As of March 23, users of
CNG vehicles
must comply with a new requirement and, consequently, face a
new expense
.
According to Resolution 375/2022 approved in September 2022 by the National Gas Regulatory Entity (ENARGAS), those who must carry out the
mandatory hydraulic test
will have to replace the tube valve with a new piece called "cylinder block valve operated electrically".
The measure was motivated by
safety reasons
, since according to ENARGAS the previous valves are not capable of adequately releasing the stored natural gas in the event of a fire or high temperatures, which could cause cracks, or even their rupture.
The equipment installed as of December 23, 2022 already has the new valve.
Photo File Clarín.
The price for the new valve ranges from
$25,000
to
$30,000
and is one per tube.
This means that those who have two cylinders must change both.
To this amount must be added the value of the hydraulic test and the renewal of the wafer (some $15,000 more).
The prices
are not fixed
and may vary according to the place where they are carried out.
There are two important facts to keep in mind.
The first is that those who carry out the hydraulic test
before March 23
will not have to pay the additional cost for the new valve.
On the other hand, those who carry it out later, yes.
The second is
that all CNG equipment installed in cars as of December 23, 2022 already have the new blocking valve.
Currently in Argentina there are 1,724,879 CNG-powered vehicles.
And for those who must face the update, the workshops offer payment plans in
12 and 18 installments.
In the hydraulic tests, the safety valves are verified as well as the state of the cylinder.
For that it is necessary to disassemble it.
Photo Fernando de la Orden.
What is hydraulic testing
The hydraulic test is
mandatory
and must be carried out every
five years
in the Cylinder Periodic Inspection Centers (CRPC) authorized by the Regulatory Entity.
It consists of verifying the safety valves and verifying the absence of cracks and/or leaks in the container cylinder, subjecting it to a pressure 1.5 times greater than normal working pressure for a period of half an hour.
Subsequently, the welds and structural elements of the tank are inspected, as well as the absence of
losses and/or deformations
on the surface of the tank.
The work takes a day, so it is advisable to take the vehicle early to be able to pick it up, in the best of cases, the same day.
HO
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