40 - Sec 5 - Cylinder Identification 2
40 - Sec 5 - Cylinder Identification 2
40 - Sec 5 - Cylinder Identification 2
Adding up the clues
Lots of Clues
• Product Labels • Connection design
• Shoulder markings • Pressure relief
and DOT labels devices
• Cylinder shape & • Info from facility
design operator or locals
• CGA Valve
numbers • NOT COLOR
CAVEAT
• Clues are helpful in cylinder identification in a
facility that’s used them for its operations or
for sale
• Clues may not apply in case of mad scientists
and meth labs
Labels – the easy way
DOT Placards
Cylinder Features
Cylinder Shoulder Markings
per 49 CFR 178
If you can read the markings…
Sometimes you can read them on an
old, corroded cylinder… and sometimes you just can’t.
Cylinder Shape and Design ‐
Low Pressure Cylinders
• Up to 500 psi
• Thin walled
• Welded seams
• Footrings
• Fatter and lighter than
high pressure
Low Pressure Cylinders
Footrings = low pressure
Fat cylinders = low pressure
Cylinder Shape and Design –
High Pressure Cylinders
• Up to 10,000 psi
• Seamless
• Tall and narrow
• Thick‐walled – heavy
even when empty
• Steel or aluminum
Cylinder Shape & Design – Cryogenic
Containers
• 20‐500 psi operating
pressure
• Nitrogen, Oxygen,
Argon, CO2, Nitrous
Oxide
• Relief valves vent
pressure as temp
increases
Cylinder Valves and Connections
• Compressed Gas Assocation (CGA) number on
valve tells you a lot
• CGA plus 3 digits – e.g., CGA 540
• Number identifies shape and thread of inlet and
outlet connections – where you attach to valve
• Indicates what gases might be inside
• Will sometimes tell you exact gas
• Will indicate characteristics: corrosive,
flammable, inert, etc.
Handbook of Compressed Gases
• Produced by the Compressed Gas Association
• Very useful reference for cylinder work
• Info on valves, connections, pressure relief
devices, cylinder markings, gas characteristics,
individual gases, etc.
• Chapters on dozens of individual gases
• A bit expensive
• If you’re doing a cylinder job, get one
Gases and Their CGA Numbers
CGA Valve Examples
CGA 580, for inert gases only: nitrogen, CGA 350, for flammable gases:
helium, argon, etc. hydrogen, methane, silane, etc.
Interior threading on outlet connector Exterior threading on outlet
connector
Outlet Connections
• Same valves as previous
slide
• Flammable gas valve –
350 – top diagram
• Inert gas valve – 580 –
bottom diagram
Pressure Relief Devices (PRDs)
• A little trickier to use as an identifier
• PRD types have CGA numbers too – e.g., CG‐1
• Some PRDs are activated by pressure, some by
heat, some by both
• Different gases have different requirements
for pressure relief devices – per CGA
• CGA Table of PRDs as a reference to sort out
what you might have
Pressure Relief Device Requirements
• Some gases must have a certain PRD –
acetylene has to have a CG‐3
• Some gases have a few options of what type
to use – e.g., nitrogen, natural gas
• Some gases are prohibited from having PRDs –
arsine, fluorine, hydrogen cyanide, others
• Some gases aren’t required to have PRDs
Rupture Disk: CG‐1
• Also called a burst disk • Prevents cylinder
• Disk bursts when it rupture due to fire or
reaches a set pressure overfilling
• Burst pressure stamped • Does not reclose –
on cap dumps entire cylinder
Fusible Plugs: CG‐2, CG‐3
• Designed to melt at
set temperatures
• 165° F for CG‐2 – LPG
• 212° F for CG‐3 –
acetylene
• Pressure <500 psi
• Prevents overpressure
due to fire
• Does not reclose
Pressure
End
Fusible Plugs : CG‐2, CG‐3
• Plugs can be on the
valve or body of the
cylinder
• Acetylene cylinders
usually have two fusible
plugs on the collar
Combo: Burst Disk & Fusible Plug,
CG‐4, CG‐5
• Burst disk backed by a • CG‐4 plug melts at 165 °
fusible plug • CG‐5 plug melts at 212 °
• Plug has to melt first, • Temp and pressure
then disk can burst with stamped on cap
pressure increase
Fusible
plug
Pressure‐Relief Valve, CG‐7
• Spring‐loaded valve,
opens at set pressure
• Relieves pressure on a
cylinder, then closes
Quick Valve Clue
• Wrench‐operated valve
(no handwheel)
• Generally used for
corrosives – chlorine,
ammonia, fluorine, etc.
• Often have a screw‐on
cap on the outlet
• Immediate sign to be
cautious with contents
So this is a bit worrisome…
Info from Facility, Employees & Locals
• Can be helpful
• Not always totally reliable
• Not a bad idea to verify what you hear using
other clues from cylinders
• Facility type can provide context – guides your
thinking
Color is NOT a useful indicator
A Rainbow of Ammonia Cylinders
Using the Clues – Going From This
To This
Using the Clues
• Adding up the clues can provide lots of
identifying info
• Not like hazcat – doesn’t have to go in a
particular order
• More like building the clues to solve a mystery
Using the Clues in American Samoa
• Started with 700+ cylinders
• Sorted them by hazard, based on:
– Cylinder shape and design
– CGA valve numbers
– Color (all rust‐colored)
• Sorted them into:
– Corrosives (ammonia, chlorine)
– Flammables (acetylene, propane)
– High‐pressure inerts (oxygen, CO2, nitrogen, etc.)
Identification Practice
Things we can observe:
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Valve features
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Context – water
treatment plant
• Type of cylinder =
high‐pressure
• CGA # = none
• Valve features
• Wrench‐operated
• Vapor‐tight cap
• PRD = 165 ° fusible
plug
• Outlet thread =
external, RH thread
• Context = water
treatment plant
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Valve control
• Manufacturer’s name
• Pressure relief device
• Outlet thread
• Context – outside old
storage unit
• Type of cylinder = low
pressure
• CGA # = none
• Valve control =
handwheel
• Manufacturer’s name =
Rego
• Pressure relief device =
relief valve
• Outlet = internal LH
thread, cone nipple
• Context = unused bldg
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Shoulder markings
• Type of cylinder =
low pressure
• CGA # = 510 or 540
• Pressure relief
device = fusible
plugs on collar, no
PRD on valve
• Outlet thread =
internal LH thread
• Shoulder markings =
DOT 8 250
• Type of cylinder
• DOT label
• CGA #
• Valve features
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Type of cylinder = high
pressure
• DOT label = Non‐
flammable gas
• CGA # = none
• Valve features =
“Helium of U.S.”
• Pressure relief device =
burst disk
• Outlet thread = internal
RH thread
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Context = wreckage
of a house
• Type of cylinder =
high pressure
• CGA # = 540
• Pressure relief
device = burst disk
• Outlet thread =
external RH
• Context = in wreck of
house
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Valve features
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Type of cylinder = high
pressure
• CGA # = 320
• Valve features =
handwheel
• Pressure relief device
= burst disk & fusible
plug at 165°
• Outlet thread =
external RH threat,
flat face connection
• Type of cylinder
• CGA #
• Pressure relief
device
• Outlet thread
• Context = found
during hazmat
sweep after natural
disaster
• Type of cylinder =
high pressure
• CGA # = 580
• Pressure relief
device = burst disk
• Outlet thread =
internal RH thread
• Context = head
down in a manhole