What is the pressure drop of an acceptable C02 leak.

[born2dive9702]

Now I have another question.

I CAN NOT use PVC /vinyl because
1. I CAN HAVE SEVER allergic reactions to it (all my product lines are accu bev seal with barrier to prevent it getting into the soda)
2. I can taste it even in minute traces ( I can not drink soda from soda machines in gas stations or at restaurant because most of the machines use vinyl hoses for their product lines. it is not as bad if they use vinyl on the gas lines but I still can taste and smell it.)

As mentioned in my previous post, I found leaks in the stainless steel lines where they are crimped, and possibly along the line its self. I have a invisible leaks down stream of each of the 4 regulators AND THE FITTINGS AND FILTERS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM checked with immersing in water no bubbles at all. My suspicion is the stainless steel lines are leaking. I am loosing about 6.7g/hr of co2.

I need the lines to be flexible so I can open and close the lid on the cooler.
I can not use copper as the sulphur in the air where I live turns it carbon black.
I am allergic to PVC

On the low side, after the regulators, the lines are pressurized at 22-25 psi for the co2 to the kegs.

I was thinking of using 1/4" stainless steel braided flexible ice maker water line because it has a working pressure of up to 120psi which is more than any pressure I will have coming off the regulators.

So here is my question.
Has any one ever used 1/4" stainless steel braid flexible ice maker water line for piping the co2 to their tanks??
Has it been successful???

What is the inner core of the stainless steel water lines made of??? I can not find specifically what they are made of when I googled it. all I have found is some have a poly inner core. Poly what???? poly vinyl chloride, poly ethelene, poly butelene,

I thought they were made more commonly of nylon?

Please let me know.

 

[day_trippr]

Why not just use Bev Seal Ultra 235 for the gas lines, too?

Cheers!

 

[born2dive9702]

It's a thought, but I really was looking for something pre made with braid, that is more flexible than bev seal. Bev seal is still too stiff for my liking.

How could I attach a braid on it with a crimp?

Why not just use Bev Seal Ultra 235 for the gas lines, too?

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

Screw the braid.

You're already running the Ultra for beer, you can use JG fittings to make them tit easy to install on a normalized regulator stem and a keg post coupler. No vinyl, no nightmare of leaky fittings and poorly crimped hoses just begging to spring a leak at the least provocation.

If I had to live with that mess I'd switch back to bottling

Cheers!

 

[Smellyglove]

What about LLDPE?

 

[mulletmaster]

Well I have finally found the leaks. Not one of the fittings were leaking. I submerged all the fittings and finally the hoses in water and used a halogen light.

On the high pressure line, where the stainless tubes are crimped down around the inside barb. Some of the lines apparently are not crimped tight enough (or maybe too tight) and were leaking UNDER the braid. There also (maybe due to capillary action) micro air bubbles are creeping up along the entire length of the hoses.

Was it the end that connected to the manifold? That end looks like it had a pretty extreme bend after the hose socket (crimped collar on hose od) I have seen many failed hoses due to that at work. Industry standard is one inch of straight length before bending on hoses that size.

 

[born2dive9702]

It was on almost every hose where they crimped it. It is not bad at all if you use the lines for filling.... But for beer/soda where the line is static, that can loose a decent amount of pressure over 24 hours.

Was it the end that connected to the manifold? That end looks like it had a pretty extreme bend after the hose socket (crimped collar on hose od) I have seen many failed hoses due to that at work. Industry standard is one inch of straight length before bending on hoses that size.

 

[acidrain]

I highly recommend you get a primary regulator and attach that directly to the tank. I cringe at the thought of a unregulated hose coming off the tank holding 800 PSI and what that would look like if it ruptures. Even with the appropriate rated hoses, I would still avoid it.

This^

Also, you can't really measure Co2 loss by pressure drop... Co2 is different pressures at different temperatures.
As soon as you use some co2, the pressure will drop because the liquid Co2 (measured by weight, not pressure) will chill slightly because of the high pressure to low pressure thermodynamics.
As long as there is liquid co2 in the tank, and it remains the same temperature, the pressure will remain the same no matter how many leaks you have.