Blend automates fuel-additive dosing on tanker trailers
Blend System has introduced an automated pneumatic dosing system for bulk fuel tankers that meters diesel additives into fuel during delivery. Developed with fuel tanker manufacturer AlumiTank and convenience-store chain Casey’s, the Blend system is designed to improve dosing consistency while reducing drivers’ direct handling of chemicals.
“At Casey’s, we are always looking for innovative ways to improve our operations and make the work safer for our team,” Nathaniel Doddridge, senior VP of fuel operations at Casey’s said in a news release. “We saw an opportunity to improve a difficult, manual process and brought that challenge to AlumiTank. They became an important partner, listening to our drivers, testing the system alongside us and continuing to refine it until we had a solution that gives us greater consistency and confidence in how our diesel is treated.”
The closed-loop system addresses a manual process commonly used to add treatments such as anti-gel and lubricity additives at the delivery point. Drivers measure the required dose through a graduated sight window, connect an injection coupler, and activate the system. Pneumatic pressure moves the additive into the fuel stream as the tanker unloads.
Blend uses the tractor’s existing air supply and the trailer’s electrical system to eliminate the need for a separate compressor or auxiliary battery. The system supports common treat rates, including 1:1,000 and 2:1,000, along with custom rates.
“I have 90 employees,” David Kirkpatrick, Blend founder and AlumiTank executive director, told Fleet Maintenance sister publication Bulk Transporter. “We have a tremendous amount of tenure, and I love my people. I care for them tremendously. The last thing I want is for them to get hurt or injured. So they learn to appreciate what we’re dealing with from a chemical standpoint. Casey’s is in the same boat. They want to keep their drivers safe.
“So safety was paramount in the development of this system.”
During field testing with Casey’s, the company reported more than 350 validated loads, with zero reportable spills and a 100% exact treat rate. The system can dispense a dose in less than three minutes, according to Blend.
The system is constructed mainly from aluminum, stainless steel, and chemical-resistant Viton components. The tank assembly weighs approximately 130 lbs. dry, while the complete installation adds about 150 lbs. to the trailer.
For fleets considering a retrofit, installation takes approximately six to eight hours of technician labor per trailer, according to AlumiTank. The system can also be integrated during new-trailer production. AlumiTank is developing a network of certified installers to support installation, troubleshooting and service.
Casey’s was the initial fleet customer, with 18 units deployed in the Rockford, Illinois, region at the time of the announcement. The system is designed for use with compatible tank trailers from multiple manufacturers.