How to: Install CO2 tank in rear

[COOKN]

OK--

You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I guess what I'm understanding in lay terms---if you don't overfill the tank, it should be safe inside the FJ as long as the overflow valve is pointed toward the rear.

[BellyDoc]

COOKN previously said:

OK--

You guys are a wealth of knowledge. I guess what I'm understanding in lay terms---if you don't overfill the tank, it should be safe inside the FJ as long as the overflow valve is pointed toward the rear.

The pop off valve that's likely to blow is on the regulator. Unless you're using the CO2 tank to run an onboard air system with an ARB air locker installed, there's no reason for you to be driving around with the tank valve open.

The tank with a closed valve will handle the CO2 just fine. The tank is hydrostatically tested to a pressure in excess of 2500 psi. The CO2 fill is around 1000 psi. If you burp liquid CO2 into the regulator, though, it will decompress to a pressure below the phase change line in the phase diagram. It will evolve into gas and blow the pop off valve on the regulator.

There *IS* a pop off on the tank valve, but it's set for a much much higher pressure. Instead of protecting the regulator, it's protecting the tank. I suppose it's possible to blow this valve with CO2, and if it's possible, then it's happened... but that's not the typical CO2 incident. The typical incident is with the regulator pop off.

I had a crappy CO2 regulator on a welding bottle for a while, and if I did enough continuous weld, the regulator would freeze open. When I took my finger off the trigger, the downstream pressure would mount rapidly and the pop off would go. Then I'd have to shut off the flow at the tank or lose all my gas... and then wait for it to thaw.

[COOKN]

BellyDoc previously said:

The pop off valve that's likely to blow is on the regulator. Unless you're using the CO2 tank to run an onboard air system with an ARB air locker installed, there's no reason for you to be driving around with the tank valve open.

The tank with a closed valve will handle the CO2 just fine. The tank is hydrostatically tested to a pressure in excess of 2500 psi. The CO2 fill is around 1000 psi. If you burp liquid CO2 into the regulator, though, it will decompress to a pressure below the phase change line in the phase diagram. It will evolve into gas and blow the pop off valve on the regulator.

There *IS* a pop off on the tank valve, but it's set for a much much higher pressure. Instead of protecting the regulator, it's protecting the tank. I suppose it's possible to blow this valve with CO2, and if it's possible, then it's happened... but that's not the typical CO2 incident. The typical incident is with the regulator pop off.

I had a crappy CO2 regulator on a welding bottle for a while, and if I did enough continuous weld, the regulator would freeze open. When I took my finger off the trigger, the downstream pressure would mount rapidly and the pop off would go. Then I'd have to shut off the flow at the tank or lose all my gas... and then wait for it to thaw.

Thanks Doc--

I feel much safer with your explanation.