Training bulletin 60: Methanol Vehicles

Question 1

the Southern California Rapid Transit District-has introduced into service a fleet of ___ new methanol powered buses.

Answer 1

30

Question 2

a promising alternative to diesel fuel and is considered the leading contender among test fuels to replace diesel fuel in the transit industry.

Answer 2

Methanol

Question 3

Chemical family of ethanol?

Answer 3

Alcohol

Question 4

Hydrocarbon of methanol?

Answer 4

Methane

Question 5

Synonyms of methanol?

Answer 5

Methanol alcohol, carbinol, monohydroxymethane, methyl hydroxide

Question 6

United Nations number (UN NUMBER)

Answer 6

UN 1230

Question 7

DOT emergency response guide number

Answer 7

28

Question 8

Methanol (CH30H) is the first member in the series of primary aliphatic alcohols. It is a ____, ______, ______, flammable liquid with a faint alcohol odor.

Answer 8

Clear, colorless, volatile

Question 9

Methanol is also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, and

Answer 9

Wood alcohol

Question 10

Methanol is normally produced by one of three methods:

1. High pressure catalytic synthesis from ____ _____ and ______.
2. Partial oxidation of natural gas _______.
3. Destructive distillation of ___.

Answer 10

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Hydrocarbons

Wood

Question 11

Methanol is not ____.

Answer 11

Gasohol

Question 12

Gasohol is gasoline that contains ___ percent to ___ percent methanol or ethanol.

Answer 12

One percent to ten percent

Question 13

The density of methanol is __times the density of air. Therefore, methanol vapors will tend to settle in ___ ____.

Answer 13

1.1

Low areas

Question 14

Methanol is more chemically reactive than ____ ____ or _____

Answer 14

Diesel fuel or gasoline

Question 15

Methanol will corrode some metals and certain plastics, i.e., ____steel and ______

Answer 15

Carbon steel and aluminum

Question 16

Methanol, unlike gasoline or diesel fuel will mix with

Answer 16

Water

Question 17

A mixture of methanol and water is still flammable when diluted with approximately ____ parts water to ___ part methanol.

Answer 17

Five parts water to one part methanol

Question 18

Methanol is a Class___ flammable liquid as defined by the National Fire Protection Association and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Answer 18

1-B

Question 19

Evaporation of the liquid at ordinary room temperatures creates a potentially explosive methanol-air mixture when the methanol content reaches ___ percent volume.

Answer 19

6.0 percent volume

Question 20

Methanol-air mixtures containing more than ___percent volume do not flash because these mixtures are too ___ to burn..

Answer 20

36%

Too rich

Question 21

A fire hazard exists if the storage temperature of methanol in contact with air approaches the flash point of __C (__F).

Answer 21

11C

52F

Question 22

A methanol-water mixture is still a flammable liquid by OSHA definition (flash point ___F) with as little as ___percent methanol by volume (___percent by weight).

Answer 22

100F
21%
25%

Question 23

Unlike gasoline, methanol burns with ____ ____ _____

Answer 23

LOW FLAME LUMINOSITY

Question 24

The luminosity of burning pure methanol is about _/__ of the luminosity of a comparably sized gasoline fire.

Answer 24

1/3000

Question 25

in the case of pure methanol, the flames are hard to see in daylight and virtually _____ in bright sunlight.

Answer 25

INVISIBLE

Question 26

The reason methanol fires are less visible than gasoline or diesel fuel fires is that burning methanol produces no

Answer 26

SOOT

Question 27

The greatest danger from methyl alcohol is its specific toxic effect upon the

Answer 27

Eyes

Question 28

In addition, exposure to methyl alcohol liquid may cause the skin to become ___ and _____, and poisoning can occur through breaks in the ___.

Answer 28

Dry and cracked

Skin

Question 29

methods of extinguishing methanol fires..

ABC Rated ___ _____ Extinguisher ___ ____Extinguisher Sodium _______

Answer 29

DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER

PURPLE-K

SODIUM BICARBONATE

Question 30

methods of extinguishing methanol fires
____ ______are effective although not as effective as the appropriate Dry Chemical Extinguishers. NOTE: ____ buses are equipped with a Halon System in the engine compartment.

Answer 30

HALON EXTINGUISHER

RTD BUSES

Question 31

methods of extinguishing methanol fires

For larger spills or fires, “alcohol” foam ____/___ resistant form is appropriate. Supply and Maintenance Division has ____ gallons in supply available.

Answer 31

AFFF/ATC

700 GALLONS

Question 32

methods of extinguishing methanol fires
Since methanol is a _____soluble, dilution techniques can be used for extinguishment.
in conjunction with ___ ______and ____ ______ have been used successfully.

Answer 32

WATER

DRY CHEMICAL AND CARBON DIOXIDE

Question 33

Buses will be lettered “METHANOL” in ___letters on the ___, ___, and ____ sides.

Answer 33

Bold

Front, rear and both sides

Question 34

General Data:

Maximum Vehicle Length: \_\_' and \_\_'
Maximum Vehicle Height: \_\_\_"
Maximum Vehicle Width: \_\_\_"
Engine Crankcase Capacity: \_\_ Quarts
Transmission Capacity (Approximate): \_\_ Quarts
Steering System Capacity
(Without Wheelchair Lift): \_\_ Quarts
(With Wheelchair Lift): \_\_\_\_ Quarts
Rear Axle Capacity: \_\_ Pints
Fuel Tank Capacity: \_\_\_ Gallons

Answer 34

35’ ad 40’

9’11’’

25

36

6. 5
7. 5

22

285

Question 35

Methanol has a ____ fuel value than gasoline. In other words, it takes more methanol than gasoline to drive the same ____.

Answer 35

Lower

Distance

Question 36

a methanol powered vehicle requires a fuel tank approximately ____ the size of those found in a gasoline vehicle.

Answer 36

Twice

Question 37

The engine fuel filler is located behind a small access door on the ___ ___side of the buses.

Answer 37

Right hand

Question 38

On some models a ____mounted to the inside of the door trips a microswitch which is mounted just inside the door opening. This microswitch is part of the engine’s starting circuitry; and unless the door is ____, the engine will not start.

Answer 38

Magnet

Closed

Question 39

To’ prevent “___ ____” a fuel cooling system is located next to the ___ ____. Methanol is circulated through the _____ system and delivered to the engine.

Answer 39

Vapor lock
Fuel pump

Cooling system

Question 40

Each bus will be equipped with an on-board ____/_____ suppression system designed by Santa Barbara Research Center, a subsidiary of Hughes Aircraft.

Answer 40

Fire/explosion

Question 41

The components of the system include ____ dual-spectrum infrared sensors mounted in the ____compartment, two directed ______ _____ positioned at the ___ and ____ of the engine compartment, and two __ pound Halon ____ cylinders mounted beneath the chassis (___ side near the __ ____) on the new buses and the ___ ____ side upper quarter panel on the diesel to methanol converted buses.

Answer 41

Three

Engine

Discharge nozzles

Top and bottom

20
1301

Left
Fuel tank

Rear right

Question 42

The infrared fire sensors are programmed to recognize the ___ ____ ____ emitted by methanol fire flames and trigger the release of the first cylinder of ____into the engine compartment.

Answer 42

Light wave lengths

Halon

Question 43

After a ___second time delay, the second Halon cylinder will discharge. Additionally, when the system goes into the alarm mode, a fuel shut down is activated deenergizing the ___ ____.

Answer 43

15 second

Fuel shut down

Fuel pump