corrosion on components exposed to the storage environment, and evidence of water and microbial growth in fuel samples obtained from the tank bottom.
PUTTING THE PLAN INTO ACTION
Solving the water issues discovered during the site evaluation began with a tank cleaning prior to the installation of HydrX, in order to reset the tank to a healthy baseline and to ensure optimum performance of the system. A tank that is clean to start results in a lower cost of ownership due to less frequent filter replacements, component services, and/or fueling system maintenance.
Next, the HydrX Fuel Conditioning System was installed to provide continuous water removal within the diesel underground storage tank. This particular tank was tilted away from the STP sump, which put the stagnant water 22 feet away from the point of entry into the tank. The WID was sized to reach this lowest point of the tank, ensuring the stagnant water would be eliminated.
I definitely want to use HydrX going forward, I think it has value in the new construction environment. Even with a new site, new tanks…we’re still seeing issues with ULSD. In my opinion, we should be installing this in new construction rather than just use it in a retrofit application at the trouble sites.
– Jim Scholes, Senior Project Manager of Construction, Cumberland Farms, EG Group
HYDRX WATER REMOVAL
Since the installation of the HydrX Fuel Conditioning System, the results have spoken for themselves. Within the first 24 hours, HydrX removed just over a half-gallon of water that had entered the tank since the tank was cleaned. Over the next 30 days, the extracted water volume continued to increase incrementally to nearly 1 gallon. The quality of the tank bottom fuel samples was visually evident. The samples were clean and bright with no signs of water present in the fuel.
After just 90 days, extracted water volume nearly doubled, fuel quality within the tank was restored, and fuel samples from the bottom of the tank were indistinguishable from those at the nozzle, indicating that the conditions in the tank have stabilized and microbial growth is being mitigated.
SEEING THE RESULTS
Looking at key leading indicators to corrosion, water content (PPM) in the samples from the bottom of the tank have shown a downward (favorable) trend. After 120 days, the values have stabilized at a low level and are now equivalent to the samples from the nozzle. The pH of the samples from the bottom of the tank started in a corrosive range. Since the HydrX installation, pH has also continued to improve, approaching 6.5 which is on the very edge of a passive oxide surface with no ongoing corrosion.
WATER CONTENT & pH
Use of the HydrX Fuel Conditioning System lowers the water content within the diesel fuel and restores pH to non-corrosive levels.
PUTTING A PAUSE ON CONDITIONING
To further prove system efficacy, HydrX was turned off for a period of time. It did not take long for there to be visible signs that the quality of the fuel was degrading and the eventual corrosive conditions would return.
After 30 days, there was evidence of standing water and dark particulate in the fuel. The fuel itself was losing clarity and turning to a dark amber color. When HydrX was restarted, there were immediate signs that the system was correcting the conditions inside the tank – standing water was eliminated and the clarity of the fuel returned.
THE PROOF IS IN THE PETROL
From the samples pulled at 120 days after installation, the evidence is clear that the system is working. Prior to the installation of HydrX, emergency service calls to correct corrosion related issues were frequent and started to show up not long after tank cleaning.
These issues consumed resources and caused downtime at the site. Post installation, corrosion-related service calls were eliminated and there are no leading indicators that they will be returning anytime soon. HydrX is protecting the conditions inside the tank from water and microbial growth.
DIESEL TANK MAINTENANCE
It is working so well, in fact, that after just a few months with HydrX in place, Cumberland Farms is planning a roll-out of the system at their new construction properties to prevent issues before they happen, not only as a reactive measure at existing sites.
“The return on investment? It pays for itself.”
– Chris Desaulniers, FSS Project Manager, Cumberland Farms, EG Group
TALK TO AN EXPERT
Other systems work to remove water from only the immediate area around the submersible turbine pump — HydrX is different.
HydrX uses suction tubes that extend along the Water Intake Device, removing water all along the tank bottom. Its unique vacuum mechanism is powered by the STP, continuously circulating tank bottom fluids through a filter and water containment vessel in the sump.
If you have any questions or would like to receive a quote for HydrX , please feel free to contact us at 1-800-451-4021 or Email Us with any further questions or inquiries.
The John W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!
Icon’s SplitRepair Fittings are designed to be the most simple approach to any configuration of equipment for faster installations, and we have solutions for any combination of sump type, entry/test fittings, and piping (offset or angled pipe).
Sump leak repair vs equipment replacement provides obvious financial and operational advantages to the UST system owner and can be very profitable for the installing contractor. Icon’s entire mission is to help the installer be profitable and still provide significant savings to the owner.
Without a doubt, the conditions for sump repair can be challenging as access is often very limiting. When the sump is repairable, it can be completed successfully and efficiently with the correct applications and support.
GO WITH THE EXPERTS
Icon is exclusively focused on Sump Leak Repair Solutions. Icon’s expertise and range of solutions for any configuration of equipment is unmatched. Use Icon as a resource to develop a more profitable repair business.
SIMPLE
Less installation time in the sump with more reasonable workmanship requirements, and the lowest net cost to completion
PROVEN
Icon direct replacement fitting designs and materials conform to EPA recognized Repair Standard (NLPA/KWA Standard 823) compatibility requirements
PERMANENT
Solutions backed by the Lifetime Warranty on all fittings installed by an Icon Certified Installer
SERVICE
Icon’s #1 priority with Icon direct and ongoing training and technical support for the installer – from initial site survey through testing after successful installation. Most fitting orders are shipped the same or next day from receipt of the order!
Icon PROTEX Flexible Compression-Seal Repair Fittings have never shown any degradation of material through all independent testing and field application. And remember, PROTEX repair fittings can be installed in any ambient conditions and wet environments.
IBOND STRUCTURAL BONDER TECHNOLOGY
Icon Rigid Bonded-Seal Repair Fittings utilize IBOND structural bonder technology, which absorbs the kinetic energy from expansion/contraction, heave/settling, vibration, and shock movement in the pipe/sump connection better than any other bonded design, which also have never shown any degradation of material through all independent testing and field application.
Icon PROTEX Flexible Compression-Seal Repair Fittings have never shown any degradation of material through all independent testing and field application. Discover all of the advantages of PROTEX today!
GET CERTIFIED ON THE LATEST AUTOMATIC TANK GAUGE TECHNOLOGY
For a limited time, we are offering FREE FFS PRO® University online certification for EVO™ 600 and EVO™ 6000 Automatic Tank Gauge Installation / Wiring and Programming.
This free online training is available now through June 30, 2021!!
A few things to know before you get started on the free training.
You are required to have an FFSPRO account. If you do not have one, you can register here.
Next, you will be required to take the online Fueling System Safety course. Be aware that if you are not using one of the following browsers, you may encounter functionality and content issues: ⇒ Internet Explorer 9 or later ⇒ Safari 5.1 or later ⇒ Google Chrome 17 or later
EVO™ 600 and EVO™ 6000 automatic tank gauge model overview, installation and wiring of modules, probes, remote alarms, sensors, and Turbine Pump Interface
The new EVO™ 600 and EVO™ 6000 ATGs provide highly accurate inventory management and full-featured compliance monitoring for any size fuel system. Advanced features include Corrosion Control™ System automation and monitoring, Electronic Line Leak Detection, and DEF/AdBlue® recirculation.
Be sure to check out our ever-expanding product offerings and great deals from Franklin Fueling’s many brands found in our webstore.
Operators of gas stations have a lot on their minds, and the water within their fueling system may seem like a low priority, but there are many reasons to consider water as a serious threat that needs to be removed.
The primary issue is that water, fuel and bacteria, are the three common components that combine to create a corrosive environment around fueling systems. In sump spaces water is often combined with ethanol vapors as the catalyst for microbial growth, but in-tank corrosion is more likely to happen with ultra-low sulfur diesels or biodiesels.
Hidden Below the Surface
Of the three common components, water is the easiest to address but first you need know where it’s hiding.
Many underground storage tanks have magnetostrictive probes with separate water detection floats (1), but they require a minimum water level of ¾” in the probe area to go into alarm. This is great for identifying a catastrophic breech of the tanks integrity but less effective for identifying water that as slowly accumulated below that threshold over time.
Depending on the tilt of your tank there could be stagnate water at the lowest point of your tank (2) that could be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Identifying Water is Key
When microbial growth feeds on components of the fuel, biomass then settles in the water at the bottom of the tank and creates the acidic environment that leads to corrosion. The key to avoiding tank corrosion is identifying the water in the tank and removing it. Once water is removed, one of the common components of the equation is gone and the environment is no longer corrosive.
Register for the HydrX Fuel Conditioning System Webinar
This webinar will discuss how the Veeder-Root HydrX Fuel Conditioning System combats in-tank corrosion by eliminating one of the key drivers of microbial growth.
If you have any questions or would like to purchase Veeder-Root and Red Jacket Products, visit us online at www.johnwkennedyco.com or call us at 1.800.451.4021.
TheJohn W. Kennedy Company appreciates your business and continued support!
April 16, 2019, EDITOR’S UPDATE: The graphic incorrectly states there are 10,700 gas station in the United States when there are about 168,000 and of them, about 126,658 are convenience stores that sell gas. We apologize for this gross error and thank Pedro De Jesus for bringing it to our attention.
If you are looking for the smooth flow of operations at your gas station then make sure the forecourt of the station receives the appropriate amount of maintenance.
Franklin Fueling Systems has just released new firmware for EVO™ 600 and EVO™ 6000 Automatic Tank Gauges.
EVO™ 600 & EVO™ 6000
ADD ITEMS TO TRANSACTION
ATTENDANT AUDIO ALARM
AUTHORIZE AGE RESTRICTED ITEM
CLICK HERE to check out ALL Omntec Monitor Systems we currently have in our web store
![Site Startup Specialist: EVO™ 600 & EVO™ 6000 Programming](https://university.ffspro.com/media/1048/sss-fuel-management-systems-programming.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=200&height=200&rnd=131088370860000000")
