Legislation, first introduced in 2009, has forced transport companies across North America to install special tanks containing “aqueous urea solutions” also known as AdBlue or DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in diesel-powered vehicles. But it has raised another problem: the potential for accidental spillage and expensive contamination of fuels.
The answer, according to Emco Wheaton, is a new product that totally eliminates all such risks and will make refueling a whole lot easier for bus fleets, off-highway equipment, and diesel trucks.
It is called Posi/Lock Blue and will deliver safe, spill-free dispensing of urea. It is particularly targeted at bus transit companies where vehicles are being refueled at the same location every time.
Posi/Lock Blue represents an advance against other systems that are open-fill and frequently result in a certain amount of urea being spilled each time during filling. When this happens, the urea is exposed to air, the water then vaporizes, and the ammonia will crystallize, creating a messy working environment. The urea might also run down the side of the bus staining paintwork.
The new product works because it is smaller in scale than Emco Wheaton’s traditional Posi/Lock system, which prevents it from accidentally being connected to existing Posi/Lock 105 adapters or any other refueling systems on the market. This eliminates the risk of cross-contamination and ensures the purity of the “aqueous urea solution.”
A no-spill connection provides for a clean working environment and unmanned filling, allowing the operator to do other duties. Posi/Lock Blue is also lightweight and incorporates automatic shutoff using vacuum technology, which ensures the tank is always filled to 90% of its capacity.