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#1
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filling Oxygen tanks
Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL PA32-260 N5594J |
#2
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In article ,
Bruce McFadden wrote: Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Take a look at http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182079-1.html Basically, welding 02, medical O2 and aviation O2 are the same. John -- John Clear - http://www.panix.com/~jac |
#3
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John Clear wrote:
In article , Bruce McFadden wrote: Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Take a look at http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182079-1.html Basically, welding 02, medical O2 and aviation O2 are the same. John I used to work as a plant engineer for a large company that made Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Argon and Liquid Nitrogen. The other thing the article fails to cover is that ABO (aviator's breathing oxygen) and Medical grade oxygen are filtered and tested for particulates. When making the Liquid oxygen, the air is compressed and expanded through several compressors and turbines. It is also passed through a bed of Alumina and Molecular Sieve, all which can leave some particulates. ABO and medical grade are tested for these, and have specific requirements. Welding grade O2 doesn't have a filtering requirement. In some cases the LOX comes from the same source, so you would probably be safe to use welding grade oxygen, however, in some facilities, they are not equipped with the filters nor do they test for particles. You may be exposing yourself to minute particles of compressors, molecular sieve, alumina, etc. Is this bad for you?- I don't know. Finally, if you do decide to do any sort of oxygen re-filling yourself, you should really give it some healthy respect. Oxygen, if mistreated can be extremely dangerous (hey- it's the perfect oxidizer). I've seen heavy stainless steel valves, aluminum and steel piping melted like butter during a flash fire in an oxygen system. Make sure to use oxygen compatible materials. Even the oils in your hands can cause a fire in a pure oxygen environment. The Compress Gas Association has guidelines for working with it, and using proper materials for refilling cylinders. Check out www.cganet.com. Like the article says, a good Oxygen supply company can help with the components as well. Len |
#4
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Bruce McFadden wrote: Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Yes, but good luck. I don't know of any medical O2 vendors that fill bottles. They exchange bottles with medical bottles (they also require a Dr note). I've never found any welding suppliers that have the right attachment. I normally pay between $50 and $80. I'm not sure where you got it for $40, but I'd love to share some of it!! -Robert |
#5
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if you own your own aircraft.. and a hanger to keep it in.. and do a lot of
flying. check out the local gas supply sources.. our glider club keeps two tanks on hand, one full, and one partly full, we swap them out one at a time, one tank we own, one we rent ($9/month).. to get a full tank is $50 at swap out, and it will fill that tank of yours a few times... and if you get short changed on a fillup, it's your doing.. BT "Bruce McFadden" wrote in message ... Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL PA32-260 N5594J |
#6
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Bruce,
The $40 is for the labor. the cost of the O2 is small. Filling your own is risky if you have not been trained in high pressure gas handling. Michelle Bruce McFadden wrote: Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL PA32-260 N5594J |
#7
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Oh yeah,
I take mine to work and fill it on a break :-) Michelle Bruce McFadden wrote: Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL PA32-260 N5594J |
#8
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Robert M. Gary wrote: I've never found any welding suppliers that have the right attachment. -Robert The welding suppliers should have catalogs from their suppliers. ALL the fittings are made to CGA standards (Compressed Gas Association). They dictate things like thread pitch and direction for specific gas mixtures to keep say.. an oxygen tank from going on a nitrogen fitting, etc. If you dig enough, you WILL find the fittings. Dave |
#9
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On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:41:07 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote: if you own your own aircraft.. and a hanger to keep it in.. and do a lot of flying. check out the local gas supply sources.. our glider club keeps two tanks on hand, one full, and one partly full, we swap them out one at a time, one tank we own, one we rent ($9/month).. to get a full tank is $50 at swap out, and it will fill that tank of yours a few times... and if you get short changed on a fillup, it's your doing.. Good GAWD, I've been paying a tad over $20 USD for a full size tank exchange. I lease them. No hassles of testing. Just take in when I need gas. I think it was around a $100 for the 10 year lease. I don't know if I could still find the papers. Just be careful when working with pressures that high. That stuff is dangerous. Don't get it near any oil and don't even leave body oil on connections. I've plumbed many a manifold with up to 8 high pressure tanks and not lost one yet. Although not set up now, I used 1/4 SS tubing for the connections when filling tanks. Nothing larger. Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com BT "Bruce McFadden" wrote in message ... Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a 415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully topped off level of 2000 lbs. They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a small cylinder. That seem really steep to me. Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding O2. Is that OK? Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL PA32-260 N5594J |
#10
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"Len" wrote in message ... I used to work as a plant engineer for a large company that made Liquid Oxygen, Liquid Argon and Liquid Nitrogen. --snip-- Welding grade O2 doesn't have a filtering requirement. --snip-- Len Would a final filter for a medical O2 concentrator be of any benefit? Just curious, Marty |
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