Why the gas cylinders need to equip cylinder caps?

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Why the gas cylinders need to equip cylinder caps?

The valves of steel cylinders are mostly made of copper alloy, which is relatively fragile. Although some are made of steel, their structure is smaller than the cylinder body. They are screwed onto the cylinder body, forming a right angle between the bottle neck and the valve joint. This makes it the vulnerable point of the cylinder body and also the protruding point. It is most susceptible to mechanical damage or external impact. If during handling, storage, or use, the cylinder is accidentally damaged due to impact or other reasons, there is a high risk of the valve joint breaking at the connection between the valve and the bottle neck.

Consequences of bottle neck or valve breakage: When the oxygen cylinder valve breaks, the high-pressure gas inside the cylinder at 150 kilograms per square centimeter loses control, causing the high-pressure gas to spray out. The reactive force causes the cylinder to violently recoil in the opposite direction, potentially causing damage to machinery, equipment, buildings, and even resulting in casualties. When the acetylene cylinder valve breaks, flammable gas rushes out, forming an explosive gas mixture with the air, leading to an explosion when exposed to an open flame. The high-speed ejection of gas from the cylinder can result in more serious secondary accidents (such as fires, explosions, poisoning, etc.) depending on the nature of the gas inside the cylinder. If the cylinder is filled with flammable gas, the intense friction from high-speed ejection can generate static electricity, or encounter other ignition sources, leading to combustion or explosion.

On the other hand, the valve is exposed during handling and storage, making it susceptible to the intrusion of dust or oily substances, posing additional risks. Wearing a safety cap helps prevent contamination and intrusion of dust or oily substances.

To eliminate the above dangers, it is required that manufacturing units equip cylinders with safety caps when they leave the factory. When using the gas, the safety cap should be removed and placed in a designated location. After use, the cap should be promptly put back on and tightened, and it should not be thrown away casually. It is important to remember to wear the safety cap during handling and unloading.

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