Kelowna

The Public Works Association of British Columbia has awarded the City of Kelowna first place in its annual innovation award for a solar-powered fuel dispensing tank.

Equipment Supervisor Alf Soros thought the refueling process for equipment at a City-owned gravel quarry could be improved for greater safety and efficiency.

Working with welder Brian Zsoldos and others in Transportation Services, a portable device was built to transport the fuel tank to a variety of vehicles and equipment.

“Traditionally, a portable fuel tank with a hand pump was slung from the bucket of a front end loader,” says Soros. "The fuel tank would be transported to the various pieces of equipment and fuel was hand pumped into each tank."

“It was tedious and time consuming work – 20 to 30 minutes for each machine. Also, the tank being slung by a chain had the potential of being hit or falling off the front end loader, which could result in injury or a fuel spill,” says Soros.

The custom-built metal frame holding the tank fits securely onto the bucket of a front end loader. The device is also outfitted with an electric fuel pump and a nozzle that automatically shuts the pump off when the equipment’s fuel tank is full.

“When I first saw the portable fuel system in operation, I thought it was a purchased product,” says Transportation Services Manager Darryl Astofooroff. “The PWABC recognition is well deserved – congratulations to Alf and his group for building such a useful piece of equipment.”

The pump operates on a solar powered battery pack. The device was built for less than $1,500, using metal and other materials Zsoldos saved from previous projects.