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NITROGEN INFLATION
PCL Explains the Benefits of Nitrogen Inflation for CV Fleets
It is only relatively recently that nitrogen inflation for truck tyres has become commercially viable due to the fact that older type inflation systems were too slow for commercial applications. However, membrane technology has changed all that and air technology companies such as PCL are now targeting the commercial vehicle market with nitrogen inflation equipment, which the company says
this tyres inflated with nitrogen experience increased durability compared with those inflated with air. The moisture present in air can also cause degradation of the inner tyre wall as well as a build up of rust on the inner wheel rim. Nitrogen, being a dry gas, does not react with the materials it comes into contact with, therefore also helping improve tyre durability. The prevention of
oxidisation in the tyre casing also, of course, improves the retreadability of the casing.
Last but not least, tyres filled with air pose a certain fire risk in high temperature environments. Oxygen is necessary for tyres to combust, so its replacement with nitrogen as the inflation media reduces the risk of combustion to almost zero. As a result of this nitrogen inflation is often used to prevent to auto-ignition of the large tyres used in high- temperature mining environments.
The above benefits clearly show that the use of nitrogen instead of air can improve passenger safety and tyre life whilst simultaneously improving the fuel consumption of the vehicle. But what does this mean in real terms?
In their sales brochure PCL
include a cost scenario achieved with one of their fleet customers in Canada, whereby on an average articulated lorry an average 3.3% better fuel economy was achieved with nitrogen filled tyres compared with those inflated with air. On a vehicle travelling 80,000 miles per
not only offer significant savings to fleets, but also provides an additional profit centre for commercial tyre dealers. We travelled to PCL’s headquarters in Sheffield and talked to the company’s product manager for nitrogen inflation products, Olly Shortland, who explained why cost- efficient fleets are now considering the benefits of nitrogen inflation with increased regularity.
There are four main benefits associated with inflating tyres with oxygen. The first of these, and the one with the most obvious economic value, is the fact that tyres filled with nitrogen stay inflated for longer. The reason for this is that nitrogen molecules are larger than those of both oxygen and carbon dioxide, which can therefore permeate through the rubber tyre wall quicker than nitrogen. In a 90-day static laboratory test the inflation pressure loss for tyres filled with nitrogen has been shown to be only two-thirds of that of tyres inflated with air. Under-inflated tyres, as everyone knows, not only wear faster, they are less fuel efficient. Another benefit arises from the fact that oxygen molecules found in air, due to the latter’s moisture content, reacts to the temperature build-up in a tyre when it is motion over long periods. This causes the oxygen molecules to create energy, which causes the tyre to overheat. Because of
year achieving 9 miles per gallon and assuming a pro-gallon diesel price of £6.22 (measured by PCL in February 2014), this equates to a fuel saving of £1,766 per vehicle or £176,624 on a 100-vehicle fleet.
The same tyre test also showed a significant 22% saving in replacement tyre costs due to the increase in tyre longevity. This resulted in a £756 per annum saving per vehicle – a further £75,600 per annum in a 100-vehicle fleet.
The above savings, however, were calculated on 11 R 22.5 sized tyres. What kind of savings can be achieved on the prevalent European sizes. PCL say they are currently carrying out an extensive testing programme so that they can provide a complete set of data for European markets. “There’s still a certain scepticism about what nitrogen inflation can achieve,” says Olly Shortland, “but we are investing significantly in this area so fleet managers can easily compare the
benefits.”
According to PCL a number of major tyre dealers are using PCL’s nitrogen inflation equipment on a regular basis. ATS Euromaster, who have around 350 units in operation around the country, is a prime example. However, leading independents such as Dexel, Lodge Tyre and McConechy’s are also key PCL customers.
PCL can supply a variety of different model types to suit different applications and different budgets. Top of the range, though, is the NEXMI (A)/MQ Nexus Nitrogen Generator, which features a built in digital multi-head tyre inflator range, which allows for the automatic inflation of four different front and rear tyre pressures simultaneously. All equipment is manufactured and calibrated at PCL’s UK factory in Sheffield.
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