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Unread 10-03-2014, 21:32
MrBasse MrBasse is offline
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Re: exploding plastic storage tanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat Hart View Post
Another means to address the safety concern of a light weight plastic tank would be a design that included either an integrated pressure release valve or a fail safe. Something that would release pressure in a known manner before catastrophic failure. This would allow lightweight tanks to continue to be used and eliminate the risk of a "user error" causing significant harm.
A relief valve won't solve the issue causing failures. Failures aren't caused by over pressurization in most cases (assuming in competition and with passed inspections). The problem is a degradation in pressure capacity due to mishandling the tanks (over tightening, improper mounting, etc.). What do you do when a tank fails at 100 PSI? 80? 60? If you put a crack in the right spot or damage a wall on a tank, any of these pressures could cause a failure in the right circumstance. The white Clippard tanks are great tanks, they just have very specific instructions for their use that are tough to follow perfectly. But they have a really phenomenal warning alarm when used improperly in the form of an explosive blast that will wake the neighbors and potentially kill you.
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Andrew Basse
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