filling Oxygen tanks

Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

In article ,
Bruce McFadden wrote:

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Take a look at http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182079-1.html

Basically, welding 02, medical O2 and aviation O2 are the same.

John
--
John Clear - http://www.panix.com/~jac

John Clear wrote:
In article ,
Bruce McFadden wrote:

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?


Take a look at http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/182079-1.html

Basically, welding 02, medical O2 and aviation O2 are the same.

John

I used to work as a plant engineer for a large company that made Liquid
Oxygen, Liquid Argon and Liquid Nitrogen.

The other thing the article fails to cover is that ABO (aviator's
breathing oxygen) and Medical grade oxygen are filtered and tested for
particulates. When making the Liquid oxygen, the air is compressed and
expanded through several compressors and turbines. It is also passed
through a bed of Alumina and Molecular Sieve, all which can leave some
particulates. ABO and medical grade are tested for these, and have
specific requirements. Welding grade O2 doesn't have a filtering
requirement.

In some cases the LOX comes from the same source, so you would probably
be safe to use welding grade oxygen, however, in some facilities, they
are not equipped with the filters nor do they test for particles. You
may be exposing yourself to minute particles of compressors, molecular
sieve, alumina, etc. Is this bad for you?- I don't know.

Finally, if you do decide to do any sort of oxygen re-filling yourself,
you should really give it some healthy respect. Oxygen, if mistreated
can be extremely dangerous (hey- it's the perfect oxidizer). I've seen
heavy stainless steel valves, aluminum and steel piping melted like
butter during a flash fire in an oxygen system. Make sure to use oxygen
compatible materials. Even the oils in your hands can cause a fire in a
pure oxygen environment.

The Compress Gas Association has guidelines for working with it, and
using proper materials for refilling cylinders. Check out
www.cganet.com. Like the article says, a good Oxygen supply company can
help with the components as well.


Len

Bruce McFadden wrote:
Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank
et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is
a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were
a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is
a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK
to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or
welding
O2. Is that OK?

Yes, but good luck. I don't know of any medical O2 vendors that fill
bottles. They exchange bottles with medical bottles (they also require
a Dr note). I've never found any welding suppliers that have the right
attachment. I normally pay between $50 and $80. I'm not sure where you
got it for $40, but I'd love to share some of it!!

-Robert

if you own your own aircraft.. and a hanger to keep it in.. and do a lot of
flying.
check out the local gas supply sources.. our glider club keeps two tanks
on hand, one full, and one partly full, we swap them out one at a time, one
tank we own, one we rent ($9/month)..

to get a full tank is $50 at swap out, and it will fill that tank of yours
a few times... and if you get short changed on a fillup, it's your doing..

BT

"Bruce McFadden" wrote in message
...
Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

Bruce,
The $40 is for the labor. the cost of the O2 is small. Filling your own
is risky if you have not been trained in high pressure gas handling.
Michelle

Bruce McFadden wrote:

Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

Oh yeah,
I take mine to work and fill it on a break :-)
Michelle

Bruce McFadden wrote:

Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

Robert M. Gary wrote:




I've never found any welding suppliers that have the right
attachment.

-Robert


The welding suppliers should have catalogs from their suppliers. ALL the
fittings are made to CGA standards (Compressed Gas Association). They
dictate things like thread pitch and direction for specific gas mixtures
to keep say.. an oxygen tank from going on a nitrogen fitting, etc.

If you dig enough, you WILL find the fittings.

Dave

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 15:41:07 -0800, "BTIZ"
wrote:

if you own your own aircraft.. and a hanger to keep it in.. and do a lot of
flying.
check out the local gas supply sources.. our glider club keeps two tanks
on hand, one full, and one partly full, we swap them out one at a time, one
tank we own, one we rent ($9/month)..

to get a full tank is $50 at swap out, and it will fill that tank of yours
a few times... and if you get short changed on a fillup, it's your doing..

Good GAWD, I've been paying a tad over $20 USD for a full size tank
exchange. I lease them. No hassles of testing. Just take in when I
need gas. I think it was around a $100 for the 10 year lease. I
don't know if I could still find the papers.

Just be careful when working with pressures that high. That stuff is
dangerous. Don't get it near any oil and don't even leave body oil on
connections. I've plumbed many a manifold with up to 8 high pressure
tanks and not lost one yet. Although not set up now, I used 1/4 SS
tubing for the connections when filling tanks. Nothing larger.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

BT

"Bruce McFadden" wrote in message
...
Santa's wife has decided that she would prefer that I fly with oxygen
even below 12.5K and especially at night. So I've been given a tank et
al. I was shocked today when I had it filled at Merucry Air. It is a
415 L size D tank. Because the pressure in their filling tanks were a
bit low, they could only fill my new tank to 1700 lbs, not to a fully
topped off level of 2000 lbs.
They charged me $40 flat fee..... a discount they said because it is a
small cylinder. That seem really steep to me.

Is this about right fur filling an O2 tank. I've heard that it is OK to
have the tank filled at other places such as with medical O2 or welding
O2. Is that OK?

Bruce McFadden Birmingham, AL
PA32-260 N5594J

"Len" wrote in message
...
I used to work as a plant engineer for a large company that made Liquid
Oxygen, Liquid Argon and Liquid Nitrogen.
--snip--
Welding grade O2 doesn't have a filtering
requirement.
--snip--
Len

Would a final filter for a medical O2 concentrator be of any benefit?

Just curious,

Marty