Af Tanks and Carbon Fiber Tanks And Heat Handling
Was wondering if anyone knows if the tanks can hold up SAFELY to the heat it might be subjected to in a car. Live in SC and travel around the state and would like to be able to keep my rig in the car for when I go by a nice shooting site.
Any input would be appreciated.
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While working on one of my valves, I checked the burst disk: 4200psi, which is 300psi less than the Hydro Test pressure of 4500psi. Should be plenty safe
The guy that owns the dive shop where I fill asked why my tank was so hot. I told him it’s in the trunk of my car. He said that’s not a great idea, but at the same time, not likely to be trouble, either. He said that pressures rise at 6psi for every degree over 72. So i figured that left in the direct sunlight all day, my trunk’s about 150 degrees, I’m adding effectively around 470 psi. The burst disk, he told me, would go off at around 3600, so I’m still comfortable. He did caution me that if it did go off, there is an awefull lot of air that’s going to find somewhere to go, and usually, it tears through a back seat to expand into the passenger compartment. Other times, it ruins trunk lids. I’m gambling that it doesn’t happen. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.
Hey Glenn, just out of curiousity, how hot does it get out that way?
Thanks guys for the input. Keeping the pressure on the low side sounds like the safest bet. Have one of those plug in coolers that I could throw the AF tank into that should keep it 30 degrees cooler that outside temp (so they claim).
Good advice Lama. From what i’ve learned from sites about hydro tests the tank undergoes 150% of its max pressure. So, your C/F tank should be ok.
Maybe don’t keep it at the full 3000psi and leave it at 27-2800 just in case? You can finish filling up when you get to a range. It’s not necessary but it would almost completely eliminate any risk of too high psi.
Compressed air unlike CO2 is fairly tolerant of temperature change. I’d still avoid leaving the tank in direct sunlight if possible but shouldn’t be a problem. Compressed air might change a few hundred psi with elevated temp. wheras CO2 can change 500-1000 psi. Either way, the tank has a “burst disk” built in so if pressure reaches unsafe level it will pop, releiving pressure with no damage to other parts. If this was to happen, the disk is replacable.
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It’s been reaching around 100 here lately and in a car it can get to 140 very easily. I’m thinking the best bet is to keep my AF tank in my plug in cooler in the car which should keep it in a safe range and a lot cooler than the car’s interior.
You guys are great with the information out there so thank you very much.