Diving cylinder

Diving cylinder

A large number of scuba cylinders and twin sets of different colours stacked together

Diving cylinders to be filled at a diving air compressor station
Other names Scuba tank
Uses Breathing gas supply for scuba or surface-supplied divers

A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport the high pressure breathing gas required by a scuba set. It may also be used for surface-supplied diving or as decompression gas or an emergency gas supply for surface supplied diving or scuba. Cylinders provide gas to the diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator or the breathing loop of a diving rebreather.

Diving cylinders are usually manufactured from aluminium or steel alloys, and are normally fitted with one of two common types of cylinder valve for filling and connection to the regulator. Other accessories such as manifolds, cylinder bands, protective nets and boots and carrying handles may be provided. Various configurations of harness may be used to carry the cylinder or cylinders while diving, depending on the application. Cylinders used for scuba typically have an internal volume (known as water capacity) of between 3 and 18 litres (0.11 and 0.64 cu ft) and a maximum working pressure rating from 184 to 300 bars (2,670 to 4,350 psi). Cylinders are also available in smaller sizes, such as 0.5, 1.5 and 2 litres, however these are often used for purposes such as inflation of surface marker buoys, drysuits and buoyancy compensators rather than breathing. Scuba divers may dive with a single cylinder, a pair of similar cylinders, or a main cylinder and a smaller "pony" cylinder, carried on the diver's back or clipped onto the harness at the sides. Paired cylinders may be manifolded together or independent. In some cases, more that two cylinders are needed.

When pressurised, a cylinder carries an equivalent volume of free gas greater than its water capacity, because the gas is compressed up to several hundred times atmospheric pressure. The selection of an appropriate set of diving cylinders for a diving operation is based on the amount of gas required to safely complete the dive. Diving cylinders are most commonly filled with air, but because the main components of air can cause problems when breathed underwater at higher ambient pressure, divers may choose to breathe from cylinders filled with mixtures of gases other than air. Many jurisdictions have regulations that govern the filling, recording of contents, and labelling for diving cylinders. Periodic inspection and testing of cylinders is often obligatory to ensure the safety of operators of filling stations. Pressurised diving cylinders are considered dangerous goods for commercial transportation, and regional and international standards for colouring and labelling may also apply.

Terminology

The term "diving cylinder" tends to be used by gas equipment engineers, manufacturers, support professionals, and divers speaking British English. "Scuba tank" or "diving tank" is more often used colloquially by non-professionals and native speakers of American English. The term "oxygen tank" is commonly used by non-divers; however, this is a misnomer since these cylinders typically contain (compressed atmospheric) breathing air, or an oxygen-enriched air mix. They rarely contain pure oxygen, except when used for rebreather diving, shallow decompression stops in technical diving or for in-water oxygen recompression therapy. Breathing pure oxygen at depths greater than 6 metres (20 ft) can result in oxygen toxicity.[1]

Diving cylinders have also been referred to as bottles or flasks, usually preceded with the word scuba, diving, air,[2] or bailout. Cylinders may also be called aqualungs, a genericized trademark derived from the Aqua-lung equipment made by the Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique company,[3] although that is more properly applied to an open circuit scuba set or open circuit diving regulator.

Diving cylinders may also be specified by their application, as in bailout cylinders, stage cylinders, deco cylinders, sidemount cylinders, pony cylinders, suit inflation cylinders, etc.

Parts

 Two 12-litre steel cylinders connected by an isolation manifold and two stainless steel tank bands, with black plastic tank boots
Twin 12-litre steel cylinder set

The functional diving cylinder consists of a pressure vessel and a cylinder valve. There are usually one or more optional accessories depending on the specific application.

The pressure vessel

The pressure vessel is a seamless cylinder normally made of cold-extruded aluminium or forged steel.[4] Filament wound composite cylinders are used in fire fighting breathing apparatus and oxygen first aid equipment because of their low weight, but are rarely used for diving, due to their high positive buoyancy. They are occasionally used when portability for accessing the dive site is critical, such as in cave diving.[5][6] Composite cylinders certified to ISO-11119-2 or ISO-11119-3 may only be used for underwater applications if they are manufactured in accordance with the requirements for underwater use and are marked "UW".[7]

Aluminium

An especially common cylinder provided at tropical dive resorts is the "aluminium-S80" which is an aluminium cylinder design with an internal volume of 0.39 cubic feet (11.0 l) rated to hold a nominal volume of 80 cubic feet (2,300 l) of atmospheric pressure gas at its rated working pressure of 3,000 pounds per square inch (207 bar).[8] Aluminium cylinders are also often used where divers carry many cylinders, such as in technical diving in water which is warm enough that the dive suit does not provide much buoyancy, because the greater buoyancy of aluminium cylinders reduces the amount of extra buoyancy the diver would need to achieve neutral buoyancy. They are also sometimes preferred when carried as "sidemount" or "sling" cylinders as the near neutral buoyancy allows them to hang comfortably along the sides of the diver's body, without disturbing trim, and they can be handed off to another diver or stage dropped with a minimal effect on buoyancy. Most aluminium cylinders are flat bottomed, allowing them to stand upright on a level surface, but some were manufactured with domed bottoms.

The aluminium alloys used for diving cylinders are 6061 and 6351. 6351 alloy is subject to sustained load cracking and cylinders manufactured of this alloy should be periodically eddy current tested according to national legislation and manufacturer's recommendations.[9][10] 6351 alloy has been superseded for new manufacture, but many old cylinders are still in service.

Aluminium cylinders are usually manufactured by cold extrusion of aluminium billets in a process which first presses the walls and base, then trims the top edge of the cylinder walls, followed by press forming the shoulder and neck. The final structural process is machining the neck outer surface, boring and cutting the neck threads and O-ring groove. The cylinder is then heat-treated, tested and stamped with the required permanent markings.[11] Aluminium diving cylinders commonly have flat bases, which allows them to stand upright on horizontal surfaces, and which are relatively thick to allow for rough treatment and considerable wear. This makes them heavier than they need to be for strength, but the extra weight at the base also helps keep the centre of gravity low which gives better balance in the water and reduces excess buoyancy.

Steel cylinders

Animation showing two stages of deep drawing of a steel plate to a cup, and a similar cup to a diving cylinder blank with domed bottom

In cold water diving, where a diver wearing a highly buoyant thermally insulating dive suit has a large excess of buoyancy, steel cylinders are often used because they are denser than aluminium cylinders. They also often have a lower mass than aluminium cylinders with the same gas capacity, due to considerably higher material strength, so the use of steel cylinders can result in both a lighter cylinder and less ballast required for the same gas capacity, a two way saving on overall dry weight carried by the diver.[12][13] Steel cylinders are more susceptible than aluminium to external corrosion, particularly in seawater, and may be galvanized or coated with corrosion barrier paints to resist corrosion damage. It is not difficult to monitor external corrosion, and repair the paint when damaged, and steel cylinders which are well maintained have a long service life, often longer than aluminium cylinders, as they are not susceptible to fatigue damage when filled within their safe working pressure limits.

Steel cylinders are manufactured with domed (convex) and dished (concave) bottoms. The dished profile allows them to stand upright on a horizontal surface, and is the standard shape for industrial cylinders. The cylinders used for emergency gas supply on diving bells are often this shape, and commonly have a water capacity of about 50 litres ("J"). Domed bottoms give a larger volume for the same cylinder mass, and are the standard for scuba cylinders up to 18 litres water capacity, though some concave bottomed cylinders have been marketed for scuba.[14][15]

Steel alloys used for dive cylinder manufacture are authorised by the manufacturing standard. For example, the US standard DOT 3AA requires the use of open-hearth, basic oxygen, or electric steel of uniform quality. Approved alloys include 4130X, NE-8630, 9115, 9125, Carbon-boron and Intermediate manganese, with specified constituents, including manganese and carbon, and molybdenum, chromium, boron, nickel or zirconium.[16]

Steel cylinders may be manufactured from steel plate discs, which are cold drawn to a cylindrical cup form, in two or three stages, and generally have a domed base if intended for the scuba market, so they cannot stand up by themselves. After forming the base and side walls, the top of the cylinder is trimmed to length, heated and hot spun to form the shoulder and close the neck. This process thickens the material of the shoulder. The cylinder is heat-treated by quenching and tempering to provide the best strength and toughness. The cylinders are machined to provide the neck thread and o-ring seat (if applicable), then chemically cleaned or shot-blasted inside and out to remove mill-scale. After inspection and hydrostatic testing they are stamped with the required permanent markings, followed by external coating with a corrosion barrier paint or hot dip galvanising.[17]

Cylinder neck

The neck of the cylinder is internally threaded to fit a cylinder valve. There are several standards for neck threads, these include:

Parallel threads are made to several standards:

The 3/4"NGS and 3/4"BSP are very similar, having the same pitch and a pitch diameter that only differs by about 0.2 mm (0.008 in), but they are not compatible, as the thread forms are different.

All parallel thread valves are sealed using an O-ring at top of the neck thread which seals in a chamfer or step in the cylinder neck and against the flange of the valve.

The shoulder of the cylinder carries stamp markings providing required information about the cylinder.[24]

The cylinder valve

Tops of two cylinders showing regulators connected via DIN and yoke connectors
Regulators with DIN-valve (left) and yoke-valve (right)

The purpose of the cylinder valve or pillar valve is to control gas flow to and from the pressure vessel and to provide a connection with the regulator or filling hose.[4] Cylinder valves are usually machined from brass and finished by a protective and decorative layer of chrome plating.[25] A metal or plastic dip tube or valve snorkel screwed into the bottom of the valve extends into the cylinder to reduce the risk of liquid or particulate contaminants in the cylinder getting into the gas passages when the cylinder is inverted, and blocking or jamming the regulator. Some of these dip tubes have a plain opening, but some have an integral filter.[26][27]

Cylinder valves are classified by four basic aspects: the thread specification, the connection to the regulator, pressure rating, and distinguishing features.

Cylinder thread variations

Cylinder valve with 17E taper thread and in-line valve knob. The outlet is a lateral 7-thread G5/8" DIN socket.
Draeger 300 bar taper thread DIN cylinder valve
 Cylinder valve with M25x2 parallel thread and lateral valve knob in right hand side configuration. The offset 5-thread G5/8" DIN socket can accept a plug to allow use of a Yoke connector.
A 232 bar DIN connection cylinder valve with M25x2 parallel thread cylinder connection

Cylinder threads may be in two basic configurations: Taper thread and parallel thread.[4] These thread specifications are detailed in a previous section. The valve thread specification must exactly match the neck thread specification of the cylinder. Improperly matched neck threads can fail under pressure and can have fatal consequences.

Connection to the regulator

Section view of valve to regulator connection
Section view of A-clamp-, yoke- or INT-valve, showing the sealing surfaces, according to ISO 12209-3
Section view of valve to regulator connection
DIN-valve to regulator connection, showing the sealing surfaces, according to ISO 12209-2

A rubber o-ring forms a seal between the metal of the pillar valve and the metal of the diving regulator. Fluoroelastomer (e.g. viton) O-rings may be used with cylinders storing oxygen-rich gas mixtures to reduce the risk of fire.[28] There are two basic types of cylinder valve to regulator connection in general use for Scuba cylinders containing air:

There are also cylinder valves for scuba cylinders containing gases other than air:

Pressure rating

Yoke valves are rated between 200 and 240 bar, and there does not appear to be any mechanical design detail preventing connection between any yoke fittings, though some older yoke clamps will not fit over the popular 232/240 bar combination DIN/yoke cylinder valve as the yoke is too narrow.

DIN valves are produced in 200 bar and 300 bar pressure ratings. The number of threads and the detail configuration of the connections is designed to prevent incompatible combinations of filler attachment or regulator attachment with the cylinder valve.[33]

Adaptors are available to allow connection of DIN regulators to yoke cylinder valves (A-clamp or yoke adaptor), and to connect yoke regulators to DIN cylinder valves.[33] (plug adaptors and block adaptors) Plug adaptors are rated for 232/240 bar, and can only be used with valves which are designed to accept them. Block adaptors are generally rated for 200 bar, and can be used with almost any 200 bar DIN valve.

A roughly cubic block with a male DIN connector on one face. The face of the block is configured to take a yoke clamp, and shows the orifice and O-ring seal on one face. The opposite face will have a dimple for the yoke screw to seat.
A block adaptor screws into a DIN cylinder valve to allow connection of a yoke regulator
 A yoke adaptor shows the DIN socket at one end. The opposite end of the socket piece has the annular ridge for sealing against the O-ring of the cylinder valve, and the yoke with co-axial clamping screw at the far end.
A yoke (A-clamp) to DIN adaptor allows connection of a DIN regulator to a Yoke cylinder valve
 A screw plug to fit inside a DIN socket of a pillar valve. The central orifice is in the form of an Allen socket on the face which accepts the Yoke fitting. Both ends have face sealing O-ring grooves.
DIN plug adaptor for compatible cylinder valves
A cylinder valve showing a DIN plug fitted.
DIN valve with plug adaptor for yoke attachment fitted

Other distinguishing features

Plain valves
 The shoulder of a scuba cylinder and a pillar valve are shown. The cylinder is yellow with black and white quartered shoulder, there is a tape stuck to the shoulder indicating maximum operating depth and the cylinder valve has a DIN connection opening directly above the neck thread, perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and a rubber knob on an orthogonal valve spindle in the right handed configuration.
A 12-litre, 232 bar cylinder with DIN valve. The shoulder colour-coding is the old UK standard for compressed breathing air prior to 2006.
 A valve body is shown in place on a cylinder neck, with a cylinder handle clamped below. The valve has a DIN connection socket in line with and perpendicular to the cylinder axis, and the orthogonal right hand operated main valve spindle has a plastic knob. Opposite this knob, and on the axis of this spindle, there is a socket into which a secondary valve body has been screwed, using left hand thread and a lock nut. This secondary valve also has a DIN connection socket, on a stub branch perpendicular to its inlet axis, orientated downwards and facing in the same direction as the main outlet, towards the viewer. The secondary valve knob is roughly opposite to the secondary outlet and the axis points upward and slightly backward. The main valve and spindle valve axes form the shape of a capital H.
"H"-valve with DIN connections
 a parallel thread cylinder valve is shown, with a chromed dip tube, and two DIN valved connection sockets. The sockets are offset from the angled arms of the valve body, which branch at roughly 45 degrees from the neck thread axis in the same plane. The connection socket axes are orthogonal to the plane of the arms, and the valve spindles are orthogonal to their outlets and the axis of each arm, with the knobs to the outsides.
Slingshot valve with DIN connections

The most commonly used cylinder valve type is the single outlet plain valve, sometimes known as a "K" valve,[15] which allows connection of a single regulator, and has no reserve function. It simply opens to allow gas flow, or closes to shut it off. Several configurations are used, with options of DIN or A-clamp connection, and vertical or transverse spindle arrangements. The valve is operated by turning a knob, usually rubber or plastic, which affords a comfortable grip. Several turns are required to fully open the valves. Some DIN valves are convertible to A-clamp by use of an insert which is screwed into the opening.

Y and H cylinder valves have two outlets, each with its own valve, allowing two regulators to be connected to the cylinder.[5] If one regulator "freeflows", which is a common failure mode, or ices up, which can happen in water below about 5 °C, its valve can be closed and the cylinder breathed from the regulator connected to the other valve. The difference between an H-valve and a Y-valve is that the Y-valve body splits into two posts roughly 90° to each other and 45° from the vertical axis, looking like a Y, while an H-valve is usually assembled from a valve designed as part of a manifold system with an additional valve post connected to the manifold socket, with the valve posts parallel and vertical, which looks a bit like an H. Y-valves are also known as "slingshot valves" due to their appearance.[34]

Reserve valves
A yoke style cylinder valve is shown, with the outlet directly above the centreline and the chrome-plated brass knob and reserve lever on opposite sides in the same plane.
A J-valve from c.1960
The top of a twin set of steel 7-litre cylinders shows a pair of Dräger vertical spindle taper thread valves with rubber knobs and DIN outlets linked by a single DIN centre-outlet manifold. The left side cylinder has a reserve lever with operating rod and a yellow plastic guard over the lever to reduce the risk of it being inadvertently opened by bumping against the surroundings.
Draeger 200 bar cylinder valves with manifold and reserve lever
 Close up of a Draeger reserve valve, showing the plastic guard and the connection of the operating lever, which is held on by a spring loaded pin and which can be adjusted to several angles. depending on which of the holes on the reserve spindle the pin engages.
Dräger taper thread cylinder valve with reserve lever

Until the 1970s, when submersible pressure gauges on regulators came into common use, diving cylinders often used a mechanical reserve mechanism to indicate to the diver that the cylinder was nearly empty. The gas supply was automatically cut-off by a spring loaded valve when the gas pressure reached the reserve pressure. To release the reserve, the diver pulled down on a rod that ran along the side of the cylinder and which activated a lever to open a bypass valve. The diver would then finish the dive before the reserve (typically 300 pounds per square inch (21 bar)) was consumed. On occasion, divers would inadvertently trigger the mechanism while donning gear or performing a movement underwater and, not realizing that the reserve had already been accessed, could find themselves out of air at depth with no warning whatsoever.[4][27] These valves became known as "J-valves" from being item "J" in one of the first scuba equipment manufacturer catalogs. The standard non-reserve yoke valve at the time was item "K", and is often still referred to as a "K-valve".[15] J-valves are still occasionally used by professional divers in zero visibility, where the submersible pressure gauge (SPG) can not be read. While the recreational diving industry has largely discontinued support and sales of the J-valve, the US Department of Defense, the US Navy,[35] NOAA (the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) and OSHA (the national Occupational Health and Safety Administration) all still allow or recommend the use of J-valves as an alternative to a bailout cylinder or as an alternative to a submersible pressure gauge.[35] They are generally not available through recreational dive shops, but are still available from some manufacturers. They can be significantly more expensive than K-valves from the same manufacturer.

Less common in the 1950s to 1970s was an R-valve which was equipped with a restriction that caused breathing to become difficult as the cylinder neared exhaustion, but that would allow less restricted breathing if the diver began to ascend and the ambient water pressure lessened, providing a larger pressure differential over the orifice. It was never particularly popular because if it was necessary for the diver to descend during exit from a cave or wreck, breathing would become progressively more difficult as the diver went deeper, eventually becoming impossible until the diver could ascend to a low enough ambient pressure.[15]

Handed valves

Some cylinder valve models have axial spindles - in line with the cylinder axis, and are not handed. Standard side-spindle valves have the valve knob on the diver's right side when back-mounted. Side-spindle valves used with manifolds must be a handed pair - one with the knob to the right and the other with the knob to the left, but in all cases the valve is opened by turning the knob anticlockwise, and closed by turning it clockwise. This is the convention with almost all valves for all purposes. Left hand side-spindle valves are used by sidemount divers.[14][36]

Bursting disk

Some national standards require that the cylinder valve includes a bursting disk, a pressure relief device that will release the gas before the cylinder fails in the event of overpressurization.[4] If a bursting disk ruptures during a dive the entire contents of the cylinder will be lost in a very short time. The risk of this happening to a correctly rated disc, in good condition, on a correctly filled cylinder is very low.

Accessories

Additional components for convenience, protection or other functions, not directly required for the function as a pressure vessel.

Manifolds

 Two 12-litre steel cylinders with DIN outlet valves connected by a manifold with a central isolation valve.
Face sealed isolation manifold on twin 12 l steel cylinders. The plastic discs are records of the latest internal inspection
 plain manifold with central outlet with DIN thread connections. This type of manifold is connected to the valved outlet opening on the cylinder valves of two cylinders and accepts a single regulator first stage. Air supply to the manifold is controlled by both cylinder valves.
Draeger 200 bar cylinder manifold
 Manifold with barrel sealed male connections, each with two o-rings. The thread is oppositely handed, with lock nuts, to allow the isolation valve to be aligned to suit the user.
Barrel seal isolation manifold
Top of a cylinder with a parallel thread valve fitted The DIN orifice faces the viewer, and the valve knob is on the right side in this view and the manifold socket on the left, so it can be used as the left cylinder of a manifolded twin. In this case the manifold socket is plugged so the cylinder is usable as a single, and when in use the valve knob would be reached over the left shoulder.
Left side cylinder valve for barrel seal manifold with blanking plug and DIN connection

A cylinder manifold is a tube which connects two cylinders together so that the contents of both can be supplied to one or more regulators.[35][37]:164,165 There are three commonly used configurations of manifold. The oldest type is a tube with a connector on each end which is attached to the cylinder valve outlet, and an outlet connection in the middle, to which the regulator is attached. A variation on this pattern includes a reserve valve at the outlet connector. The cylinders are isolated from the manifold when closed, and the manifold can be attached or disconnected while the cylinders are pressurised.[37]

More recently, manifolds have become available which connect the cylinders on the cylinder side of the valve, leaving the outlet connection of the cylinder valve available for connection of a regulator. This means that the connection cannot be made or broken while the cylinders are pressurised, as there is no valve to isolate the manifold from the interior of the cylinder. This apparent inconvenience allows a regulator to be connected to each cylinder, and isolated from the internal pressure independently, which allows a malfunctioning regulator on one cylinder to be isolated while still allowing the regulator on the other cylinder access to all the gas in both cylinders.[37] These manifolds may be plain or may include an isolation valve in the manifold, which allows the contents of the cylinders to be isolated from each other. This allows the contents of one cylinder to be isolated and secured for the diver if a leak at the cylinder neck thread, manifold connection, or burst disk on the other cylinder causes its contents to be lost.[37] A relatively uncommon manifold system is a connection which screws directly into the neck threads of both cylinders, and has a single valve to release gas to a connector for a regulator. These manifolds can include a reserve valve, either in the main valve or at one cylinder. This system is mainly of historical interest.[15]

Valve cage

Also known as a manifold cage or regulator cage, this is a structure which can be clamped to the neck of the cylinder or manifolded cylinders to protect the valves and regulator first stages from impact and abrasion damage while in use[37]:166 and from rolling the valve closed by friction of the handwheel against an overhead. A valve cage is often made of stainless steel,[37] and some designs can snag on obstructions.

Cylinder bands

Cylinder bands are straps, usually of stainless steel, which are used to clamp two cylinders together as a twin set. The cylinders may be manifolded or independent. It is usual to use a cylinder band near the top of the cylinder, just below the shoulders, and one lower down. The conventional distance between centrelines for bolting to a backplate is 11 inches (280 mm).

Cylinder boot

 The lower part of a twin steel set showing a stainless steel tank band just above the black plastic cylinder boots. The boots and tank band have been fitted over close fitting small mesh netting covers intended to protect the paintwork and facilitate rinsing and drying of the surface under the boots.
Twinned cylinders showing cylinder boots, nets and lower band

A cylinder boot is a hard rubber or plastic cover which fits over the base of a diving cylinder to protect the paint from abrasion and impact, to protect the surface the cylinder stands on from impact with the cylinder, and in the case of round bottomed cylinders, to allow the cylinder to stand upright on its base.[38] Some boots have flats moulded into the plastic to reduce the tendency of the cylinder to roll on a flat surface.[39] It is possible in some cases for water to be trapped between the boot and the cylinder, and if this is seawater and the paint under the boot is in poor condition, the surface of the cylinder may corrode in those areas.[38][40] This can usually be avoided by rinsing in fresh water after use and storing in a dry place. The added hydrodynamic drag caused by a cylinder boot is trivial in comparison with the overall drag of the diver, but some boot styles may present a slightly increased risk of snagging on the environment.

Cylinder net

A cylinder net is a tubular net which is stretched over a cylinder and tied on at top and bottom. The function is to protect the paintwork from scratching, and on booted cylinders it also helps drain the surface between the boot and cylinder, which reduces corrosion problems under the boot. Mesh size is usually about 6 millimetres (0.24 in). Some divers will not use boots or nets as they can snag more easily than a bare cylinder and constitute an entrapment hazard in some environments such as caves and the interior of wrecks. Occasionally sleeves made from other materials may be used to protect the cylinder.[39]

Cylinder handle

Top of a scuba cylinder showing a moulded black plastic carrying handle fitted by clamping around the neck of the cylinder, just below the cylinder valve
Plastic scuba cylinder handle

A cylinder handle may be fitted, usually clamped to the neck, to conveniently carry the cylinder. This can also increase the risk of snagging in an enclosed environment.

Dust caps and plugs

These are used to cover the cylinder valve orifice when the cylinder is not in use to prevent dust, water or other materials from contaminating the orifice. They can also help prevent the O-ring of a yoke type valve from falling out. The plug may be vented so that the leakage of gas from the cylinder does not pressurise the plug, making it difficult to remove.[41]

Pressure rating

The thickness of the cylinder walls is directly related to the working pressure, and this affects the buoyancy characteristics of the cylinder. A low-pressure cylinder will be more buoyant than a high-pressure cylinder with similar size and proportions of length to diameter and in the same alloy.

Working pressure

Scuba cylinders are technically all high-pressure gas containers, but within the industry in the US there are three nominal working pressure ratings (WP) in common use;[31]

low pressure (2400 to 2640 psi — 165 to 182 bar),
standard (3000 psi — 207 bar), and
high pressure (3300 to 3500 psi — 227 to 241 bar).

US-made aluminum cylinders usually have a standard working pressure of 3,000 pounds per square inch (210 bar), and the compact aluminum range have a working pressure of 3,300 pounds per square inch (230 bar). Some steel cylinders manufactured to US standards are permitted to exceed the nominal working pressure by 10%, and this is indicated by a '+' symbol. This extra pressure allowance is dependent on the cylinder passing the appropriate higher standard periodical hydrostatic test.[26]

Those parts of the world using the metric system usually refer to the cylinder pressure directly in bar but would generally use "high pressure" to refer to a 300 bars (4,400 psi) working pressure cylinder, which can not be used with a yoke connector on the regulator. 232 bar is a very popular working pressure for scuba cylinders in both steel and aluminium.

Test pressure

Hydrostatic test pressure (TP) is specified by the manufacturing standard. This is usually 1.5 × working pressure, or in the USA, 1.67 × working pressure.

Developed pressure

Cylinder working pressure is specified at a reference temperature, usually 15 °C or 20 °C.[42] and cylinders also have a specified maximum safe working temperature, often 65 °C.[42] The actual pressure in the cylinder will vary with temperature, as described by the gas laws, but this is acceptable in terms of the standards provided that the developed pressure when corrected to the reference temperature does not exceed the specified working pressure stamped on the cylinder. This allows cylinders to be safely and legally filled to a pressure that is higher than the specified working pressure when the filling temperature is greater than the reference temperature, but not more than 65 °C, provided that the filling pressure does not exceed the developed pressure for that temperature, and cylinders filled according to this provision will be at the correct working pressure when cooled to the reference temperature.[42]

Pressure monitoring

A pressure gauge with a rubber protective housing and flexible high-pressure hose which would be connected to the high-pressure port of the regulator first stage, so that the internal pressure of a diving cylinder can be monitored throughout a dive. The low-pressure area of the face is coloured red to indicate that the pressure may be too low to safely continue diving.
Typical submersible pressure gauge
 The face of a portable cylinder pressure gauge calibrated in pounds per square inch in red and kilopascal in black.
Gas pressure in diving cylinders is measured in both United States customary units psi (pounds per square inch) and Metric bar, where 1 bar equals 100 kPa, 0.1 MPa or about 14.5 psi

The internal pressure of a diving cylinder is measured at several stages during use. It is checked before filling, monitored during filling and checked when filling is completed. This can all be done with the pressure gauge on the filling equipment.

Pressure is also generally monitored by the diver. Firstly as a check of contents before use, then during use to ensure that there is enough left at all times to allow a safe completion of the dive, and often after a dive for purposes of record keeping and personal consumption rate calculation.

The pressure is also monitored during hydrostatic testing to ensure that the test is done to the correct pressure.

Most diving cylinders do not have a dedicated pressure gauge, but this is a standard feature on most diving regulators, and a requirement on all filling facilities.

There are two widespread standards for pressure measurement of diving gas. In the USA and perhaps a few other places the pressure is measured in pounds per square inch (psi), and the rest of the world uses bar. Sometimes gauges may be calibrated in other metric units, such as kilopascal (kPa) or megapascal (MPa), or in atmospheres (atm, or ATA), particularly gauges not actually used underwater.

Capacity

 Two steel cylinders are shown: The larger is about twice the diameter of the smaller, and about 20% longer.
12-litre and 3-litre steel diving cylinders: Typical Primary and Pony sizes

There are two commonly used conventions for describing the capacity of a diving cylinder. One is based on the internal volume of the cylinder. The other is based on nominal volume of gas stored.

Internal volume

The internal volume is commonly quoted in most countries using the metric system. This information is required by ISO 13769 to be stamped on the cylinder shoulder. It can be measured easily by filling the cylinder with fresh water. This has resulted in the term 'water capacity', abbreviated as WC which is often stamp marked on the cylinder shoulder. It's almost always expressed as a volume in litres, but sometimes as mass of the water in kg. Fresh water has a density close to one kilogram per litre so the numerical values are effectively identical at one decimal place accuracy.[24]

Standard sizes by internal volume

These are representative examples, for a larger range, the on-line catalogues of the manufacturers such as Faber, Pressed Steel, Luxfer, and Catalina may be consulted. The applications are typical, but not exclusive.

Nominal volume of gas stored

The nominal volume of gas stored is commonly quoted as the cylinder capacity in the USA. It is a measure of the volume of gas that can be released from the full cylinder at atmospheric pressure.[35] Terms used for the capacity include 'free gas volume' or 'free gas equivalent'. It depends on the internal volume and the working pressure of a cylinder. If the working pressure is higher, the cylinder will store more gas for the same volume.

The nominal working pressure is not necessarily the same as the actual working pressure used. Some steel cylinders manufactured to US standards are permitted to exceed the nominal working pressure by 10% and this is indicated by a '+' symbol. This extra pressure allowance is dependent on the cylinder passing the appropriate periodical hydrostatic test and is not necessarily valid for US cylinders exported to countries with differing standards. The nominal gas content of these cylinders is based on the 10% higher pressure.[26]

For example, common Aluminum 80 (Al80) cylinder is an aluminum cylinder which has a nominal 'free gas' capacity of 80 cubic feet (2,300 L) when pressurized to 3,000 pounds per square inch (210 bar). It has an internal volume of 10.94 litres (0.386 cu ft).

Standard sizes by volume of gas stored

Applications and configurations

The front view of a standing diver ready for the water is shown. He is carrying a sling mounted aluminium cylinder on each side, clipped to a chest D-ring and a hip D-ring.
Technical diver with decompression gases in side mounted stage cylinders.

Divers may carry one cylinder or multiples, depending on the requirements of the dive. Where diving takes place in low risk areas, where the diver may safely make a free ascent, or where a buddy is available to provide an alternative air supply in an emergency, recreational divers usually carry only one cylinder. Where diving risks are higher, for example where the visibility is low or when recreational divers do deeper or decompression diving, and particularly when diving under an overhead, divers routinely carry more than one gas source.

Diving cylinders may serve different purposes. One or two cylinders may be used as a primary breathing source which is intended to be breathed from for most of the dive. A smaller cylinder carried in addition to a larger cylinder is called a "pony bottle". A cylinder to be used purely as an independent safety reserve is called a "bailout bottle" or Emergency Gas Supply (EGS).[50] A pony bottle is commonly used as a bailout bottle, but this would depend on the time required to surface.

Divers doing technical diving often carry different gases, each in a separate cylinder, for each phase of the dive:[51]

For safety, divers sometimes carry an additional independent scuba cylinder with its own regulator to mitigate out-of-air emergencies should the primary breathing gas supply fail. For much common recreational diving where a controlled emergency swimming ascent is acceptably safe, this extra equipment is not needed or used. This extra cylinder is known as a bail-out cylinder, and may be carried in several ways, and can be any size that can hold enough gas to get the diver safely back to the surface.[52]

Open-circuit scuba

For open-circuit scuba divers, there are several options for the combined cylinder and regulator system:

A large scuba cylinder is shown, with a handle, boot, plastic net and single hose regulator with one demand valve, a combo submersible pressure gauge console and two low-pressure inflator hoses.
15-litre, 232 bar, A-clamp single cylinder open circuit scuba set
The rear view of a set of twin independent cylinders strapped to a jacket harness, each with a scuba regulator fitted.
7-litre, 232 bar, DIN pillar valve independent twin set. The left cylinder shows manufacturer markings. The right cylinder shows test stamps
The top of a manifolded twin is shown over the diver's right shoulder.
Isolation manifolded twin 12-litre, 232 bar scuba set with two A-clamp pillar valves and two regulators
The sling harness is shown on a standing cylinder, with the bolt snaps for chest and hip connection and the connecting webbing and a cambelt securing the lower end of the webbing strap to the body of the cylinder.
Long 9.2-litre aluminium cylinder rigged for sling mounting
A pair of cylinders showing the regulators set up for sidemount diving. Each regulator has a short low-pressure inflator hose projecting towards where the diver's body would be, and the DV hoses are stowed under bungees. The submersible pressure gauges are on short hoses aligned with the cylinder axes.
Sidemount cylinder set with regulators fitted.

Rebreathers

Back view of an "Inspiration" rebreather with the cover removed, showing the scrubber unit in the middle, with a small cylinder on each side. The cylinder valves are at the bottom end of the unit for easier access while in use - the valve knobs protrude through the sides of the cover when closed, at the level of the diver's waist. The oxygen cylinder is on the right and has a green knob. The diluent cylinder has a black knob.
Two 3-litre, 232 bar, DIN valved cylinders inside an Inspiration electronically controlled closed circuit diving rebreather.

Diving cylinders are used in rebreather diving in two roles:

  • oxygen rebreathers have an oxygen cylinder
  • semi-closed circuit rebreathers have a cylinder which usually contains nitrox or a helium based gas.[57]
  • closed circuit rebreathers have an oxygen cylinder and a "diluent" cylinder, which contains air, nitrox or a helium based gas.[57]

Surface supplied diver emergency gas supply

A diver wearing a lightweight helmet with surface supply umbilical and a single back mounted bailout cylinder is shown from above, partly in the water, climbing a boarding ladder on the side of a boat.
Commercial surface supplied diver wearing a single bailout cylinder plumbed into the helmet bailout block

Surface supplied divers are usually required to carry an emergency gas supply sufficient to allow them to return to a place of safety if the main gas supply fails. The usual configuration is a back mounted single cylinder supported by the diver's safety harness, with first stage regulator connected by a low-pressure hose to a bailout block, which may be mounted on the side of the helmet or band-mask or on the harness to supply a lightweight full-face mask.[59][60][61] Where the capacity of a single cylinder in insufficient, plain manifolded twins or a rebreather may be used. For closed bell bounce and saturation dives the bailout set must be compact enough to allow the diver to pass through the bottom hatch of the bell. This sets a limit on the size of cylinders that can be used.[55][62]

Emergency gas supply on diving bells

Exterior view of a closed bell, showing the side door to the left, with a 50-litre oxygen cylinder and two 50-litre heliox cylinders mounted to the frame to the side of the door.
A closed bell used for saturation diving showing emergency gas supply cylinders

Diving bells are required to carry an onboard supply of breathing gas for use in emergencies.[63][64] The cylinders are mounted externally as there is insufficient space inside. They are fully immersed in the water during bell operations, and may be considered diving cylinders.

Suit inflation cylinders

A small aluminium cylinder, painted blue, with a label identifying the contents as argon.
Submersible argon cylinder for dry suit inflation. The blue colour is a legal requirement in South Africa

Suit inflation gas may be carried in a small independent cylinder. Sometimes argon is used for superior insulation properties. This must be clearly labelled and may also need to be colour coded to avoid inadvertent use as a breathing gas, which could be fatal as argon is an asphyxiant.

Other uses of compressed gas cylinders in diving operations

Divers also use gas cylinders above water for storage of oxygen for first aid treatment of diving disorders and as part of storage "banks" for diving air compressor stations, gas blending, surface supplied breathing gas and gas supplies for decompression chambers and saturation systems. Similar cylinders are also used for many purposes not connected to diving. For these applications they are not diving cylinders and may not be subject to the same regulatory requirements as cylinders used underwater.

Gas calculations

It is necessary to know the approximate length of time that a diver can breathe from a given cylinder so that a safe dive profile can be planned.[65]

There are two parts to this problem: The cylinder and the diver.

The cylinder's capacity to store gas

Two features of the cylinder determine its gas carrying capacity:

To calculate the quantity of gas:

Volume of gas at atmospheric pressure = (cylinder volume) x (cylinder pressure) / (atmospheric pressure)

In those parts of the world using the metric system the calculation is relatively simple as atmospheric pressure may be approximated as 1 bar, So a 12-litre cylinder at 232 bar would hold almost 12 × 232 / 1 = 2,784 litres (98.3 cu ft) of air at atmospheric pressure (also known as free air).

In the US the capacity of a diving cylinder is specified directly in cubic feet of free air at the nominal working pressure, as the calculation from internal volume and working pressure is relatively tedious in imperial units. For example, in the US and in many diving resorts in other countries, one might find aluminum cylinders of US manufacture with an internal capacity of 0.39 cubic feet (11 L) filled to a working pressure of 3,000 psi (210 bar); Taking atmospheric pressure as 14.7 psi, this gives 0.39 × 3000 / 14.7 = 80 ft³ These cylinders are described as "80 cubic foot cylinders", (the common "aluminum 80").

Up to about 200 bar the ideal gas law remains valid and the relationship between the pressure, size of the cylinder and gas contained in the cylinder is linear; at higher pressures there is proportionally less gas in the cylinder. A 3-litre cylinder filled to 300 bar will only carry contain 810 litres (29 cu ft) of atmospheric pressure gas and not the 900 litres (32 cu ft) expected from the ideal gas law.

Diver gas consumption

There are three main factors to consider:

To calculate the quantity of gas consumed:

gas consumed = surface air consumption × time × ambient pressure

Metric examples:

A diver with a RMV of 20 L/min at 30 msw (4 bar), will consume 20 x 4 x 1 = 80 L/min surface equivalent.
A diver with a RMV of 40 L/min at 50 msw (6 bar) for 10 minutes will consume 40 x 6 x 10 = 2400 litres of free air – the full capacity of a 12-litre 200 bar cylinder.

Imperial examples:

A diver with a SAC of 0.5 cfm (cubic feet per minute) at 100 fsw (4 ata) will consume 0.5 x 4 x 1 = 2 cfm surface equivalent.
A diver with a SAC of 1 cfm at 231 fsw (8 ata) for 10 minutes will consume 1 x 8 x 10 = 80 ft3 of free air – the full capacity of an 80 ft3 cylinder

Keeping this in mind, it is not hard to see why technical divers who do long deep dives require multiple cylinders or rebreathers, and commercial divers normally use surface-supplied diving equipment, and only carry scuba as an emergency gas supply.

Breathing gas endurance

The amount of time that a diver can breathe from a cylinder is also known as air or gas endurance.

Maximum breathing duration (T) for a given depth can be calculated as

T = available air / rate of consumption[68]

which, using the ideal gas law, is

T = (available cylinder pressure × cylinder volume) / (rate of air consumption at surface) × (ambient pressure)[68]

This may be written as

(1) T = (PC-PA)×VC/(SAC×PA)

with

T = Time
PC = Cylinder Pressure
VC = Cylinder internal volume
PA = Ambient Pressure
SAC = Surface air consumption

in any consistent system of units.

Ambient pressure (PA) is the surrounding water pressure at a given depth and is made up of the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and the air pressure at the surface. It is calculated as

(2) PA = D×g×ρ + atmospheric pressure[69]

with

D = depth
g = Standard gravity
ρ = water density

in a consistent system of units

For metric units, this formula can be approximated by

(3) PA = D/10 + 1

with depth in m and pressure in bar

Ambient pressure is deducted from cylinder pressure, as the quantity of air represented by PA can in practice not be used for breathing by the diver as it required to balance the ambient pressure of the water.

This formula neglects the cracking pressure required to open both first and second stages of the regulator, and pressure drop due to flow restrictions in the regulator, both of which are variable depending on the design and adjustment of the regulator, and flow rate, which depends on the breathing pattern of the diver and the gas in use. These factors are not easily estimated, so the calculated value for breathing duration will be more than the real value.

However, in normal diving usage, a reserve is always factored in. The reserve is a proportion of the cylinder pressure which a diver will not plan to use other than in case of emergency. The reserve may be a quarter or a third of the cylinder pressure or it may be a fixed pressure, common examples are 50 bar and 500 psi. The formula above is then modified to give the usable breathing duration as

(4) BT = (PC-PR)×VC/(SAC×PA)

where PR is the reserve pres

For example, (using the first formula (1) for absolute maximum breathing time), a diver at a depth of 15 meters in water with an average density of 1020 kg/m³ (typical seawater), who breathes at a rate of 20 litres per minute, using a dive cylinder of 18 litres pressurized at 200 bars, can breathe for a period of 72 minutes before the cylinder pressure falls so low as to prevent inhalation. In some open circuit scuba systems this can happen quite suddenly, from a normal breath to the next abnormal breath, a breath which may not be fully drawn. (There is never any difficulty exhaling). The suddenness of this effect depends on the design of the regulator and the internal volume of the cylinder. In such circumstances there remains air under pressure in the cylinder, but the diver is unable to breathe it. Some of it can be breathed if the diver ascends, as the ambient pressure is reduced, and even without ascent, in some systems a bit of air from the cylinder is available to inflate buoyancy compensator devices (BCDs) even after it no longer has pressure enough to open the demand valve.

Using the same conditions and a reserve of 50 bar, the formula (4) for usable breathing time is follows:

Ambient pressure = water pressure + atmospheric pressure = 15 msw/10 bar per msw + 1 = 2.5 bar
Usable pressure = fill pressure - reserve pressure = 200 bar - 50 bar = 150 bar
Usable air = usable pressure × cylinder capacity = 150 bar × 18 litres per bar = 2700 litres
Rate of consumption = surface air consumption × ambient pressure = 20 litres per minute per bar × 2.5 bar = 50 litres/min
Usable breathing time = 2700 litres / 50 litres per min = 54 minutes

This would give a dive time of 54 min at 15 m before reaching the reserve of 50 bar.

Reserves

It is strongly recommended by diver training organisations and codes of practice that a portion of the usable gas of the cylinder be held aside as a safety reserve. The reserve is designed to provide gas for longer than planned decompression stops or to provide time to resolve underwater emergencies.[68]

The size of the reserve depends upon the risks involved during the dive. A deep or decompression dive warrants a greater reserve than a shallow or a no stop dive. In recreational diving for example, it is recommended that the diver plans to surface with a reserve remaining in the cylinder of 500 psi, 50 bar or 25% of the initial capacity, depending of the teaching of the diver training organisation. This is because recreational divers practicing within "no-decompression" limits can normally make a direct ascent in an emergency. On technical dives where a direct ascent is either impossible (due to overhead obstructions) or dangerous (due to the requirement to make decompression stops), divers plan larger margins of safety. The simplest method uses the rule of thirds: one third of the gas supply is planned for the outward journey, one third is for the return journey and one third is a safety reserve.[70]

Some training agencies teach the concept of minimum gas, rock bottom gas management or critical pressures which allows a diver to calculate an acceptable reserve to get two divers to the surface in an emergency from any point in the planned dive profile.[51]

Professional divers may be required by legislation or industry codes of practice to carry sufficient reserve gas to enable them to reach a place of safety, such as the surface, or a diving bell, based on the planned dive profile.[60][61] This reserve gas is usually required to be carried as an independent emergency gas supply (EGS), also known as a bailout cylinder, set or bottle.[71] This usually also applies to professional divers using surface-supplied diving equipment.[60]

Weight of gas consumed

The density of air at sea level and 15 °C is approximately 1.225 kg/m3.[72] Most full-sized diving cylinders used for open circuit scuba hold more than 2 kilograms (4.4 lb) of air when full, and as the air is used, the buoyancy of the cylinder increases by the weight removed. The decrease in external volume of the cylinder due to reduction of internal pressure is relatively small, and can be ignored for practical purposes.

As an example, a 12-litre cylinder may be filled to 230 bar before a dive, and be breathed down to 30 bar before surfacing, using 2,400 litres or 2.4 m3 of free air. The mass of gas used during the dive will depend on the mixture - if air is assumed, it will be approximately 2.9 kilograms (6.4 lb).

The loss of the weight of the gas taken from the cylinder makes the cylinder and diver more buoyant. This can be a problem if the diver is unable to remain neutrally buoyant towards the end of the dive because most of the gas has been breathed from the cylinder. The buoyancy change due to gas usage from back mounted cylinders is easily compensated by carrying sufficient diving weights to provide neutral buoyancy with empty cylinders at the end of a dive, and using the buoyancy compensator to neutralise the excess weight until the gas has been used.

The change in buoyancy of a diving cylinder during the dive can be more problematic with side-mounted cylinders, and the actual buoyancy at any point during the dive is a consideration with any cylinder that may be separated from the diver for any reason. Cylinders which will be stage-dropped or handed off to another diver should not change the diver's buoyancy beyond what can be compensated using their buoyancy compensator. Cylinders with approximately neutral buoyancy when full generally require the least compensation when detached.

Table showing the buoyancy of diving cylinders in water when empty and full of air
Cylinder specification Air capacity Weight in air Buoyancy in water
Material Volume
(litre)
Pressure
(bar)
Volume
(litre)
Weight
(kg)
Empty
(kg)
Full
(kg)
Empty
(kg)
Full
(kg)
Steel 12 200 2400 3.0 16.0 19.0 -1.2 -4.2
15 200 3000 3.8 20.0 23.8 -1.4 -5.2
16 (XS 130) 230 3680 4.4 19.5 23.9 -0.9 -5.3
2x7 200 2800 3.4 19.5 23.0 -2.2 -5.6
8 300 2400 2.9 13.0 16.0 -3.6 -6.5
10 300 3000 3.6 17.0 20.8 -4.2 -7.8
2x4 300 2400 2.9 15.0 18.0 -4.1 -7.0
2x6 300 3600 4.4 21.0 25.6 -5.2 -9.6
Aluminium 9 (AL 63) 207 1863 2.3 12.2 13.5 +1.8 -0.5
11 (AL 80) 207 2277 2.8 14.4 17.2 +1.7 -1.1
13 (AL100) 207 2584 3.2 17.1 20.3 +1.4 -1.8
Assumes 1 litre of air at atmospheric pressure and 15 °C weighs 1.225 g.[73]
Cylinder, valve and manifold weights will vary depending on model, so actual values will value accordingly.

Filling

 The interior of a dive shop filling station is shown, with a large number of cylinders standing on the floor or on wall racks. The filling panel is to the right and the cylinders being filled are resting on an angled rack below the panel.
Dive shop scuba filling station
A small high-pressure compressor mounted on a steel frame with a three-phase electric motor for power. A flexible plastic air intake hose provides fresh air from outside of the building.
Small stationary HP compressor installation

Diving cylinders are filled by attaching a high-pressure gas supply to the cylinder valve, opening the valve and allowing gas to flow into the cylinder until the desired pressure is reached, then closing the valves, venting the connection and disconnecting it. This process involves a risk of the cylinder or the filling equipment failing under pressure, both of which are hazardous to the operator, so procedures to control these risks are generally followed.

Filling from a compressor

Breathing air supply can come directly from a high-pressure breathing air compressor, from a high-pressure storage system, or from a combined storage system with compressor. Direct charging is energy intensive, and the charge rate will be limited by the available power source and capacity of the compressor. A large-volume bank of high-pressure storage cylinders allows faster charging or simultaneous charging of multiple cylinders, and allows for provision of more economical high-pressure air by recharging the storage banks from a low-power compressor, or using lower cost off-peak electrical power.

The quality of compressed breathing air for diving is usually specified by national or organisational standards, and the steps generally taken to assure the air quality include:[74]

Filling from high-pressure storage

Cylinders may also be filled directly from high-pressure storage systems by decanting, with or without pressure boosting to reach the desired charging pressure. Cascade filling may be used for efficiency when multiple storage cylinders are available. High-pressure storage is commonly used when blending nitrox, heliox and trimix diving gases, and for oxygen for rebreathers and decompression gas.[28]

Nitrox and trimix blending may include decanting the oxygen and/or helium, and topping up to working pressure using a compressor, after which the gas mixture must be analysed and the cylinder labeled with the gas composition.[28]

Temperature change during filling

Compression of ambient air causes a temperature rise of the gas, proportional to the pressure increase. Ambient air is typically compressed in stages, and the gas temperature rises during each stage. Intercoolers and water cooling heat exchangers can remove this heat between stages.

Charging an empty dive cylinder also causes a temperature rise as the gas inside the cylinder is compressed by the inflow of higher pressure gas, though this temperature rise may initially be tempered because compressed gas from a storage bank at room temperature decreases in temperature when it decreases in pressure, so at first the empty cylinder is charged with cold gas, but the temperature of the gas in the cylinder then increases to above ambient as the cylinder fills to the working pressure.

Excess heat can be removed by immersion of the cylinder in a cold water bath while filling. However, immersion for cooling can also increase the risk of water contaminating the valve orifice of a completely depressurized tank and being blown into the cylinder during filling.[75]

Cylinders may also be filled without water-bath cooling, and may be charged to above the nominal working pressure to the developed pressure appropriate to the temperature when filled. As the gas cools to ambient temperature, the pressure decreases, and will reach rated charging pressure at the rated temperature.[75]

Legal constraints to filling scuba cylinders will vary by jurisdiction.

In South Africa cylinders may be filled for commercial purposes by a person who is competent in the use of the filling equipment to be used, who knows the relevant sections of the applicable standards and regulations, and has written permission from the owner of the cylinder to fill it. The cylinder must be in test and suitable for the gas to be filled, and the cylinder may not be filled above the developed pressure for the temperature reached when it is filled. An external inspection of the cylinder must be made, and specified details of the cylinder and fill must be recorded. If the fill is of a gas other than air, the analysis of the completed fill must be recorded by the filler and signed by the customer.[42] If the residual pressure in a cylinder presented for filling does not produce a reasonably strong flow of gas from the valve when opened the filler may refuse to fill the cylinder unless an acceptable reason is given for it being empty, as there is no way for the filler to check if it has been contaminated.

Gas Purity and Testing

Diving cylinders should only be filled with suitably filtered air from diving air compressors or with other breathing gases using gas blending or decanting techniques.[74] In some jurisdictions, suppliers of breathing gases are required by legislation to periodically test the quality of compressed air produced by their equipment and to display the test results for public information.[42] The standards for industrial gas purity and filling equipment and procedures may allow some contaminants at levels unsafe for breathing,[38] and their use in breathing gas mixtures at high pressure could be harmful or fatal.

Handling of specialty gases

Special precautions need to be taken with gases other than air:

Specialty mixed gas charging will almost always involve supply cylinders of high purity gas sourced from an industrial gas supplier.

Gas Contamination

Contaminated breathing gas at depth can be fatal. Concentrations which are acceptable at the surface ambient pressure will be increased by the pressure of depth and may then exceed acceptable or tolerable limits. Common contaminants are: carbon monoxide - a by-product of combustion, carbon dioxide - a product of metabolism, and oil and lubricants from the compressor.[74]

Keeping the cylinder slightly pressurized at all times during storage and transportation reduces the possibility of inadvertently contaminating the inside of the cylinder with corrosive agents, such as sea water, or toxic material, such as oils, poisonous gases, fungi or bacteria.[40] A normal dive will end with some pressure remaining in the cylinder; if an emergency ascent has been made due to an out-of-gas incident, the cylinder will normally still contain some pressure and unless the cylinder had been submerged deeper than where the last gas was used it is not possible for water to get in during the dive.

Contamination by water during filling may be due to two causes. Inadequate filtration and drying of the compressed air can introduce small quantities of fresh water condensate, or an emulsion of water and compressor lubricant, and failing to clear the cylinder valve orifice of water which may have dripped from wet dive gear, which can allow contamination by fresh or seawater. Both cause corrosion, but seawater contamination can cause a cylinder to corrode rapidly to the extent that it may be unsafe or condemned after even a fairly short period. This problem is exacerbated in hot climates, where chemical reactions are faster, and is more prevalent where filling staff are badly trained or overworked.[76]

Catastrophic failures during filling

The blast caused by a sudden release of the gas pressure inside a diving cylinder makes them very dangerous if mismanaged. The greatest risk of explosion exists while filling,[77] but cylinders have also been known to burst when overheated. The cause of failure can range from reduced wall thickness or deep pitting due to internal corrosion, neck thread failure due to incompatible valve threads, or cracking due to fatigue, sustained high stresses, or overheating effects in aluminum.[40][78] Tank bursting due to overpressure may be prevented by a pressure-relief burst disc fitted to the cylinder valve, which bursts if the cylinder is overpressurised and vents air at a rapid controlled rate to prevent catastrophic tank failure. Accidental rupture of the burst disc can also occur during filling, due to corrosive weakening or stress from repeated pressurization cycles, but is remedied by replacement of the disc. Bursting discs are not required in all jurisdictions.

Other failure modes that are a hazard while filling include valve thread failure, which can cause the valve to blow out of the cylinder neck, and filling whip failure.

Periodic inspection and testing of diving cylinders

 A pile of rejected and somewhat rusty scuba cylinders lying in a yard
Condemned diving cylinders set aside for metal recycling

Most countries require diving cylinders to be checked on a regular basis. This usually consists of an internal visual inspection and a hydrostatic test. The inspection and testing requirements for scuba cylinders may be very different from the requirements for other compressed gas containers due to the more corrosive environment.[42]

 Schematic cut-away drawing of water jacket hydrostatic testing equipment
Water jacket hydrostatic test test diagram

A hydrostatic test involves pressurising the cylinder to its test pressure (usually 5/3 or 3/2 of the working pressure) and measuring its volume before and after the test. A permanent increase in volume above the tolerated level means the cylinder fails the test and must be permanently removed from service.[4]

An inspection includes external and internal inspection for damage, corrosion, and correct colour and markings. The failure criteria vary according to the published standards of the relevant authority, but may include inspection for bulges, overheating, dents, gouges, electrical arc scars, pitting, line corrosion, general corrosion, cracks, thread damage, defacing of permanent markings, and colour coding.[4][42]

When a cylinder is manufactured, its specification, including manufacturer, working pressure, test pressure, date of manufacture, capacity and weight are stamped on the cylinder.[24] After a cylinder passes the test, the test date, (or the test expiry date in some countries such as Germany), is punched into the shoulder of the cylinder for easy verification at fill time. [note 1] The international standard for the stamp format is ISO 13769, Gas cylinders - Stamp marking.[24]

Filling station operators may be required to check these details before filling the cylinder and may refuse to fill non-standard or out-of-test cylinders. [note 2]

Intervals between inspections and tests

A cylinder is due to be inspected and tested at the first time it is to be filled after the expiry of the interval as specified by the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations, or as specified by national or international standards applicable in the region of use.[79][80]

Procedures for periodic inspections and tests

If a cylinder passes the listed procedures, but the condition remains doubtful, further tests can be applied to ensure that the cylinder is fit for use. Cylinders that fail the tests or inspection and cannot be fixed should be rendered unserviceable after notifying the owner of the reason for failure.[85][86]

Before starting work the cylinder must be identified from the labelling and permanent stamp markings, and the ownership and contents verified,[87][88] and the valve must be removed after depressurising and verifying that the valve is open. Cylinders containing breathing gases do not need special precautions for discharge except that high oxygen fraction gases should not be released in an enclosed space because of the fire hazard. [89][90] Before inspection the cylinder must be clean and free of loose coatings, corrosion products and other materials which may obscure the surface.[91]

The cylinder is inspected externally for dents, cracks, gouges, cuts, bulges, laminations and excessive wear, heat damage, torch or electric arc burns, corrosion damage, illegible, incorrect or unauthorised permanent stamp markings, and unauthorised additions or modifications.[92][93] Unless the cylinder walls are examined by ultrasonic methods, the interior must be visually inspected using sufficient illumination to identify any damage and defects, particularly corrosion. If the inner surface is not clearly visible it should first be cleaned by an approved method which does not remove a significant amount of wall material.[94][95] When there is uncertainty whether a defect found during visual inspection meets the rejection criteria, additional tests may be applied, such as ultrasonic measurement of pitting wall thickness, or weight checks to establish total weight lost to corrosion.[96]

While the valve is off, the threads of cylinder and valve are checked to identify the thread type and condition. The threads of cylinder and valve must be of matching thread specification, clean and full form, undamaged and free of cracks, burrs and other imperfections.[97][98] Ultrasonic inspection may be substituted for the pressure test, which is usually a hydrostatic test and may be either a proof test or a volumetric expansion test, depending on the cylinder design specification. Test pressure is specified in the stamp markings of the cylinder.[99][100] Valves that are to be reused are inspected and maintained to ensure they remain fit for service.[101][102] Before fitting the valve the thread type must be checked to ensure that a valve with matching thread specification is fitted.[103]

After the tests have been satisfactorily completed, a cylinder passing the test will be marked accordingly. Stamp marking will include the registered mark of the inspection facility and the date of testing (month and year).[104][105] Records of a periodic inspection and test are made by the test station and kept available for inspection. These include:[106][107] If a cylinder fails inspection or testing and cannot be recovered, the owner must be notified before making the empty cylinder unserviceable.[108]

Cleaning

Internal cleaning of diving cylinders may be required to remove contaminants or to allow effective visual inspection. Cleaning methods should remove contaminants and corrosion products without undue removal of structural metal. Chemical cleaning using solvents, detergents and pickling agents may be used depending on the contaminant and cylinder material. Tumbling with abrasive media may be needed for heavy contamination, particularly of heavy corrosion products.[109][110]

External cleaning may also be required to remove contaminants, corrosion products or old paint or other coatings. Methods which remove the minimum amount of structural material are indicated. Solvents, detergents and bead blasting are generally used. Removal of coatings by the application of heat may render the cylinder unserviceable by affecting the crystalline microstructure structure of the metal. This is a particular hazard for aluminium alloy cylinders, which may not be exposed to temperatures above those stipulated by the manufacturer.

Safety

Before any cylinder is filled, verification of inspection and testing dates and a visual examination for external damage and corrosion are required by law in some jurisdictions,[42] and are prudent even if not legally required at other places. Inspection dates can be checked by looking at the visual inspection label and the hydrostatic test date is stamped on the shoulder of the cylinder.[42]

Before use the user should verify the contents of the cylinder and check the function of the cylinder valve. This is usually done with a regulator connected to control the flow. Pressure and gas mixture are critical information for the diver, and the valve should open freely without sticking or leaking from the spindle seals. Failure to recognize that the cylinder valve was not opened or that a cylinder was empty has been observed in divers conducting a pre-dive check.[111] Breathing gas bled from a cylinder may be checked for smell. If the gas does not smell right it should not be used. Breathing gas should be almost free of smell, though a very slight aroma of the compressor lubricant is fairly common. No smell of combustion products or volatile hydrocarbons should be discernible.[38]

A neatly assembled setup, with regulators, gauges, and delicate computers stowed inside the BCD, or clipped where they will not be walked on, and stowed under the boat bench or secured to a rack, is the practice of a competent diver.

As the scuba set is a life support system, no unauthorised person should touch a diver's assembled scuba gear, even to move it, without their knowledge and approval.

Full cylinders should not be exposed to temperatures above 65 °C[42] and cylinders should not be filled to pressures greater than the developed pressure appropriate to the certified working pressure of the cylinder.[42]

Cylinders should be clearly labelled with their current contents. A generic "Nitrox" or "Trimix" label will alert the user that the contents may not be air, and must be analysed before use. In some parts of the world a label is required specifically indicating that the contents are air, and in other places a colour code without additional labels indicates by default that the contents are air.[42]

In a fire, the pressure in a gas cylinder rises in direct proportion to its absolute temperature. If the internal pressure exceeds the mechanical limitations of the cylinder and there are no means to safely vent the pressurized gas to the atmosphere, the vessel will fail mechanically. If the vessel contents are ignitable or a contaminant is present this event may result in an explosion.[112]

Accidents

The major diving accident and fatality research studies that have been conducted globally including work by the Divers Alert Network, the Diving Incident Monitoring Study, and Project Stickybeak have each identified cases where the mortality was associated with the diving cylinder.[113][114]

Some recorded accidents associated with diving cylinders:

Cases of lateral epicondylitis have been reported caused by the handling of diving cylinders.[119]

Handling

Cylinders should not be left standing unattended unless secured[42] so that they can not fall in reasonably foreseeable circumstances as an impact could damage the cylinder valve mechanism, and conceivably fracture the valve at the neck threads. This is more likely with taper thread valves, and when it happens most of the energy of the compressed gas is released within a second, and can accelerate the cylinder to speeds which can cause severe injury or damage to the surroundings.[38][120]

Long term storage

Breathing quality gases do not normally deteriorate during storage in steel or aluminium cylinders. Provided there is insufficient water content to promote internal corrosion, the stored gas will remain unchanged for years if stored at temperatures within the allowed working range for the cylinder, usually below 65 °C. If there is any doubt, a check of oxygen fraction will indicate whether the gas has changed (the other components are inert). Any unusual smells would be an indication that the cylinder or gas was contaminated at the time of filling. However some authorities recommend releasing most of the contents and storing cylinders with a small positive pressure.[121]

Aluminium cylinders have a low tolerance for heat, and a 3,000 pounds per square inch (210 bar) cylinder containing less than 1,500 pounds per square inch (100 bar) may lose sufficient strength in a fire to explode before the internal pressure rises enough to rupture the bursting disc, so storing aluminium cylinders with a bursting disc has a lower explosion risk in case of fire if stored either full or nearly empty.[122]

Transportation

Diving cylinders are classified by the UN as dangerous goods for transportation purposes (US: Hazardous materials). Selecting the Proper Shipping Name (well known by the abbreviation PSN) is a way to help ensure that the dangerous goods offered for transport accurately represent the hazards.[123]

IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) 55th Edition defines the Proper Shipping Name as "the name to be used to describe a particular article or substance in all shipping documents and notifications and, where appropriate, on packagings".[123]

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) defines the Proper Shipping Name as "that portion of the entry most accurately describing the goods in the Dangerous Goods List which is shown in upper-case characters (plus any letters which form an integral part of the name)."[123]

Hazardous materials
descriptions and
proper shipping names
(PSN)[124][125][126]
Hazard class
or division
Identification
numbers
Label codes Quantity
limitations
Air, compressed 2.2 UN1002 2.2 Passenger aircraft/rail: 75 kg
Cargo aircraft only: 150 kg
Argon, compressed 2.2 UN1006 2.2
Helium, compressed 2.2 UN1046 2.2
Nitrogen, compressed 2.2 UN1066 2.2
Oxygen, compressed 2.2 UN1072 2.2, 5.1
Compressed gas N.O.S. (not otherwise specified)
e.g. normoxic and hypoxic Heliox and Trimix
2.2 UN1956 2.2
Compressed gas, oxidising, N.O.S
e.g. Nitrox
2.2 UN3156 2.2, 5.1

International air

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air states that provided that pressure in diving cylinders is less than 200 kilopascals (2 bar; 29 psi), these can be carried as checked in or carry-on baggage. It maybe necessary to empty the cylinder to verify this. Once emptied, the cylinder valve should be closed to prevent moisture entering the cylinder. Security restrictions implemented by individual countries may further limit or forbid the carriage of some items permitted by ICAO, and airlines and security screening agencies have the right to refuse the carriage of certain items.[127]

Europe

Since 1996 the carriage of dangerous goods legislation of the UK has been harmonized with that of Europe.[128]

Road transport

The 2009 (amended 2011) UK Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations (CDG Regulations) implement the European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR). Dangerous goods to be carried internationally in road vehicles must comply with standards for the packaging and labelling of the dangerous goods, and appropriate construction and operating standards for the vehicles and crew.[125][128]

The regulations cover transportation of gas cylinders in a vehicle in a commercial environment. Transportation of pressurised diving gas cylinders with a combined water capacity of less than 1000 litres on a vehicle for personal use is exempt from ADR.[125][128][129]

Transport of gas cylinders in a vehicle, for commercial purposes, must follow basic legal safety requirements and, unless specifically exempted, must comply with ADR. The driver of the vehicle is legally responsible for the safety of the vehicle and any load being carried, and insurance for the vehicle should include cover for the carriage of dangerous goods.[125][128]

Diving gases, including compressed air, oxygen, nitrox, heliox, trimix, helium and argon, are non-toxic, non flammable, and may be oxidizer or asphyxiant, and are rated in Transport category 3.[128] The threshold quantity for these gases is 1000 litres combined water capacity of the cylinders. Pressure must be within the rated working pressure of the cylinder. Empty air cylinders at atmospheric pressure are rated in Transport category 4, and there is no threshold quantity.[125][128]

Commercial loads below the 1000 litres threshold level are exempt from some of the requirements of ADR, but must comply with basic legal and safety requirements, including:[128]

All loads above the threshold must comply with the full requirements of ADR.[125][128]

USA

Transportation of hazardous materials for commercial purposes[130] in the USA is regulated by Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 - Transportation, (abbreviated 49 CFR).[131] A cylinder containing 200 kPa (29.0 psig/43.8 psia) or greater at 20 °C (68 °F) of non-flammable, nonpoisonous compressed gas, and being transported for commercial purposes is classified as HAZMAT (hazardous materials) in terms of 49 CFR 173.115(b) (1).[132] Cylinders manufactured to DOT standards or special permits (exemptions)issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and filled to the authorized working pressure are legal for commercial transport in the USA under the provisions and conditions of the regulations.[131][133] Cylinders manufactured outside the USA may be transported under a special permit, and these have been issued for solid metal and composite cylinders with working pressures of up to 300 bar (4400 psi) by several manufacturers.

Surface transport

Commercial transportation of breathing gas cylinders with a combined weight of more than 1000 pounds may only be done by a commercial HAZMAT transportation company. Transport of cylinders with a combined weight of less than 1000 pounds requires a manifest, the cylinders must have been tested and inspected to federal standards, and the contents marked on each cylinder. Transportation must be done in a safe manner, with the cylinders restrained from movement. No special licence is required. DOT regulations require content labels for all cylinders under the regulations, but according to PSI, labelling of breathing air will not be enforced. Oxygen or non-air oxidizing (O2  23.5% ) mixtures must be labelled. Private (non-commercial) transport of scuba cylinders is not covered by this regulation.[134]

Air transport

Empty scuba tanks or scuba tanks pressurized at less than 200 kPa are not restricted as hazardous materials.[135] Scuba cylinders are only allowed in checked baggage or as a carry-on if the cylinder valve is completely disconnected from the cylinder and the cylinder has an open end to allow for a visual inspection inside.[136]

Colour-coding and labeling

 The white adhesive plastic label displays the gas name, Oxygen, and the chemical symbol O2 with a block of small text on the left side describing the hazards of the contents, then a green diamond symbol for compressed gas and a yellow diamond for oxidising agent.
A contents label for oxygen usage (UK), which incorporates the hazardous materials diamonds for compressed gas (green) and oxidizer (yellow)
Two cylinders stand next to each other. On the left is a round-bottomed 15-litre steel cylinder with a plastic boot, and on the right a flat-bottomed 12.2-litre aluminium cylinder without boot. Both cylinders are the same outside diameter (203 mm), but the smaller-volume aluminium cylinder is slightly higher than the larger-volume steel cylinder, even though the steel cylinder is standing on a boot and has a rounded bottom.
A steel 15-litre cylinder with net and boot and a bare 12-litre aluminium cylinder. Both are labeled for Nitrox use. The aluminium cylinder also displays a triangular label specifying the date of the most recent internal inspection and an oval label recording the most recent neck thread eddy current test.

Worldwide

The colours permitted for diving cylinders vary considerably by region, and to some extent by the gas mixture contained. In some parts of the world there is no legislation controlling the colour of diving cylinders. In other regions the colour of cylinders used for commercial diving, or for all underwater diving may be specified by national standards.[42]

In many recreational diving settings where air and nitrox are the widely used gases, nitrox cylinders are identified with a green stripe on yellow background. Aluminium diving cylinders may be painted or anodized and when anodized may be coloured or left in their natural silver. Steel diving cylinders are usually painted, to reduce corrosion, often yellow or white to increase visibility. In some industrial cylinder identification colour tables, yellow shoulders means chlorine and more generally within Europe it refers to cylinders with toxic and/or corrosive contents; but this is of no significance in scuba since gas fittings would not be compatible.

Cylinders that are used for partial pressure gas blending with pure oxygen may also be required to display an "oxygen service certificate" label indicating they have been prepared for use with high partial pressures and gas fractions of oxygen.

European Union

A white plastic adhesive label on a cylinder labeled for Enriched air-Nitrox. There is a smaller label above it on the shoulder indicating the mix proportions - 36% Oxygen, and the Maximum operating depth - 28m
Nitrox contents and hazard label used in the UK. The diver has added a temporary maximum operating depth (MOD) indication for easy reference.

In the European Union gas cylinders may be colour-coded according to EN 1098-3. In the UK this standard is optional. The "shoulder" is the domed top of the cylinder between the parallel section and the pillar valve. For mixed gases, the colours can be either bands or "quarters".[137]

These breathing gas cylinders must also be labeled with their contents. The label should state the type of breathing gas contained by the cylinder.[137]

Offshore

Breathing gas containers for offshore use may be coded and marked according to IMCA D043.[137][138] IMCA colour coding for individual cylinders allows the body of the cylinder to be any colour that is not likely to cause misinterpretation of the hazard identified by the colour code of the shoulder.

Commonly accepted gas container colour coding in the diving industry.[138]
Gas Symbol Typical shoulder colours Cylinder shoulder Quad upper frame/
frame valve end
Calibration gases as appropriate
 Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted pink for calibration gas
Pink Pink
Carbon dioxide CO2
 Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted grey for carbon dioxide
Grey Grey
Helium He
 Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted brown for helium
Brown Brown
Medical oxygen O2
 Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted white for medical oxygen
White White
Nitrogen N2
 Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted black for nitrogen
Black Black
Oxygen and helium mixtures
(Heliox)
O2/He  Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in brown and white quarters Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in brown (lower and white (upper) bands Brown and white
quarters or bands
Brown and white
short (8 inches (20 cm))
alternating bands
Oxygen, helium and nitrogen
mixtures (Trimix)
O2/He/N2  Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in brown, black and white sixths for a mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen. Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in brown, black and white bands for a mixture of helium, nitrogen and oxygen Black, white and brown
quarters or bands
Black, white and brown
short (8 inches (20 cm))
alternating bands
Oxygen and nitrogen mixtures
(Nitrox) including air
N2/O2  Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in black and white quarters for a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. Illustration of cylinder shoulder painted in black (lower) and white (upper) bands for a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. Black and white
quarters or bands
Black and white
short (8 inches (20 cm))
alternating bands

South Africa

Scuba cylinders are required to comply with the colours and markings specified in SANS 10019:2006.[42]

Notes

  1. This is a European requirement.
  2. This is a European requirement, a requirement of the US DOT, and a South African requirement.

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Sources

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