Compressed Air Cylinder
Compressed air is air (the natural mixture of gases (mostly nitrogen and oxygen) that makes up the Earth's atmosphere) that is at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. There are two basic principles of air compression: the volumetric principle and dynamic compression. In volumetric compression, air is sucked into the compression chamber, closing the intake port. Then the volume of the chamber decreases and the air is compressed. In dynamic compression, air is sucked into the rapidly rotating compressor impeller and accelerated to high speed. It is then discharged through a diffuser, converting its kinetic energy into static pressure.
APPLICATION:
• as a pneumatic drive (drive of machines and mechanisms by means of pneumatic energy); • for energy storage; • for cleaning electronic components that cannot be cleaned with water; • for starting diesel engines (as an alternative to starting with a starter); • for cooling by means of the vortex effect; • as a source of energy for the movement of vehicles; • in pneumatic conveying systems for moving bulk goods by means of air flow; • in pneumatic brakes; • in diving to refill tanks; • in the surfacing of submarines; • in paintball and airsoft, in pneumatic weapons. Requirements for the quality of compressed air, transportation, storage and use of compressed air cylinders are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", GOST 17433-80 "Industrial purity. Compressed air. Contamination Classes ( with Amendment N 1), fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders filled with compressed air shall be transported by all modes of transport in accordance with cargo carriage regulations applicable to this mode of transport, as well as safety rules for carriage of dangerous goods by rail. Cylinders may be transported in special containers, as well as without containers in an upright position, always with spacers between them and secured against possible falling. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of compressed air must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases, and it is prohibited to perform any operations that may contaminate their internal surface and degrade the physical and chemical properties of the gas. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using compressed air cylinders it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. Cylinders must be located at least 1 m away from radiators and other heating devices and at least 5 m from heat sources with open flame. The nominal pressure of compressed air in a full cylinder at 20 °C should be 14.7 MPa (150 kgf/cm2) or 19.6 MPa (200 kgf/cm2). The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2). A simplified formula can be used to determine the amount of compressed air remaining in the cylinder: Vair = (Vc x P) / Kac, where Vair - volume of air in the cylinder (l); Vc - cylinder capacity (l); P - air pressure in the cylinder according to the pressure gauge (kgf/cm2); Kac - air compressibility factor, which is assumed to be 1.1. As an example, you can determine the amount of compressed air in a 40-liter cylinder with a residual pressure of 100 kgf/cm2: (40 x 100) / 1.1 = 3636 l.
Compressed air cylinders can be stored both in special rooms and in the open air, in the latter case they must be protected from atmospheric precipitation and sunlight. Cylinders filled with compressed air may be stored in open areas together with other gases, provided that the storage areas are separated from each other by non-combustible barriers with a height of 1.5 m, joint storage with cylinders filled with combustible gases is also allowed, provided that the storage areas are separated from each other by non-combustible protective walls not less than 2.5 m high. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on.