This is an honest value.These units, used,without the house go for between $32,000 and $50,000 all thetime. This one has an issue that youwill need to address, but it is well known and documented, so I know what youcan expect if you purchase this unit. Asit is, it’s a steal at half the cost of lesser units! This is an entire running, high spec (cityowned) pump-house with 2 each 30 horsepower driven Mako pumps and allaccessories (valves, servos, safety, gauges, and a ton of stainless piping) tomake a self service station work, except storage tanks. However, it has some issues that need to be dealtwith. It was working and used, up untilthe day it was replaced by a bigger unit.It had one pump go out, but the other one worked. The manufacturer, Universal, had looked intothe repair and quoted me $5600 parts and labor to rebuild the one pump, plustravel and per-diem. The parts neededare a #4 cylinder and the seal kit, which ran $800 each. I would suggest having both completely rebuiltand having it run perfectly from the start, but you can leave it with just theone working pump and rebuild later. Theweak spot for ALL CNG pumps is the high pressure cylinder and this is no exception. Those prices are about 3 years old now. I had planned to set this up and use it for .50cent per gallon gas for my trucks, but we moved and I don’t have the room,security or even 3 phase power in my new location. I have to sell my baby!
You will see in the pictures that this is an entirehouse. It is 8’ X 8’ X 8’h, its 8,000pounds of steel and made to go outside and was outside all its life, except the3 years I have owned it. Each side is aseries of 3 lockable, full height doors (unlocked now and we have no keys), sothe entire side can be removed and gain access to the insides for repair. You can also walk down the inside center ofthe unit with a pump on each side. It issound deadened and has 2 cooling fans that work automatically. This is 3 phase, 480v and is all set to plugand play after you address the failed pump.If you leave it as is, it will work and the failed pump is bypassed. If fixed, the $5600 price included undoingthe bypass.
It does not come with tanks or “cascade” system, nor anyhoses or connections. This is just thepumps. I was told this was about 30CFM,but can’t remember if that was one or two pumps. It has 3 outlets for 3 tanks. If you look online, Ashland and CNG, you willfind an entire report about this system and its installation. The unit cost $145,000 when new. You can call Universal and ask about thisparticular unit for more details.
As to tanks, I had purchased an entire bus with top mountedtanks from Atlanta city, but a friend purchased them from me. Other than the labor, the tanks had been freebecause the bus scraped for what I paid for it and I got the tanks. Keep in mind that “expired” tanks are notallowed on the road, but they are designed to last 100 years and more, so theyare legal for storage. The array I hadwas 7 30 gallon tanks with all the connections and servos, plus it had afiberglass hinged cover already on it.That’s what I would do if doing it again. Try publicsurplus.com and enter CNG in thesearch. In one hour as I write this a buswith 4 rooftop tanks is going for $885.It changes all the time. Theyscrap for about $1800 to $2400, but make sure the closest yards will take thembefore getting one, to lessen tow costs.
As to shipping, this is 8,000 pounds. If you have a 14,000 equipment trailer,great, otherwise have it shipped flatbed.I will load the unit, but you will pay for half day rental of theforklift with extended forks. Luckily,the rental place is only a couple of blocks away, so no shipping charges. I’ll drive it down to my warehouse and loadthe unit. You are responsible forarranging and paying for everything but my time.
I am not an expert on this equipment. Look to the manufacturer for more details. Universal Air Products, Norfolk, VA 757-461-0077 and ask for service manager. He knew this pump-house personally.
