Post on 18-Dec-2021
Safety of Gas CylindersSafety of Gas Cylinders
Presentation by Philip Gallimore Media Representative for IOSH North Staffs
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Representative for IOSH North Staffs and South Cheshire District Feb 2014
Some gases you may know
• Air gases: oxygen, nitrogen and argon• Rare gases: helium, krypton, xenon and neon• Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon • Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide• Acetylene, methane and propane
Production of Gases
• Air gases (oxygen, nitrogen and argon) are mostly produced at cryogenic temperature in “Air Separation Units“. In smaller quantities and lower qualities other technologies (Pressure Swing Adsorption technologies (Pressure Swing Adsorption or membranes) are used to produce oxygen and nitrogen at the customer sites.
Future innovations-• Healthier Life: food preservation, hygiene,
new medical gases and aerosol therapy • Communicating World: electronics and
semiconductors, optoelectronics • Sustainable Environment: clean • Sustainable Environment: clean
energies, waste control, more efficient processes
Supply by cylinders• Smaller quantities of gases are
supplied in gas or liquid cylinders.• Around 100 million cylinders are in
circulation worldwide.
Gases in Cylinders• Gases
– Over 130 individual gases and liquids are packaged in cylinders
• Gas mixtures– Infinite variety of mixtures varying from PPB to – Infinite variety of mixtures varying from PPB to
percent concentrations– Components from 2 to >50
Three Types of Packaged Gases
• Gases are packaged into cylinders in a variety of ways– Compressed Gas ( e.g. Nitrogen)– Liquid and gas ( e.g. Carbon Dioxide)– Liquid and gas ( e.g. Carbon Dioxide)– Gas in solution ( Acetylene Only)
Transport classes for gases is Transport classes for gases is simplest:simplest:
Gases are all UN class 2 substances• FLAMMABLE 2.1
• NON-FLAMMABLE 2.2• NON-FLAMMABLE 2.2
• TOXIC / CORROSIVE 2.3
Cylinder Weight
Cylinder construction Cylinder construction means that cylinders means that cylinders are heavy even when are heavy even when are heavy even when are heavy even when
empty!empty!
Handling - Moving Cylinders
Lift by hand using valve guard (10 litre cylinders)
Roll cylinder on solid clean floor (50 litre cylinder)
Churn by valve guard (110 litre cylinders)
Manual Handling Hazards -Traps Falling Cylinders Pressure
Never attempt to catch a falling cylinder
WEAR
Cylinder Identification
• Because the colours can be confusing• The only way to identify a gas cylinder is
by its label
Marking and Labelling of Cylinders
• Hazard Label• Gas
• UN Number• UN Number
• Mass of cylinder and Tare weight
• Date of next Inspection
Pressure is the Hazard which is common to all Compressed Gases
• Pressure is stored energy• Some units of Pressure are
– Pounds per Square Inch or PSI– Bar– Bar
• Atmospheric Pressure is the pressure on the earth created by the gases above us
• Modern cylinders typically are supplied with 200bar pressure and some are 300bar
Valve - used to control gas into and out of Cylinder
CO2 Bursting Disc
Relief Valve on LPG
Hole reduced to 4mm
Using the gas - Connections
Seals on Dome
Seals on Washer Seals on Washer
Left Hand thread for Flammable Gases -note cuts in nut
Right Hand thread for Non Flammable Gases
Make connections hand tight and then secure with spanner
Ensure connecting pipe work is rated for pressure required
Pressure Regulator
Some cylinders have the pressure regulator built into the valve so you don’t need a separate regulator
Summary of Use
•Check Label
•Access the valve outlet
•Check sealing faces for dirt, oil, damage
•Fit Pressure Regulator (finger tight then 1/4 -1/2 turn with spanner)
Welding GasesOxygen - never allow oil or grease to come into contact with valve
outlet or fittings.
- never use equipment not cleaned or designed for oxygen service.
Acetylene - if the cylinder is involved in a fire or has suffered a flashback and NO flashback arrestor fitted then the cylinder could suffer acetylene decomposition.cylinder could suffer acetylene decomposition.
- if an acetylene cylinder becomes hot or starts to vibrate then evacuate the building immediately.
- call the Fire Brigade they have procedures for dealing with acetylene in fires
- New requirement that all acetylene cylinders must be fitted with flashback arrestors and non return valves
Backfire and FlashbackBackfire is when flame burns back into the blowpipe often with a loud bang.
Caused by blocked nozzle or holding torch too close to work piece.
Remedy switch off and examine nozzle.
Flashback is when one gas enters the other hose and then ignites causing damage to the equipment.
Caused by incorrect purge of equipmentCaused by incorrect purge of equipment
Remedy proper training and the fitting of flashback arrestors.
Emergency ProceduresEmergency Procedures
All the major Industrial Gases suppliers operate a 24/7 Contact Point in the event that a cylinder is involved in an incident or accident. Please contact Your supplier.
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bcga.co.uk
• Produces documents for users e.g.
• RA for oxy ace use• Leaflets on carriage • Leaflets on carriage
etc• Go and look for
yourself!