Return to Archived ENews MMTA ENews: May 4, 2006 SPECIAL ENEWS ON ETHANOL Are you ready for Ethanol blended Gasoline? Reminders & Links of Interest Are you ready for Ethanol blended Gasoline? TMC Services Inc. | Norm Gerrie | Bellingham, MA | T 508-966-3737 | F 508-966-4861 | ngerrie@hazmatt.com Many gasoline storage tanks need to be conditioned to receive Ethanol blended gasoline. A 10,000 gallon tank that has not been properly conditioned can result in a $40,000 expense including lost product, as well as a customer service nightmare. TMC Services Inc. has been servicing the environmental and petroleum industries for many years. Let us answer your questions, and prepare your dispensing equipment for reformulated fuel. Please read the following informative brochure. ETHANOL CONVERSION FOR GASOLINE RETAILERS In the spring of 2006, many communities within the Eastern United States are changing to reformulated gasoline containing 10% Ethanol. We at TMC Services, Inc. have serviced the retail petroleum industry in many capacities for many years, and recognize how important it is for gasoline retailers to provide uninterrupted service and premium quality fuel to their customers. TMC Services, Inc. has researched and identified some of the concerns and problems that can arise when Ethanol fuel is introduced to the current distribution chain. TMC provides services that minimize the potential for “Bad Gas” to reach the consumer, thereby reducing customer dissatisfaction and costly vehicle fuel tank remediation often experienced by gasoline retailers that do not properly prepare for Ethanol. It is exceptionally important to Marine Gasoline Retailers to avoid dispensing “Bad Gas” and to have a functioning dispensing system without clogged filters during peak hours of operation. TMC Services, Inc. can properly prepare your tanks for conversion to Ethanol gasoline. Our system of tank washing removes gas bottoms, dirt, refining salts, and water; all of which can react negatively with Ethanol gasoline. We utilize measured pressurized washes with water that emulsify all of these substances commonly found in Gasoline UST’s. The water and emulsified contaminants are pumped off the bottom of the tank and analyzed. We then repeat the process until the rinse water passes our analytical test, thereby indicating the tank is clean. Frequently Asked Questions How long does the process take? Our washing process can take as long as eight hours to complete. The time involved is nearly the same for one to three tanks, and up to three UST’s can be serviced at the same time. Will the process interrupt service to my customers? Dispensing of fuel must be ceased while tank cleaning is in process. If a facility has more than one UST, we can leave one or more tanks on line while cleaning others. TMC is also equipped and prepared to provide services during off hours or overnight. Does my tank have to be empty? No. The cleaning of the tank is performed under the level of fuel in the UST. Can I mix the existing fuel I have with Ethanol gasoline? Yes, once water and potential harmful contaminants are removed from the tank. What can happen if I do not clean my tanks? Improper preparation has resulted in plugged pump filters that slow and shut down dispensers during busy times of operation, and even phase separation of Ethanol gasoline resulting in the loss of the entire contents of the UST as well as pumping alcohol/water mixture into vehicle fuel tanks. What if I already have Ethanol in my tanks? We can not adequately wash a UST that has Ethanol in it. Tank cleaning must be done prior to the introduction of Ethanol gasoline into the UST. How much gasoline will I lose to the washing process? Our process minimizes the amount of gasoline lost. On average, we remove less than 30 gallons of gas per wash cycle. The most wash cycles required to date for a 12,000 gallon UST were five. Many tanks require just one or two cycles. PLEASE CALL TCI SERVICE at 508-966-3737 for more information or to schedule a tank cleaning. You may download a PDF of this document. 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