Environmental, Health and Safety Services

Compressed Gas Cylinders: Equipment

Regulators
Valves
Pressure Relief Devices

Regulators

Pressure regulators reduce the high pressures of the stored gas in the cylinder to lower pressures that can be safely used in an operating system. Proper regulator selection is critical for both safety and effectiveness of operating systems. Regulators are designed to control pressure; they do not measure or control flow, unless equipped with devices such as a flow meter specifically designed for such purposes.

damaged regulatorRegulators can explode. If there is a problem, the regulator will explode frontward and/or backward. The safest place to be standing, is always to the side of the regulator face - preferably with the valve between you and the regulator - to avoid reaching in front of the regulator face to open the valve. The face of the regulator should always be angled upward (provided a flow meter is not attached), so if there is an explosion, the adjusting screw and debris will fly away from your face.

Regulator connections to cylinder valves must be completely free of dirt, dust, oil, and grease. "Crack" the valve slowly (by opening the valve slightly and then reclosing it) before attaching the regulator in order to blow out dust and debris from the opening. Note: Cylinders containing highly toxic gases should not be "cracked".

Regulators are attached to the cylinder, or manifold, at the inlet connection. This connection should be tested for leaks with a non-petroleum based product. Note that many soaps contain petroleum! The connection is marked with a Compressed Gas Association (CGA) number and will be left-hand or right-hand threaded to match the nut or fitting. This prevents a piece of incompatible gas equipment from being connected to the wrong gas supply.right-handed fitting

  • Right-handed CGA fittings will have a smooth nut surface and have an even number for the second digit, for example, 540 (for oxygen).
  • Left-handed CGA fittings will have a notched groove in the surface and have an odd number for the second digit, for example, 350 (for hydrogen).

Never use damaged or defective equipment. In fact, it's best not to use a regulator that you do not know the history of - it may have been misused or repaired by an unauthorized person. Refer any problems or defects to the manufacturer for recommendations and authorized repair.

Regulator Tips:opening a regulator

  • Opening a Regulator - Stand on the valve side of the cylinder at arms length so you do not have to reach in front of the regulator face. Turn your head away from the regulator and open the valve, turning counter clockwise, to blow out dust and debris, and then reclose the valve.
  • Changing a Regulator - Close the valve and drain the regulator by backing out the adjusting screw. Disconnect the regulator, making sure not to touch the nut and gland areas. Connect the regulator to the new cylinder.
  • Closing a Regulator - Turn the valve clockwise to close the valve. Drain the regulator by turning (opening) the adjusting crew to release any gas. Reclose the adjusting screw.
  • Recommendation: To provide easier access and additional safety, purchase wall-mounted regulators which connect to the supply cylinder by hose. This will reduce the handling of the regulator and reduce the likelihood of damage.

Valves

valveIf there is a weak point on a compressed gas cylinder, it is the valve stem. If the valve stem should be struck or damaged, the gases under high pressure will escape at speeds up to 30,000 mph! It's this rapid release that turns the cylinder into an unguided missile. Valves are generally made of brass, but may also be chrome-plated for medical gases, made of aluminum for disposable cylinders, or made of stainless steel for toxic, poisonous, phroforic, and corrosive gases. There are three types of valves:

  • Pressure Seal Valve - The sealing mechanism for this two-piece valve stem ispressure seal valve provided by a Teflon packing ring that makes contact with a ridge on the upper stem. The force that provides this contact is from a spring located in the handwheel. This spring provides upward force to the upper stem and pulls the stem's sealing ridge into the packing ring. Advantages of this type of valve are that they are extremely reliable, very stron, economical, and user friendly. Disadvantages include: they are prone to leakage around the stem, the lubricated threads can contaminate high purity applications, and they are inappropriate for corrosives and ultra-high-purity gases.
  • Packed Valve - This type of valve seals by compressing a large ring of Teflonpacked valve between the valve body and packing nut, which forces the Teflon to grip the stem. Advantages of this type of valve are that they are economical, and are easily opened and closed. However, they are not as good as diaphragm valves for particle generation and leak integrity, and they open very rapidly.
  • Diaphragm Valve - This valve uses a two piece stem separated by non-perforated diaphragms. These diaphragms prevent leakage along the valve stem. The lower part of the stem is encased in a spring, which forces the stem away from the seat whent eh valve is opened. The upper stem is threaded into the diaphragm retainer nut. When the handwheel is rotated to the closed position, the upper stem pushes on the diaphragms, which deflect downward, forcing the lower stem against the valve seat. Advantages of this type of valve are that they provide superior leak integrity and have no threads or lubricants in the gas stream to generate particles or contaminants. This type of valve is required for mosdiaphragm valvet highly toxic or poisonous gases. Disadvantages (of older models) are that they are difficult to close, a wrench or other device may be necessary, there is a potential for malfunction, they are prone to corrosion, and they are prone to open when exposed to vibration and shock if not properly closed and secured. These problems have been eliminated in the majority of the newer models.

Valve Tips:

  • Keep valves clean. Do not attempt to open a corroded valve; it may not reseal completely.
  • Remember to remove the plastic caps from the opening before attaching a regulator.
  • Washers may be required for some gases.
  • Cylinders not having fixed handwheels must have keys, handles, or handwheelnonadjustable wrenches on the valve stem while they are in service.
  • Acetylene valves shall not be opened more than 1 1/2 turns.
  • Valves shall be closed before moving a cylinder, when work is completed, and when the cylinder is empty.

Pressure Relief Devices

Compressed gas cylinders shall have a pressure relief device installed to prevent the rupture of a normally pressurized cylinder when inadvertently exposed to fire of high temperatures. There are four basic types of pressure relief devices:

  • Rupture Disk Devices - A flat disk typically made of metal that is designed to burst at a predetermined pressure to permit the release of gas. The pressure rating of the disk is typically stamped onto the face of the device. Examples of gases using this type of device include compressed air, argon, helium, nitrogen, and oxygen.
  • Fusible Plug Devices - A plug made of fusible metal designed to yield or melt at low temperatures (usually 165 or 212 degrees F). The temperature rating of the fusible metal is stamped onto the face of the device. An examples of a gas that uses this type of device is acetylene.
  • Combination Ruture Disks/Fusible Plug Devices - A rupture disk backed by a fusible plug. In the event of a fire, the fusible metal melts and cylinder overpressure is relieved by the bursting of the disk. The burst pressure of the disk and the melting point of the plug will be marked with the ratings. Medical grade gas cylinders typically have this type of pressure relief device.
  • Pressure Relief Valves - A spring-loaded valve opens when the cylinder pressure exceeds the pressure setting of the spring to discharge contents. Once the cylinder pressure decreases to the valve's pressure setting, the valve will normally reseat without leakage.