Balmoral SuperBlue - Information About AdBlue

AdBlue is carried onboard SCR-equipped trucks in specially designed tanks and is dosed into the SCR system at a rate equivalent to 3-5% of diesel consumption. This low dosing rate ensures long refill periods and minimises the tank’s impact on chassis space.

All European truck manufacturers currently offer SCR equipped models, and the future Euro 5 emission standard is set to reinforce the demand for this technology. SCR systems are sensitive to potential chemical impurities in the urea solution. Therefore, it is essential to maintain high standards of AdBlue quality and an ISO standard is being prepared to ensure this.

It is important to ensure that you always have an adequate supply of AdBlue in the tank. If a truck or bus with an SCR system is operated without AdBlue, then there is risk that the complex SCR equipment will be damaged, and the emissions will not meet legal requirements.

What is Euro 4 and 5?
Euro 4 is a new standard in Europe that limits the amount of harmful pollutants from commercial vehicles, and was implemented in October 2006. Euro 5 is the next, more stringent standard and will be fully implemented by October 2009. In some countries such as Germany, there are tax incentives for investing in Euro 5 vehicles before the regulations enter effect.

How is AdBlue stored?
Meeting the requirements of both commercial and retail outlets, Balmoral Tanks provides a range of fully integrated AdBlue dispensing stations from 500-10,000 litre capacity and, uniquely, a selection of forecourt models up to 62,000 litres in size.

The fully lockable Balmoral SuperBlue requires minimal maintenance and is corrosion resistant. The tanks are fully bunded providing total protection from leakage and overfilling and can be customised to client specification.

Forecourt model
Designed to receive and store AdBlue where dispensing and metering is carried out remotely from the tank.
Dispensing model
Where applicable, the newly designed cabinet on dispensing models is loaded with new features including an integrated light, dispensing hose with stainless steel auto-nozzle, electronic level gauging system, digital flowmeter and dry disconnect coupling on the 2” fill line. Temperature control equipment can be fitted as required.

What does AdBlue cost?
The cost of AdBlue varies depending on where and how you buy it. AdBlue is not taxed like diesel (although VAT applies), and normally costs about half of the price of diesel. In most driving conditions, the cost of AdBlue will be offset by savings on diesel fuel consumption.

How much AdBlue will I use?
On average, AdBlue consumption will be about 5% of diesel use. Therefore for motorway driving you will use about 1.5 litres per 100 km.

Where can I purchase AdBlue?
AdBlue can be purchased in bulk and delivered directly to customers, or it can be purchased by the litre at on-road supply points i.e., service stations. Leading European suppliers of AdBlue include, Yara, BASF, Kruse, GreenChem, Dureal, AMI. Click here to see map of all commercial filling points in operation within Europe.

Is AdBlue affected by extreme weather conditions?
AdBlue can be used in all European conditions. If the temperature of AdBlue drops below -11°C in extremely cold weather, it freezes. Therefore AdBlue pumps in the Nordic countries and other cold areas are heated to resist winter problems. Some SCR trucks have heating systems which ensure stable operation of the SCR system, even in the coldest weather.

What is Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a means of removing nitrogen oxides, often the most abundant and polluting component in exhaust gases, through a chemical reaction between the exhaust gases, a (reductant) additive, and a catalyst.

A gaseous or liquid reductant (most commonly ammonia or urea) is added to a stream of flue or exhaust gas and is absorbed onto a catalyst. The reductant reacts with NOx in the exhaust gas to form harmless H2O (water vapour) and N2 (nitrogen gas).

What is urea?
Urea is an organic compound with the chemical formula (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Nonproprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. For example, the medicinal compound hydroxyurea (old British Approved Name) is now hydroxycarbamide. Other names include carbamide resin, isourea, carbonyl diamide, and carbonyldiamine.