We collected all information about gas cylinder production, parts, certifications, accessories and everything what is connected to this topic. We hope you will find what you are looking for.
On technical field when we would like to specify something in an exact way then we always have to go back the the basics – to the standards on gas field. The most basic standard would be the ISO 10286 Gas cylinder – terminology. It contains everything connected to the gas cylinder but unfortunately not the “gas cylinder” itself.
In general when we are talking about gas cylinder (or gas bottles) then we talk about a gas container between 0,5 liter and 150 liter. The purpose is to store gases or liquified gases above atmospheric pressure. Therer are limits in this definition: If the container is smaller then 0,5 liter then we call cartridge, patroon. If it is bigger than 150 liter then we regularly call tank, bundle, MEGC, vessel, container…
The gas cylinder is useless. Everybody want to use the gas inside and not the gas cylinder. The gas cylinder is only a packaging.
One of my teacher many many years ago.
The most standard and cheapest solution for gas storage. That is why mostly you will find 34CrMo4 Chrome molybdene specification on most of the steel cylinder drawing. Low cost for raw material with higher production energy.
clean solution without corrosion. Optimal for food or medical industry. The aluminium is netural for magnetic, that is why you can use it in an application like MRI. Well known aluminium alloys for gas cylinders are AA6061, AA7032, AA7060, AA2001. The high value special gas mixtures or high purity gases will keep their quality for longer time than in a steel cylinder. The advanced aluminium materials could save weight against the steel cylinders.
Rather high priced solution for gas storage. Very rare in usage and in production as well. If the gas is very very agressive or cost for a billion then this could be an optimal choice.
In this pressure range what we are talking now regularly the “only plastic” solution is not presented. The plastic cylinder base liner regularly could part of a composite cylinder -see later.
The composite cylinder is produced from combination of more materials. Regularly there is a base form (called “liner”) what give the shape f the cylinder and give the stable surface to apply the pressure bear elements. The liner itself would be able to keep only max 60 bar but with different fiber wrappings the working pressure is increased to 200 bar, 300 bar, 500 bar or more!
The most common 3 layer in a composite cylinder is the liner, then the pressure holding wrapping like carbon fibre or glass fibre. Then some case a protection wrapping is applied as well. For example on the breathing apparats cylinders you can see the black/grey carbon fibre wrapping and over it there are some light coloured/white glass fibre wrapping to protect the carbon fibre. There are many type of composite cylinders which vary the liner material (steel, aluminium, plastic or carbon) and the wrapping material (glass or carbon fiber). The variation could come from the position of the wrapping as well like only wrapping on the hoop or wrapping all over (full wrap cylinder).
The basic form of the raw material to the gas cylinder production could be:
Production of gas bottlesThere are 3 main production mode of the gas cylinders (now I am talking only metal type one gas cylinder production). The most simple production production process is to form the neck and the bottom of the gas cylinder on a press with deep drawing. These parts are mainly formed from a plate. Then weld those parts together with the following methods:
The second big group of production when you product the bottle without any seam. This we called seamless. For the base material at seamless cylinders could be 2 option:
We listed the technical details of the gas bottles production. The design and the approval process is a different issue. There are plenty of gas cylinders connected to the gas industries. Different standard regulate the productio of aluminium and steel or composite cylinders. Low pressure and high pressure is also a different issue. The most well known standards are:
Worthington gas cylinder producer neck marking on gas cylinder
We are working on high pressure dangerous field. Of course the identification is very important. We have to be able to always trace back the every gas cylinder to its producer. All marking on gas cylinder neck include of course the identification of the gas cylinder producer as well. 3 main sign cover the identification needs:
Beside the phisicyal production of the gas cylinders there are plenty of certification documentation and approval process for special areas. In Europe the most common gas bottles certifications are:
In US the standard is the DOT (Department of Transportation).
These standards regulate the design, testing type approval and certification processes, marking requirements for the pressure equipments.
The safety marks of a gas cylinder contains different elements. All stamp, color coding, stickers are a complete system. You can see not easily modifiable marks like stamping on the gas cylinder neck. You see well recognisable marks from the distance. It could be the colour of the cylinder. Or you have temporary stickers what show you the actual last filling and filler of the gas cylinder.
The main parts of the gas cylinders are: foot, neck ,hoop (body). Some parts could be attached to the gas cylinder like neck ring or welded cages. You can have a detailed description on all part what containes the foto type for example like concave or convex foot.
What are the main standard sizes of the gas cylinders. 2 kg 5 kg 10 kg CO2 cylinder you can always hear from users or from gas factories, You can put short CO2 under the counter if you are a bartender. You regularly transport 50 liter O2 or acetylene cylinder if you make welding jobs on site. Firemen already have action with 6,8 liter composite cylinder on back in hot situation. Medical workers in hospital or in an ambulance care use 2 liter, 5 liter, 10 liter, 20 liter. We collected all standard size of the gas cylinders. We explain why we call cylinders with liter, with m3 or with kg.
There are very important situation when you have to know what are the exact dimensions of the gas cylinders. You have limited space to store or to use the gas cylinder. This could be a water dispenser machine where you put a CO2 cylinder. Maybe there is a limited space in the ambulance car for the oxygen cylinder. Length, diameter with accessories or without accessories. What is the approximate weight of a gas cylinder?
When we use a gas cylinder we use many other accessory with it. If we just think on the valve. Without a valve it would be difficult to keep any gas inside the cylinder.
Beside these several example we give you a complete guide on accessories for gas cylinders.
Metal pallets, basket for gascylinder transportation
In Europe the ADR („Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route“) regulate the safe storage and
In general the standard gas cylinder do not have a definite lifetime. We could say if the cylinder passed on the testing process without problem then it coudl stay in service. This rule could be different in several country or in several gas cylinder design and testing standard. For example there was time when in Hungary the old cylinders produced by “Csepel Csőgyár” lifetime was max 50 year. It was changed later.
When gas cylinder composite cylinders start to be standard solutions then based on the cycle tests and based on the results the first gas cylinders receive a maximum lifetime of 15 years. After the years past there was no any possibility to keep the cylinders in life. Even if a SCBA composite cylinder dusted on a shelf at a fire brigade without any use that has to be scrapped.
Later in the composite cylinders more type arrived with 20 year lifetime then 30 year lifetime then with unlimited lifetime.
When a gas cylinder lifetime passed or the cylinder failed on the periodic inspection then the gas cylinder has to modify to be able to impossible to fill it – or repair it to another fill. You have to damage with cut or flame the thread and make holes on the neck and on the body.
gas cylinder retest and complete refurbishment.
In general the international standards require – at a normal gas cylinder – to go for testing every 10 year. The period could be shorter in case of aggressive and corrosive gases. like Chlorine or sulphur dioxide. The ADR define exactly the time period of the inspection time.
There are special areas which regulate their own periods. The most common areas are:
A maintenance process contains many steps. Identify the cylinders evaluate the inner and outer state of the gas cylinder. Check the corrosions on it. Make a pressure testing on 1,5 times higher pressure then the working pressure.
During transportation or only at gas plant storage you have to secure the gas cylinder against falling. The ADR give you a full guidance on gas cylinder handling. This could be a chain fixed to the wall or a cylinder transportation metal pallet what provide the secure strapping of the cylinders and a secure forklift pockets and lifting eyes for crane.
During transport or storage you always have to keep on the valve protection cap or cage. This could avoid the accident if the cylinder would fall because of any cases.
