Weird tank question

[doctormike]

OK, this really happened. Need some advice...

I had a bunch of tanks in the trunk of my car, including and AL40 filled with 100% O2 that I use for bailout deco. I gave a ride to some friends, dropped them off, and they took their stuff out of the trunk and left. Several hours later, I looked in the trunk and saw that the DIN outlet (positioned facing up) of the AL40 was filled with a dark liquid.

I poured it out and called my friend. She sheepishly admitted that she had spilled her soda onto my gear, and then figured that she could quickly clean it up (wiping the outside of the tank with a towel) and all would be good. She didn't know that there was stuff in the valve.

I took it to a local dive shop, borrowed some simple green, wiped out the outlet, rinsed it with tap water, and then opened the valve to blow O2 out and dry it.

Question is - is that sufficient for a tank used for 100% O2? Should I have the whole valve removed and cleaned?

 

[tbone1004]

officially? Probably a good idea to remove it especially since the din outlet goes straight up to the valve seat. Now the threads are threads and they are not in contact with hp O2 and are filled with whatever is in ambient conditions, air, water, etc. so it's a grey area but if it's not difficult to get done, I'd get it cleaned.
I wouldn't be worried about it not being O2 clean any more, just a bit less than clean since it was soda

 

[doctormike]

I wouldn't be worried about it not being O2 clean any more, just a bit less than clean since it was soda

Thanks!

The soda was carbonated with hypoxic trimix. Not sure if that makes a difference..

 

[broncobowsher]

Valve needs cleaning, inside of tank is still clean.
Sugar = fuel. It has been used to power rocket engines.
Treat it the same as if oil was spilled in the valve. Although soda will be water soluble instead.

 

[Johnoly]

..The soda was carbonated with hypoxic trimix. ...

If it was Mountain Dew your SAC rate will double and you'll have to learn the U/W hand sign for "Yaa All"

 

[-JD-]

Ummmm ... I know that I'm talking about stuff that is seriously above my experiential pay grade, but being bold (stupid) ...

You've already exposed it to 100% O2 when you blew it dry - so empirically, good enough.

If it were me, I'd be loathe to transport O2 tanks without unvented DIN plugs installed. A rolled valve could make for a very bad day.

 

[doctormike]

Ummmm ... I know that I'm talking about stuff that is seriously above my experiential pay grade, but being bold (stupid) ...

You've already exposed it to 100% O2 when you blew it dry - so empirically, good enough.

If it were me, I'd be loathe to transport O2 tanks without unvented DIN plugs installed. A rolled valve could make for a very bad day.

yup! This is the ONE time that I didn't have the plug in it...

 

[doctormike]

Ummmm ... I know that I'm talking about stuff that is seriously above my experiential pay grade, but being bold (stupid) ...

You've already exposed it to 100% O2 when you blew it dry - so empirically, good enough.

Right, but that was after using simple green in the outlet. My question was about any crevices that wouldn't be adequately cleaned by this method.

Also, I blew 100% O2 past it, but that was at ambient pressure, which is lower than what would be in a pressurized system.

In any case, I think that I'll have the whole valve serviced.

Thanks!

 

[-JD-]

Also, I blew 100% O2 past it, but that was at ambient pressure, which is lower than what would be in a pressurized system.

Yea, I thought about that aspect after I had posted. Thermal and pressure factors - Diesel cycle.

Cheers!