Cold Tanks?

[TMHeimer]

The physics of tanks in a hot car we all know about. Anybody ever hear of problems with leaving them in a cold car overnight? Is there a specific low temperature one should be concerned about? You wouldn't think so as PSI decreases with cold. What about extreme cold--like -40 C-F?

 

[HIGHwing]

Opening the valve will be interesting...

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Remember the gas formula PV=nRT, n and R stay constant unless you open the valve, as does V, within reason (as tanks do expand some when filled), and that T is not in fahrenheit or celcius.

I've yet to face hot or cold that's done anything to my tanks or the gas inside...but that's not to say it can't happen.

 

[Mitchell Teeters]

I've got a tank sitting in the car now. I'll check the IP in the morning before church.

sent via nookcolor N2A.

 

[TMHeimer]

Remember the gas formula PV=nRT, n and R stay constant unless you open the valve, as does V, within reason (as tanks do expand some when filled), and that T is not in fahrenheit or celcius.

I've yet to face hot or cold that's done anything to my tanks or the gas inside...but that's not to say it can't happen.

Well, we know that above a certain temp. in a closed car the burst disc will blow, so I guess the gas expands enough to do that. But can gas contracting at extreme cold temps. cause problems?

 

[tbone1004]

it'll obviously decrease the gauge pressure in the tank due to temperature, but it's not going to do anything to the metal. -40 is not all that common, last time nova scotia did it was 1920 according to noaa. Now, where it starts to matter is in filling. At that extreme temp the metal will be more brittle than at room temperature, so I would not fill it at that temperature, but it won't have failure at that point. Any rapid temperature change would be real bad though, so I wouldn't go dunking it in water shortly thereafter. 40c is a HUGE swing to go into that rapidly. same with filling, that may end poorly. Probably wouldn't but rapid temperature change is always bad.

 

[TMHeimer]

it'll obviously decrease the gauge pressure in the tank due to temperature, but it's not going to do anything to the metal. -40 is not all that common, last time nova scotia did it was 1920 according to noaa. Now, where it starts to matter is in filling. At that extreme temp the metal will be more brittle than at room temperature, so I would not fill it at that temperature, but it won't have failure at that point. Any rapid temperature change would be real bad though, so I wouldn't go dunking it in water shortly thereafter. 40c is a HUGE swing to go into that rapidly. same with filling, that may end poorly. Probably wouldn't but rapid temperature change is always bad.

I mentioned -40 because I may someday leave a tank at our cabin in Northern Manitoba. From what I read so far, it seems fine to leave tanks in a car overnight while travelling down the East Coast.

 

[Garrobo]

Where the h*** you going to dive at -40?

 

[scubafanatic]

Where the h*** you going to dive at -40?

...the seas of liquid methane on Saturn's noon Titan?

 

[tbone1004]

he's just talking about storing it. It'll be fine up there, just like I said, don't heat it up too fast, so if you go back up there and turn the head on, keep it in some room where it can take like 5-6 hours to get back to room temp. that's still a 60*C swing, so you want to let it go at a few degrees per hour to warm back up