Training bulletin 60: Methanol Vehicles Flashcards
the Southern California Rapid Transit District-has introduced into service a fleet of ___ new methanol powered buses.
30
a promising alternative to diesel fuel and is considered the leading contender among test fuels to replace diesel fuel in the transit industry.
Methanol
Chemical family of ethanol?
Alcohol
Hydrocarbon of methanol?
Methane
Synonyms of methanol?
Methanol alcohol, carbinol, monohydroxymethane, methyl hydroxide
United Nations number (UN NUMBER)
UN 1230
DOT emergency response guide number
28
Methanol (CH30H) is the first member in the series of primary aliphatic alcohols. It is a ____, ______, ______, flammable liquid with a faint alcohol odor.
Clear, colorless, volatile
Methanol is also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, and
Wood alcohol
Methanol is normally produced by one of three methods:
- High pressure catalytic synthesis from ____ _____ and ______.
- Partial oxidation of natural gas _______.
- Destructive distillation of ___.
Carbon monoxide and hydrogen
Hydrocarbons
Wood
Methanol is not ____.
Gasohol
Gasohol is gasoline that contains ___ percent to ___ percent methanol or ethanol.
One percent to ten percent
The density of methanol is __times the density of air. Therefore, methanol vapors will tend to settle in ___ ____.
1.1
Low areas
Methanol is more chemically reactive than ____ ____ or _____
Diesel fuel or gasoline
Methanol will corrode some metals and certain plastics, i.e., ____steel and ______
Carbon steel and aluminum
Methanol, unlike gasoline or diesel fuel will mix with
Water
A mixture of methanol and water is still flammable when diluted with approximately ____ parts water to ___ part methanol.
Five parts water to one part methanol
Methanol is a Class___ flammable liquid as defined by the National Fire Protection Association and the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
1-B
Evaporation of the liquid at ordinary room temperatures creates a potentially explosive methanol-air mixture when the methanol content reaches ___ percent volume.
6.0 percent volume
Methanol-air mixtures containing more than ___percent volume do not flash because these mixtures are too ___ to burn..
36%
Too rich
A fire hazard exists if the storage temperature of methanol in contact with air approaches the flash point of __C (__F).
11C
52F
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).
100F
21%
25%
Unlike gasoline, methanol burns with ____ ____ _____
LOW FLAME LUMINOSITY
The luminosity of burning pure methanol is about _/__ of the luminosity of a comparably sized gasoline fire.
1/3000
in the case of pure methanol, the flames are hard to see in daylight and virtually _____ in bright sunlight.
INVISIBLE
The reason methanol fires are less visible than gasoline or diesel fuel fires is that burning methanol produces no
SOOT
The greatest danger from methyl alcohol is its specific toxic effect upon the
Eyes
In addition, exposure to methyl alcohol liquid may cause the skin to become ___ and _____, and poisoning can occur through breaks in the ___.
Dry and cracked
Skin
methods of extinguishing methanol fires..
ABC Rated ___ _____ Extinguisher ___ ____Extinguisher Sodium _______
DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHER
PURPLE-K
SODIUM BICARBONATE
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.
HALON EXTINGUISHER
RTD BUSES
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.
AFFF/ATC
700 GALLONS
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.
WATER
DRY CHEMICAL AND CARBON DIOXIDE
Buses will be lettered “METHANOL” in ___letters on the ___, ___, and ____ sides.
Bold
Front, rear and both sides
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
35’ ad 40’
9’11’’
25
36
- 5
- 5
22
285
Methanol has a ____ fuel value than gasoline. In other words, it takes more methanol than gasoline to drive the same ____.
Lower
Distance
a methanol powered vehicle requires a fuel tank approximately ____ the size of those found in a gasoline vehicle.
Twice
The engine fuel filler is located behind a small access door on the ___ ___side of the buses.
Right hand
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.
Magnet
Closed
To’ prevent “___ ____” a fuel cooling system is located next to the ___ ____. Methanol is circulated through the _____ system and delivered to the engine.
Vapor lock
Fuel pump
Cooling system
Each bus will be equipped with an on-board ____/_____ suppression system designed by Santa Barbara Research Center, a subsidiary of Hughes Aircraft.
Fire/explosion
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.
Three
Engine
Discharge nozzles
Top and bottom
20
1301
Left
Fuel tank
Rear right
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.
Light wave lengths
Halon
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 ___ ____.
15 second
Fuel shut down
Fuel pump
