MPL Technology touts SpillX speed
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefMPL Technology, Inc. said Thursday it demonstrated the world’s fastest and safest locomotive fueling system to attendees of Railway Interchange 2011 this week in Minneapolis.
During multiple fueling demonstrations, MPL’s SpillX fueling system delivered fuel into a locomotive at a rate of 600 gallons per minute. Current fueling rates for the industry typically range from 180 to 250 gallons per minute, the company says.
SpillX leverages proven technology currently used to fuel large commercial aircraft, delivering significantly increased flow rates with the safest possible connections, the company said.
MPL Technology President Michael Mitrovich said, “We were pleased with the positive comments from attendees who witnessed the demonstrations. It seems to me that SpillX can provide the railroad industry with a number of cost saving and safety benefits.”
MPL Technology officials explained that the simple design and high fueling rate of the SpillX system has several important advantages over existing fueling systems. The higher flow rate with SpillX reduces time required to fill a locomotive fuel tank and can help increase train velocity by reducing dwell time at fuel stops. The SpillX system can be installed in the locomotive in less than 15 minutes per fill port and the nozzle is a direct replacement for the existing system and can be installed with similar ease.
Military specification “dry-break” connections at both the lightweight nozzle and the receiver on the fuel tank ensure virtually no leaks or spills, greatly reducing potential for environmental hazards. An internal hydraulic shutoff mechanism prevents overfills and ensures safe and reliable shutoff with virtually no pump surge.
(Photo by William C. Vantuono)
