Types of Gas Cylinders

Gas cylinders have evolved from just one type of cylinder to five types.

There are both refillable cylinders and non-refillable cylinders. Both refillable and non refillable cylinders are very important and the different types are used in specific applications.

Refillable gas cylinders can be made from steel or aluminium alloy and are designated according to one of the following five types.

Type 1

All metal cylinder. This is a cylinder made in one piece which can be from tube, billet or plate and is referred to an all metal cylinder.

Type 2

This a cylinder that has a fibre wrapping along the cylindrical, (sidewall of the cylinder. The ends of the cylinder are not wrapped, this cylinder is often referred to as a hoop wrapped cylinder.

Type 3

This is a cylinders that is fully wrapped cylinder by fibres with a load sharing metal liner with composite reinforcement on both the cylindrical and dome ends.

Type 4

This cylinder is also fully wrapped cylinder but with a non-sharing liner and composite reinforcement on both the cylindrical and the dome ends.

Type 5

This cylinder is fully wrapped cylinders but without a liner and with composite reinforcement on both the cylindrical and dome ends.

These definitions are the accepted industry terms and are used in ISO standards.

Non refillable gas cylinders generally fall into two categories,[Consult ISI and Kayser]

Manufacturing Processes

Gas cylinders can be made by a number of different processes. These include forging and spinning.

Applications

Gas cylinders are used in many applications in both transportable and static applications. There are few areas of our lives where gas cylinders do not impact our daily lives. In fact it is fair to say without gas cylinder our world would not be as we know it.

There are so many applications that a list would be almost endless! Whilst many applications are obvious, such as industrial and medical applications, others are not visible such as those cylinders installed in ships and aircraft.

A few of the applications include:

Industrial applications for cutting and welding
Medical applications including oxygen, anaesthetics, emergency treatment
Food and beverage
Aircraft systems
Marine applications such as storing compressed gas to start marine engines
Fire fighting included both static and portable installations
Storage of hydrogen for vehicle refuelling stations

Looking after your gas cylinder

As gas cylinder that is looked after will give many years of service.

Whilst there are legal requirements to carry out inspections before, during and after filling a gas cylinder and to have cylinders regularly inspected according to the appropriate regulations there are a number of things owners and operators should do, these include:

Always ensure the gas cylinder is periodically inspected as required by the regulations.
Ensure the cylinder is inspected before filling to make sure there is no damage to the cylinder.
If a cylinder is damaged, then do not use it and consult with a gas cylinder expert about the cylinder condition and what the next steps are.
Never modify a gas cylinder, this can lead to failure of the gas cylinder.
For gas cylinders that are used in static installations, it is important to regularly inspect the cylinders for corrosion and any deterioration that may have occured.