Portable Fuel Container Portable Fuel Container Public WorkshopPublic Workshop

California Air Resources BoardMonitoring and Laboratory Division

October 20, 2004

Understanding Spillage

AgendaAgenda

• IntroductionIntroduction• Review PFC Control StrategiesReview PFC Control Strategies• Emission Reduction Estimates Emission Reduction Estimates • Causes of SpillageCauses of Spillage• Spillage Control AlternativesSpillage Control Alternatives• Next StepsNext Steps

IntroductionIntroduction

• March 2004 WorkshopMarch 2004 Workshop– Introduced revised Regulation, new Certification Introduced revised Regulation, new Certification

Procedure and draft test methods for PFC’s Procedure and draft test methods for PFC’s – Reviewed consumer commentsReviewed consumer comments– Reviewed manufacturer’s consumer findingsReviewed manufacturer’s consumer findings– ARB conducted in-house consumer testingARB conducted in-house consumer testing

• May 2004 WorkshopMay 2004 Workshop– Introduced concept of Consumer Acceptance to Introduced concept of Consumer Acceptance to

improve usage and acceptabilityimprove usage and acceptability– Drafted new Spill-Proof Spout test method that Drafted new Spill-Proof Spout test method that

used multiple test fixtures to simulate more used multiple test fixtures to simulate more equipmentequipment

Introduction Introduction (cont.)(cont.)

• August 2004 Focus GroupAugust 2004 Focus Group– ARB contracted a Focus Group to observe consumer ARB contracted a Focus Group to observe consumer

behavior with existing cans and spouts behavior with existing cans and spouts – Focus Group also investigated Consumer Focus Group also investigated Consumer

Acceptance criteria and examined feasibilityAcceptance criteria and examined feasibility– Group described some of the most common Group described some of the most common

complaints and provided suggested improvementscomplaints and provided suggested improvements

• Other (ongoing)Other (ongoing)– ARB continuing with residential and commercial ARB continuing with residential and commercial

telephone surveystelephone surveys– Surveys used to determine inventories, throughput Surveys used to determine inventories, throughput

and question consumer experiencesand question consumer experiences

Review PFC Control Review PFC Control StrategiesStrategies

• Three control strategies designed to reduce Three control strategies designed to reduce emissions from 99 to 24 TPDemissions from 99 to 24 TPD

• Categories include:Categories include:– Evaporation Evaporation (83 TPD)(83 TPD)

– Permeation Permeation (8 TPD)(8 TPD)

– Spillage Spillage (8 TPD)(8 TPD)

Emission Reduction EstimatesEmission Reduction Estimates

• Two strategies effective at reducing emissions:Two strategies effective at reducing emissions:– Evaporation, very effectiveEvaporation, very effective– Permeation, mostly effectivePermeation, mostly effective

• Spillage strategy effectiveness unclearSpillage strategy effectiveness unclear– Consumer ComplaintsConsumer Complaints– Focus Group FindingsFocus Group Findings– In-House TestingIn-House Testing– Telephone Survey ResultsTelephone Survey Results

Emission Reduction Estimates Emission Reduction Estimates (cont.)(cont.)

• Evaporation (Automatic Closure)Evaporation (Automatic Closure)– Requires a spout to remain closed when storedRequires a spout to remain closed when stored– Prevents vapor from evaporating into the atmospherePrevents vapor from evaporating into the atmosphere– A projected 61 TPD emission reductionA projected 61 TPD emission reduction– Currently estimated as a 61 TPD reduction.Currently estimated as a 61 TPD reduction.

• Permeation (Barrier Treatments)Permeation (Barrier Treatments)– Designed to prevent plastic containers from saturating Designed to prevent plastic containers from saturating

with fuel and emissions escaping into the airwith fuel and emissions escaping into the air– A projected 6 TPD emissions reductionA projected 6 TPD emissions reduction– Currently estimated at 3 TPD emissions reductionCurrently estimated at 3 TPD emissions reduction

Emission Reduction Estimates Emission Reduction Estimates (cont.)(cont.)

• Spillage Spillage (Automatic Shut Off)(Automatic Shut Off)

– Requires spout to automatically stopRequires spout to automatically stop– Designed to prevent overfilling equipmentDesigned to prevent overfilling equipment– A projected 8 TPD emission reductionA projected 8 TPD emission reduction– Reductions currently unclearReductions currently unclear

Causes of SpillageCauses of Spillage• Operator ErrorOperator Error

– Pre-RegulationPre-Regulation• Sloppy fuel transferSloppy fuel transfer• Over fillingOver filling

– Post-RegulationPost-Regulation• Not understanding the instructionsNot understanding the instructions• Using the PFC incorrectlyUsing the PFC incorrectly

• Functional FailureFunctional Failure– Pre-RegulationPre-Regulation

• Leaking componentsLeaking components– Post-RegulationPost-Regulation

• Broken and sticking spoutsBroken and sticking spouts• Automatic shut-off failureAutomatic shut-off failure• Spouts don’t fit all applicationsSpouts don’t fit all applications

Spillage Control AlternativesSpillage Control Alternatives

• Enhance PFC’s usage controlsEnhance PFC’s usage controls

• Other?Other?

Spillage Control Alternatives Spillage Control Alternatives (cont.)(cont.)

• Enhance PFC Usage ControlsEnhance PFC Usage Controls– Introduce anti-dripping language for spoutsIntroduce anti-dripping language for spouts– Multiple spout test fixturesMultiple spout test fixtures– Certification ProcedureCertification Procedure– Enhanced labeling requirementsEnhanced labeling requirements– Consumer Acceptance requirementsConsumer Acceptance requirements

Spillage Control AlternativesSpillage Control Alternatives (cont.)(cont.)

• Other?Other?

Next StepsNext Steps

• Control strategy decisionControl strategy decision

• ARB staff to rework the PFC ARB staff to rework the PFC RegulationRegulation

• Next Workshop January-February Next Workshop January-February 20052005

• Regulation to the Board 2nd Quarter Regulation to the Board 2nd Quarter 20052005

Contact InformationContact InformationPFC Web PagePFC Web Page: http://www.arb.ca.gov/pfc/pfc.htm: http://www.arb.ca.gov/pfc/pfc.htm

• Dennis Goodenow, Manager, Certification Procedure & RegulationDennis Goodenow, Manager, Certification Procedure & Regulation (916) 322-2886(916) 322-2886

dgoodeno@arb.ca.govdgoodeno@arb.ca.gov

• Joseph Fischer, Rulemaking & Permeation Test MethodJoseph Fischer, Rulemaking & Permeation Test Method (916) 323-1169 (916) 323-1169 jofische@arb.ca.govjofische@arb.ca.gov

• David Frisk, Spill-Proof Spout Test MethodDavid Frisk, Spill-Proof Spout Test Method (916) 322-6017 (916) 322-6017 dfrisk@arb.ca.govdfrisk@arb.ca.gov

• Steve Giorgi, Current PFC Regulations, Enforcement DivisionSteve Giorgi, Current PFC Regulations, Enforcement Division (916) 322-6965 (916) 322-6965 sgiorgi@arb.ca.govsgiorgi@arb.ca.gov