Articles

Refuelling Faster than Formula One

November 12, 2015

Fuel is the number one consumable expense for most heavy industrial operations and fleets. Inefficient refuelling wastes significant time and money.

Formula One fans are currently waiting for the FIA to confirm whether in-race refuelling will be allowed once more. While Bernie Ecclestone and some drivers are all for it, there are also safety and cost considerations.


refuelling faster than formula one

When refuelling was last introduced to F1 in 1984, the pit lane went from being somewhere to stop with a problem, to the place where competitive advantage is achieved. On this highly visible stage races were won with a combination of high speed refuelling hardware, a well-trained team, and optimised processes (check out this behind-the-scenes video).

Banlaw’s high-speed refuelling

Even the best F1 crews don’t achieve the kind of refuelling speeds delivered by Banlaw’s best-in-class products. Refuelling a heavy vehicle or locomotive with Banlaw’s FillSafe overfill protection system and a Banlaw nozzle, receiver, and vent can be carried out at 1,000lpm (264 gallons per minute).
banlaw's high-speed refuelling diagram

Refuelling critical machines quickly makes a significant difference to productivity. Vehicle queues can be reduced or eliminated, and expensive assets can spend a higher percentage of each day on the job, every day of the year.

Safe refuelling

The productivity gains from high speed refuelling are multiplied when a primary overfill protection system is installed. Banlaw dry break nozzles with matched receivers and vents automatically shut off the flow of fuel when pressure begins to build in the tank.

Banlaw fillsafe power

banlaw fillsafe power
An electronic system suitable for a wide range of vehicle types. Works for all fluid types and flowrates.

Banlaw fillsafe zero

banlaw fillsafe zero
A cost-effective, industry-leading overfill protection system. Requires no power as a result of its patent pending hydraulically-powered design.

Our FillSafe overfill protection systems ensure no pressure is built up in the tank. FillSafe uses a level sensor and flow control unit to determine when refuelling is completed. This means that operators can initiate refuelling, then proceed with higher-value tasks around the machine while refuelling is conducted and completed automatically.

Beyond the pure productivity gains from high-speed refuelling hardware and overfill protection working together; other benefits of a Banlaw solution include:

  • No overfills – automatic shut off
  • No underfills – fill to the specified level every time
  • Dry-break refuelling components limit contamination
  • Extremely durable nozzles, receivers, and vents last for years
  • Fire-safe valves reduce the risk to machines and operators
  • Break-away valves limit spills and equipment damage should a drive-away occur

(Really) cold temperature refueling

-40°c and +55°c

Banlaw customers need to manage their hydrocarbons in some of the world’s harshest environments. Being fast is not enough, so Banlaw seeks to create products of exceptional durability, which keep your refuelling processes in action even at extreme temperatures.

Banlaw is delighted to announce additions to our cold temperature range ahead of the Northern Winter.

We now have a complete set of components for fitting out a refuelling station or a vehicle, both with and without Auto-ID functionality. Our entire cold temperature range of products uses seals incorporating elastomers which are rated for use beyond -60C.

Banlaw has tested our nozzles, receivers, and swivels under Laboratory conditions to ensure they remain functional at -40C. Design and performance of the nozzle were judged to be in compliance with the intent of the requirements of CAN/ULC-S620-07 in accordance with the TSSA latest regulations of the Liquid Fuels Handling Code.

Refuelling side components:

Vehicle components:

  • Dry Break Receiver
  • Vent

Find out how Banlaw can solve your biggest fuel, oil and hydrocarbon issues