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Bottled Gas





GAS STATE IN CYLINDER

There are four cases: either the substance remains a gas at standard temperature but increased pressure, the substance liquifies at standard temperature but increased pressure, the substance is dissolved in a Solvent , or the substance is liquified at reduced temperature and increased pressure. In the last case the bottle is constructed with an inner and outer shell separated by a vacuum ( Dewar Flask ) so that the low temperature can be maintained by evaporative cooling.


Case I

Case I: the substance remains a gas at '''standard temperature''' but '''increased pressure''':
# Air - yellow cylinder
# Argon - brown cylinder
# Helium - brown cylinder
# Nitrogen - black cylinder (US)
# Oxygen - blue cylinder (EU); green cylinder (US)


Case II

Case II: the substance liquifies at '''standard temperature''' but '''increased pressure''':
# Butane - silver or gray cylinder
# Propane - silver cylinder (sometimes dark blue)
# Carbon Dioxide
# Nitrous Oxide - blue cylinder (US)


Case III

Case III: the substance is dissolved at '''standard temperature''' in a solvent.
# Acetylene - black cylinder (EU)

  • Note: Acetylene cylinders contain an inert packing material and are filled with a solvent such as acetone. The acetylene is pumped into the cylinder at an elevated pressure (ca. 200 psig) and dissolves into the acetone. When the cylinder is opened the acetylene comes back out of solution, much like a carbonated beverage bubbles when opened.



Case IV

Case IV: the substance is liquified at '''reduced temperature''' and '''increased pressure''':
# Liquid Nitrogen (LN2)
# Liquid Oxygen (LOX)

  • Note: Cryogenic gases are typically equipped with some type of 'bleed' device to prevent overpressure from rupturing the bottle and to allow evaporative cooling to continue.



EXPANSION AND VOLUME

The general rule is that one unit volume of liquid will expand to approximately 800 unit volumes of gas at Standard Temperature And Pressure with some variation due to Intermolecular Force and molecule size compared to an Ideal Gas . Normal high pressure gas cylinders or bottles will hold from 200 to 400 Atmosphere (unit) s. The atmosphere units pressure held by the bottle is equivalent to the number of volumes of standard temperature and pressure of the gas held by the bottle for an ideal gas.


SPECIAL HANDLING CONSIDERATIONS

Because the contents are under high pressure and are sometimes hazardous, there are special Safety regulations for handling bottled gases. These include chaining bottles to prevent falling and breaking, proper ventilation to prevent injury or death in case of leaks and signage to indicate the potential hazards.

The Compressed Gas Association sells a number of booklets and pamphlets on safe handling and use of bottled gases. (Members of the CGA can get the pamphlets for free.)


NOMENCLATURE DIFFERENCES

U.S. usage typically refers to bottled gas when discussing liquified petroleum gas. The usage of 'bottled gas' is sometimes used in medical supply also especially for portable oxygen tanks. Commonly, other industrial gases stored in cylinders are called 'gas cylinders' in the US. The UK and other parts of Europe more commonly refer to 'bottled gas' when discussing any usage whether industrial, medical or liquified petroleum.


COLOR CODING

Different countries have different gas color codes. See the

Note: In the U.S., colour coding is not regulated by law. Do not trust the colour of a cylinder to indicate what it contains. Check the label (a.k.a. decal) for product identification.


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