SOFAB
Scuba Tank Filling Instructions
Question:
Why do scuba Shop Operators Fill
Scuba Tanks while they are placed in tubes
of water ?
Answer:
A scuba tank is designed
to hold a certain volume of air at a particular
temperature. The standard tank is an aluminum
80 CF tank. At room temperature and 3,000
psi, the tank holds 72 CF of air (Yet the
industry rounds it up to 80 CF tank). When
you are filling the tank, the air and tank
will become warm/hot. If you check the pressure
gauge while the tank is warm, it will give
you a reading of X. Once the tank cools,
it will give you a reading that is less
than X. They put the tanks in the water
in the hopes of keeping the temperature
equal to the tank design inner temperature
and pressure. In Saudi Arabia, many of the
tanks will be sitting in the sun while on
the boat. The tank may have a visible reading
of 3,200 psi. Once you jump in the water,
and the tank cools down, the new reading
may be 2,800 psi without ever breathing
any of the air. Be very careful as not to
be fooled by this. It’s not the tank’s
fault and it’s not the filling company’s
fault it’s nature. Thus remember to
cool the tank while filling it by placing
it in a cool water tank as to be able to
have the closest reading to actual reading
as possible.
Caution: Your lungs and body are the most
precious things in life. At any cost, do
not fill your tanks from an existing bank
of air (air tank). The chances that the
air bank (tank) is not contaminated are
almost impossible. All air bank tanks are
contaminated except for those that are made
if 316 stainless steel material. These 316
stainless steel tanks are mostly used in
the food industry because of the high cost
associated with them.
All non 316 stainless steel Air
Bank Tanks are contaminated:
- Poisonous: Trapped
air along with inner rusted inner
steel body.
- Contaminated: There
is residual water in the tank from
cold air expanding in the tank and
thus moisture is created and diluted
with rusted steel particles that are
further passed to Scuba Tanks.
- Toxic: Water buildup
and rust residue makes for a source
of toxic gas that could cause severe
illness.
SOFAB Procedure
for Inspection of Scuba Tank Filling Station
Air Compressor
It is the right of each
certified diver to inspect the machine prior
to filling his or her scuba tank at their
local marine store. If the marine store
sales man does not allow you to inspect
the Air Compressor filling station, you
must immediately contact the Coast Guard
or Border Guard and report them as illegally
filling scuba air tanks without inspection
procedure or approvals. The Standard information
required to be performed by marine store
staff must be presented in the form of a
maintenance schedule document attached to
the filling station Air Compressor frame:
- Caution, never operate the Air Compressor
when the temperature is 45°C or above.
- Check the Air Compressor Hobbs Meter
and the Maintenance Schedule Inspection
Report Form near the Air Compressor for
the following:
- Large Air Compressor Oil has been
changed every 250hrs. Smaller Air
Compressors must be changed every
50hrs.
CAUTION URGENT: if you do not replace
oil every 250/50 hrs respectively,
you will have bad air smell and
taste coming from the air compressor
in to the scuba tank. Immediately
stop filling air tanks and contact
the Coast Guard or Border Guard
and report the Store and his scuba
filling system.
- Large Air Compressor Air filter must
be replaced every 12 months.
- Large Air Compressor, Carbon Cartridges
must be changed every 50hrs. Smaller
Air Compressor must be a changed every
25hrs.
- Air Compressor General Maintenance
to be performed at the following intervals;
500hrs, 700hrs or 2 years whichever
are higher, 1000hrs and 1500hrs operations,
the Air Compressor must be returned
to distributor for full scheduled maintenance
parts replacement program.
SOFAB Procedure for Filling Scuba
Air Tanks:
The certification you require is a Professional
Scuba Inspector (PSI), or Advance Open Water
Diver, or DOT, or OSHA-approved certification
in order to legally fill any cylinders.
Once you have the certification, follow
these simple "How To" steps:
- Start the refill process by checking
the hydrostatic testing dates on the cylinders.
It is imperative not to fill cylinders
that do not comply with this requirement.
(Maximum 5 years life).
- Empty the cylinder until there are only
five to ten pounds per square inch (PSI)
of air. Pay attention to sounds of lose
objects or water inside. Cylinders that
sound damaged or flooded must not be filled.
Before placing the cylinder in a cool-water
tank at a compressor facility, you must
also inspect the valve for damage, rust
or debris.
- Avoid filling the following tanks.
- Date Stamped on the Air Cylinder
which is 5 years old or older.
- Damage at the valve Nipple.
- Rust on the Tank or at the Valve
Nipple.
- Debris or Physical damage to the
Tank.
- Lose objects inside the Tank.
- Water in the Tank. Turn Tank Upside
down and open slowly the air valve.
- Caution: Do Not Fill your Scuba Tank
from a large attached air bank (Air Tank).
These large air banks (Air Tank) hold
air that has been pumped from the Air
Compressor to the Air Bank.
- Once you have performed the preliminary
inspection of filters, gauges and the
compressor itself to make sure they comply
with the operational specifications, as
well as set the compressor to shut down
automatically at the specified rating
for the cylinder, you may begin the actual
work of inserting the Scuba Tank in cold
water tank and begin to refilling the
cylinder.
- Make sure you have wiped the cylinder
valve and compressor yoke clean and dry,
fasten yoke to the cylinder and open the
cylinder valve completely. Start the compressor
cycle in order to fill the cylinder.
- As a precaution, you must monitor the
automatic shut off, and be prepared to
shut off the compressor manually if need
be. Remember, the compressor must never
be left unattended while filling the cylinder.
- Finally, be sure to take steps to ensure
your safety of those around you, as unexpected
accidents may occur.
|
