Word of warning : Don't Leave Full CO2 Tanks in Hot Car! - Page 4

**Free_Eagle** · 07-27-2008, 06:09 PM

Figured I could shed some light on the scenario seeing I deliver these tanks for a living. First propane does not expand at an exorbitant rate like most gases when going from a liquid to a gas state. Yet propane still offers an explosion risk, our plant in PA had a 100lb. tank let go on them and set off a chain reaction of cylinder explosions due to fire which let to tanks being found up to a 3/4 mile away. The real risk is leaks which increased outside temperatures can create on a tank that normal at room temperature.

CO2 expands at an unbelievable rate, and due to the fact that it is packaged as a liquid in the cylinder it has plenty of fuel for expansion on an extremely hot day. Yet, my guess would be the tank and subsequent safety was nearing test date or out of date because a temperature of 100 degrees rarely (but obviously will) create a rupture disc to fail. Our tanks are stored in storage container's in the middle of the yard and never fail, granted the northeast is not known for its balmy temps but still.

Transportation is always recommended for a non-passenger compartment of the vehicle. Even I won't travel with it in the cab of my personal truck and I consider CO2 mundane after dealing with the assorted, more dangerous gas I deal with all day. This far into this I feel like I have wasted too much time yammering on about a mundane topic to begin with, sorry.

Side note on Nitrous. Those tanks are made to handle the temperature extremes of being in a vehicle. You can check the maximum temperature of any tank you own, excluding propane, acetylene, etc.. Look for a DOT number, and in that vicinity there should be a four digit number, normally around 2500 - 2750, that is the maximum pressure the tank is rated for when built.

NitrouStang96 · 07-28-2008, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Free_Eagle

Side note on Nitrous. Those tanks are made to handle the temperature extremes of being in a vehicle.

Indeed, and maybe the CO2 tanks we have are not. I just want to reiterate that all tanks can be very easily kept well within reasonable limits with a simple wet towel. Worry-free.

If you're afraid you might have to leave your tank in your car on a hot day, just bring a towel and some water and you're good to go.

**pldoolittle** · 07-28-2008, 04:21 AM

Speaking of certifications, I got a condemed oxy cylinder for a project and it was stamped with dates from 1941 -> 1992. They were also marked US Navy. Do they REALLY keep tanks in service for 50+ years?

Anyway, I thought it was cool to have a tank that was probably used to help defeat the axis in WWII..

**Free_Eagle** · 07-28-2008, 06:54 PM

We have tanks that have test date stamps back to the 1880's. If it continually passes hydro testing it will continue to be put into use. The US Navy tanks are among the oldest tanks out there, the typical "birthdate" of most of the tanks out there now range from 1940 - 1960, with the exception of most of the aluminum CO2 cyl's most of you have.

I have an interesting fact to your WWII reference. The company that owned my location prior was Linde Gas, which was the number one worldwide supplier for a long time till recently. Their production facility for the tanks themselves was in Germany during Hitlers' rein which required Linde to stamp every tank with the Swastika. To this day, as my buddy found one just two weeks ago, you can still locate some tanks that have not been edited to delete the Swastika. If you ever get a tank that has a box with four little boxes next to some of the older stamp dates, that tank was stamped with a Swastika which means it made its way Hilter controlled areas during that time.

I am such a gas nerd.

**conpewter** · 07-28-2008, 07:43 PM

1880's? That is so cool. I like my aluminum tank and all, but that is pretty neat.

**Free_Eagle** · 07-29-2008, 08:22 PM

Original stamp date of Feb. 1919, oldest I could find in the past week or so.

BrewBeemer · 09-08-2008, 06:48 PM

Thanks FREE EAGLE for your replies, straight from someone who knows about cylinders. I have some old ones from an old time iron worker, one with the boxed Swastika added and it passes hydro with ease as well my 1952 scuba tank. Scuba tank I keep stored at app 2-300 psi, was told the steel is like a rubber band and is relaxed and the steel will stay more elastic. True I haven't a clue but told from a long time bottle delivery driver. On the Co2 if it released in the car even when secured in the back seat the Co2 buildup would make your body stop breathing just like someone knocked the wind out of you. The trigger system in you throat would cause this, I know as we used to have Co2 bottle fights. Yes stupid when young around aircraft in the early 70's. Best part was the Navy always had emptied Co2 bottles once a month, we would release a few into cardboard boxes to quick chill a couple 6-packs. This during Nam as a civilian A&P helping the Navy. They never could figure why the bottles ended up empty once a month.

Just after the last holiday I met a Blue Rino propane delivery driver, he said his yards in the California central valley and has filled tanks sitting for weeks in the sun without any problems and we're talking 108*F last week alone.

Made me laugh on the reply about transporting a Co2 bottle on the motorcycle, JATO comes to mind?

I have seen 260/280 cu/ft sized bottles that had their tops cut off before the neck taper then inverted and made into deep sounding gongs in those fancy big buck nature stores. With 2" square tube, short chain and a leather covered stick full of sand all with that rusty natural look for $975. I think I found a use for a couple of "no one owns bottles" I have laying around, job for Mr. plasma cutter.
They're safe old helium bottles.

BrewBeemer · 09-08-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NitrouStang96

Easy solution, guys:

I have a 15lb nitrous tank in my trunk 24/7. It's been in there for 8 years. In the middle of summer in South Carolina in months of 100 degree days, I kept a beach towel and a small container of water in the trunk. A soaked towel draped over the top is all that is needed to keep the bottle at normal temps, but if you're really scared (or in my case, need to cool the bottle fast), a little ice water is a quick trick.

When a car is parked outside in the hot sun all day long on a 100+ degree day... I have no idea how hot it must get in the car, but my bottle stayed in usable temps, so it was no where near blowing the safety valve.

That's not the so called "party gas" as it has an additive that will make you sick. My dentist has had many bottle of the "good gas" stolen from their little locked up outside shed next to the building. No i'm not a user.

BrewBeemer · 09-08-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NitrouStang96

Easy solution, guys:

I have a 15lb nitrous tank in my trunk 24/7. It's been in there for 8 years. In the middle of summer in South Carolina in months of 100 degree days, I kept a beach towel and a small container of water in the trunk. A soaked towel draped over the top is all that is needed to keep the bottle at normal temps, but if you're really scared (or in my case, need to cool the bottle fast), a little ice water is a quick trick.

When a car is parked outside in the hot sun all day long on a 100+ degree day... I have no idea how hot it must get in the car, but my bottle stayed in usable temps, so it was no where near blowing the safety valve.

That's not the so called "party gas" the one used for vehicle motors as it has an additive that will make you sick. My dentist has had many bottle of the "good gas" stolen from their little locked up outside shed next to the building. No i'm not a user.

**pldoolittle** · 09-09-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewBeemer

I have seen 260/280 cu/ft sized bottles that had their tops cut off before the neck taper then inverted and made into deep sounding gongs in those fancy big buck nature stores. With 2" square tube, short chain and a leather covered stick full of sand all with that rusty natural look for $975.

I'm in the wrong business. I just made 4 of those for our HS band and the total cost was about $250 including paint, mallet, and an A frame stand

07-27-2008, 06:09 PM	#31 (permalink)
Free_Eagle Member Recipes Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Peabody, Massachusetts Posts: 42 Free_Eagle's Gallery	Figured I could shed some light on the scenario seeing I deliver these tanks for a living. First propane does not expand at an exorbitant rate like most gases when going from a liquid to a gas state. Yet propane still offers an explosion risk, our plant in PA had a 100lb. tank let go on them and set off a chain reaction of cylinder explosions due to fire which let to tanks being found up to a 3/4 mile away. The real risk is leaks which increased outside temperatures can create on a tank that normal at room temperature. CO2 expands at an unbelievable rate, and due to the fact that it is packaged as a liquid in the cylinder it has plenty of fuel for expansion on an extremely hot day. Yet, my guess would be the tank and subsequent safety was nearing test date or out of date because a temperature of 100 degrees rarely (but obviously will) create a rupture disc to fail. Our tanks are stored in storage container's in the middle of the yard and never fail, granted the northeast is not known for its balmy temps but still. Transportation is always recommended for a non-passenger compartment of the vehicle. Even I won't travel with it in the cab of my personal truck and I consider CO2 mundane after dealing with the assorted, more dangerous gas I deal with all day. This far into this I feel like I have wasted too much time yammering on about a mundane topic to begin with, sorry. Side note on Nitrous. Those tanks are made to handle the temperature extremes of being in a vehicle. You can check the maximum temperature of any tank you own, excluding propane, acetylene, etc.. Look for a DOT number, and in that vicinity there should be a four digit number, normally around 2500 - 2750, that is the maximum pressure the tank is rated for when built. __________________ Primary: Air Secondary: Farmhouse Ale (Saison) Conditioning: Pumpkin Spice, Beantown Ale Drinking: Belgian Wit Planning: Honey Ale, Yukon Scotch, XX Stout Last edited by Free_Eagle : 07-27-2008 at 06:11 PM.

07-28-2008, 06:54 PM	#34 (permalink)
Free_Eagle Member Recipes Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Peabody, Massachusetts Posts: 42 Free_Eagle's Gallery	We have tanks that have test date stamps back to the 1880's. If it continually passes hydro testing it will continue to be put into use. The US Navy tanks are among the oldest tanks out there, the typical "birthdate" of most of the tanks out there now range from 1940 - 1960, with the exception of most of the aluminum CO2 cyl's most of you have. I have an interesting fact to your WWII reference. The company that owned my location prior was Linde Gas, which was the number one worldwide supplier for a long time till recently. Their production facility for the tanks themselves was in Germany during Hitlers' rein which required Linde to stamp every tank with the Swastika. To this day, as my buddy found one just two weeks ago, you can still locate some tanks that have not been edited to delete the Swastika. If you ever get a tank that has a box with four little boxes next to some of the older stamp dates, that tank was stamped with a Swastika which means it made its way Hilter controlled areas during that time. I am such a gas nerd. __________________ Primary: Air Secondary: Farmhouse Ale (Saison) Conditioning: Pumpkin Spice, Beantown Ale Drinking: Belgian Wit Planning: Honey Ale, Yukon Scotch, XX Stout Last edited by Free_Eagle : 07-28-2008 at 06:55 PM. Reason: wanted to add I am a nerd.

07-28-2008, 07:43 PM	#35 (permalink)
conpewter Cold Hands Brewery Recipes Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: East Dundee, Illinois Posts: 1,732 conpewter's Gallery	1880's? That is so cool. I like my aluminum tank and all, but that is pretty neat. __________________ "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." - V Primary: Sweet hard apple cider, Edwort's Apfelwein Secondary: 999Barleywine Kegged: Nutty haus pale ale, Dmned Kids Oatmeal Stout, 999"Small"beer, Burnt Stove Oatmeal Stout, soda water Bottles:* Amber Ale, Irish Red, July Moon Riesling, Irish Stout

07-29-2008, 08:22 PM	#36 (permalink)
Free_Eagle Member Recipes Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Peabody, Massachusetts Posts: 42 Free_Eagle's Gallery	Original stamp date of Feb. 1919, oldest I could find in the past week or so. __________________ Primary: Air Secondary: Farmhouse Ale (Saison) Conditioning: Pumpkin Spice, Beantown Ale Drinking: Belgian Wit Planning: Honey Ale, Yukon Scotch, XX Stout Last edited by Free_Eagle : 08-10-2008 at 05:28 PM.

09-08-2008, 06:48 PM	#37 (permalink)
BrewBeemer Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 632	Thanks FREE EAGLE for your replies, straight from someone who knows about cylinders. I have some old ones from an old time iron worker, one with the boxed Swastika added and it passes hydro with ease as well my 1952 scuba tank. Scuba tank I keep stored at app 2-300 psi, was told the steel is like a rubber band and is relaxed and the steel will stay more elastic. True I haven't a clue but told from a long time bottle delivery driver. On the Co2 if it released in the car even when secured in the back seat the Co2 buildup would make your body stop breathing just like someone knocked the wind out of you. The trigger system in you throat would cause this, I know as we used to have Co2 bottle fights. Yes stupid when young around aircraft in the early 70's. Best part was the Navy always had emptied Co2 bottles once a month, we would release a few into cardboard boxes to quick chill a couple 6-packs. This during Nam as a civilian A&P helping the Navy. They never could figure why the bottles ended up empty once a month. Just after the last holiday I met a Blue Rino propane delivery driver, he said his yards in the California central valley and has filled tanks sitting for weeks in the sun without any problems and we're talking 108F last week alone. Made me laugh on the reply about transporting a Co2 bottle on the motorcycle, JATO comes to mind? I have seen 260/280 cu/ft sized bottles that had their tops cut off before the neck taper then inverted and made into deep sounding gongs in those fancy big buck nature stores. With 2" square tube, short chain and a leather covered stick full of sand all with that rusty natural look for $975. I think I found a use for a couple of "no one owns bottles" I have laying around, job for Mr. plasma cutter. They're safe old helium bottles. __________________ "Islander".....=o&o>..... Last edited by BrewBeemer : 09-08-2008 at 09:11 PM.*

07-28-2008, 04:21 AM	#33 (permalink)
pldoolittle Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Ga. Posts: 1,642 pldoolittle's Gallery	Speaking of certifications, I got a condemed oxy cylinder for a project and it was stamped with dates from 1941 -> 1992. They were also marked US Navy. Do they REALLY keep tanks in service for 50+ years? Anyway, I thought it was cool to have a tank that was probably used to help defeat the axis in WWII..

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