co2 tank went boom at family reunion

[papz]

Some gasses are worse than others but there is something you all have overlooked......
Let's say you get in a car accident and something knocks the valve off of your CO2 tank.
It just became a rocket that WILL go right through just about anything it hits.
Have you ever noticed that the larger tanks have shields/casings for the valves that thread into place? I've heard stories of pressurised tanks punching through cinder block walls.
Noooooo thank you.

 

[Vale71]

That's more of an issue with high pressure cylinders. Liquid CO2 tanks only have about 50 bar pressure, unless they overheat...

 

[Soulshine2]

When I take it to be refilled should I have the PRV replaced?

if they dont already (which they should by law) ,have them at least inspect it.

 

[Soulshine2]

If I'm not mistaken, it's unlawful to transport gas cylinders inside a passenger vehicle.

not unlawful, but definitely potentially dangerous.

 

[Soulshine2]

In my profession I have sat through many a safety course and OSHA training. Ive been bombarded by do's and don'ts of everything ,compressed gas bottle handing inclusive.
-Keep the safety cap screwed on over the valve when not in use.
-be aware of what gasses don't play well with others(oxidizers) and keep them 10 ft apart .
-Inspect all valves ,hoses, regulators,and the cylinder itself before use. any rust or dents, have it professionally inspected by a licensed vendor.
-do not transport them without them being properly secured or temperature controlled .

 

[OpenSights]

Didn’t think this thread would spark such a discussion, but interesting nonetheless. I know to keep a propane tank upright and secured, however all my tanks of mapp gas are stored on their sides, often in 100f+ heat.

 

[kh54s10]

In this conversation I see: Nitrogen is OK up to 78%. Well that is good since dry air already has 78%. Don't know how much more would make you pass out the same way co2 would.. I agree that co2 is toxic, and worse. But agree with another response that comparison is apples and oranges. Or more accurately, possibly, hand grenades and dynamite.

I doubt it is illegal to carry a 5 or even 20 pound co2 cylinder in a passenger vehicle. Those 5 foot tall ones on the other hand??? Otherwise you would have to have them delivered commercially. Is it safe? Usually. But there is a risk. Reminds me of the glass carboy conversation.

Propane tanks???

 

[Nagorg]

Cant find any solid information about the legality of transporting CO2 *inside* your vehicle. But this manufacturer has what looks like common sense guidelines. And apparently they suggest that lying on the side is okay while upright is preferred.
Heat, looks to be the biggest concern.
https://www.catalinacylinders.com/faqs/transporting-shipping-of-co2-cylinders/

 

[Bassman2003]

That's kinda nonsensical when you think about it. You're not going to actually freeze CO2 without prodigious (read: dry ice) effort.
The problem is the vapor pressure. If the vapor temperature on a full cylinder exceeds whatever the burst disk was rated it's gonna blow...

Cheers!

Maybe the issue is in the context of trying to access/use the CO2 while the tank was on its side? Obviously I do not know what I am talking about but I was told by somebody in the gas industry to not put the thing on its side!

 

[crazyjake19]

It's not illegal to transport tanks in a passenger vehicle, maybe frowned upon. I've always transported propane, argon, and CO2 tanks inside my SUVs. In the summer I'll keep the A/C on and make sure the tank exchange is my final stop. The propane and CO2 tanks are small enough to stand upright but my argon tank has to lay horizontal.

I can't afford to buy a truck just for transporting tanks, and if they ever tell me I can't transport tanks in my car for brewing or welding, you might as well just put me in the ground now.

 

[Robert65]

When I take a CO2 tank for exchange or refill, it's wrapped in a blanket, stuffed in a duffel bag in the back of my car. This ensures it can't roll around, which would worry me more than having it on its side does. And, most importantly, it's straight to the shop and straight back home, never riding around in the car.

 

[Broothru]

It's not illegal to transport tanks in a passenger vehicle, maybe frowned upon. I've always transported propane, argon, and CO2 tanks inside my SUVs. In the summer I'll keep the A/C on and make sure the tank exchange is my final stop. The propane and CO2 tanks are small enough to stand upright but my argon tank has to lay horizontal.

I can't afford to buy a truck just for transporting tanks, and if they ever tell me I can't transport tanks in my car for brewing or welding, you might as well just put me in the ground now.

Even having a 'truck' is no guarantee. Several years ago the mini 2½# CO2 bottle I keep in my kegerator needed filling. There's a gas supply place about 10 minutes from my house where they used to fill bottles (now the local branches of the company get all their fills from a central distributor site outside Baltimore). I hopped into my crew cab pickup and headed to get a refill.

The process involves hooking up and pumping gas until the total weight equals the tare weight of the bottle + the weight of the gas. Sounds easy enough. Except when the bottle (2½ # tank, remember) won't balance upright when the fill mechanism gets attached. Then it becomes kind of a guessing game as to how much gas has really been loaded. So, after wrestling with this tiny beast for awhile, the guy doing the fill guesses that it's full enough. When I go to strap the now full bottle in the truck bed I find that my tie-down straps are missing, and since I'm not gonna let that sucker bang around loose in the bed of my truck, I tuck it securely behind the driver's seat and head home.

Did I mention it was a hot summer day? Well anyway, the A/C was blasting with the windows rolled up tight as I entered the Interstate for my short drive home. Sometime after about 70 MPH I heard a loud 'POP', saw some interior fogging and felt the hot interior temperature suddenly drop. I knew at once the OPD/burst disc had done its thing. I also knew my time-of-useful-conciousness was limited in this current situation in a small volume cabin saturated with CO2. Thank goodness for electric windows. I gang-mashed all the switches, hit the emergency flashers and pulled off on the shoulder. Thank goodness it was also an hour or so before rush hour traffic which would have made this maneuver a bit more problematic.

The bottle was obviously over-filled, and the high temperature was enough to push the internal pressure past the bursting point. No ill effects, other than feeling a little light headed for a minute or two. But that could have just been the adrenalin. The gas supply dealer replaced the disc, performed a hydrostatic test on the bottle and refilled it all for free. I now just do bottle exchanges. And I now always strap down the empty that I'm taking back to exchange in the bed or in the trunk. That way I always know there's a strap to tie the new one down.

Lesson learned.

Brooo Brother

 

[Robert65]

^^^^
Buy 5# tanks. [emoji482] glad you're ok bro.

 

[50calshooter]

Happens all the time in summer. The tanks have a pressure relief valve in them. When the gas heats up it expands and the valve releases the pressure. I've had them pop off so long they almost emptied. Always got a replacement refund because of the amounts I bought from the supplier.