Natural Gas Compressor - Automobile

Have you looked into using a common air conditioner compressor?

They can easily produce pressures over 400 PSI without problems and many of the older ones had low side working pressure ratings into the 200 - 300 PSI range. Couple two of them together and you may be able to produce up to 600 - 700 PSI peak pressures without damaging the compressors or shortening their working life significantly.

Otherwise you will need a dedicated multi stage compressor system like whats used to fill scuba tanks and they are not cheap.

Just a thought.

IMPCO manufactures and distributes some CNG compressors for safely recharging your car at home. They are computerized and have multiple safety features. I recall that there is even embedded logic and a special break-away fitting in case the hose is accidentally ripped out by the driver who drives off before de-coupling the hose.

Perhaps the most important thing to realize is that you never want to risk overfilling a CNG tank with a homemade compressor system.

Last I heard was that they are in the range of $5000 ++ (not including installation). Perhaps pricing has improved.

Wise men use a unit that is designed, built, tested and approved for natural gas useage.

Foolish men use home designs that they think will work.

Is your life or the lives of your loved ones or any other people worth the risk?

Would you trust this forum to tell you how to do your own cardiac surgery or dental surgery?

Enough said!

Good Luck, old slat

Good answer,

You have to remember that you are compressing an explosive gas. If you think how a normal engine works you will hopefully appreciate the dangers of heat, pressure and sparks from static discharge. Will your insurer cover the cost of the destroyed properties and vehicles, (the blast damage won't be limited to your own property), not to mention any physical injury to you and yours.

There are some good charging systems available for home use - I know they were used a lot in homes and farms in New Zealand a few years back and we looked at importing them. I was then asked to design an electronic metering interface unit so that a standard petrol pump could dispense CNG. We built two sites in the UK which worked very well. The main selling point was, a fleet vehicle user, such as the Post Office, would get cheap vehicle fuel - in addition, the extra gas used put the main sorting office onto a cheaper tariff - a win win situation. Don't know why it didn't catch on, unless the Company I worked for, (making petrol pumps) were put under pressure from the big oil Companies who were worried about losing petrol sales!

Go for a well made system and be sure to get it tested regularly and make sure your insurer knows what you are doing.

If you get it all installed let us know how it worked out.