IN recent times a new offer appeared on the market of gas-cylinder and filling equipment - mobile (home) gas filling station. In other words, you can refuel your vehicle at home using the domestic gas network. As you know, the tariffs for household gas for the population are orders of magnitude lower than the price of gas at filling stations. And this is even through the counter. If there is no meter and you pay at standard (albeit inflated) tariffs - then and so on. Everything is clear. Yes, it turns out that you will be filling the car for almost nothing. By the way, in the West or in America such home gas stations are gaining more and more popularity, although there is not a big difference in the price of gas in the kitchen and at the gas station. It's another matter with us ...
With savings, I think, everyone understands - even by the most conservative estimates, at least more than 10 times, provided that you honestly pay for everything using the domestic gas meter.
In addition to that, refueling the car with natural gas from the household network, connected to your house or apartment will allow:
Again, the main thing is to reduce the cost of refueling the car. The cost of methane is several times lower than the cost of gasoline. The more intensively the car is used, the higher the economic effect.
Extend engine life. Methane gas, like propane-butane, does not wash off the oil film from the cylinder walls of the engine, which provides excellent lubrication of the piston group parts. In addition, methane, unlike gasoline, does not contain various additives that oxidize the oil itself, which has a positive effect on the resource and stability of the characteristics of the engine oil. Plus this, by about a quarter, prolongs the life of the spark plugs. Reducing the wear of engine parts increases the service life by 1.5-2 times, and the service life of the engine oil by 2-2.5 times.
The high octane number of natural gas (104-115) allows it to be used for any engines (ZAZ, LuAZ, VAZ, GAZ, Moskvich, UAZ, etc.), as well as in engines of most foreign cars. This also applies to trucks.
Significantly reduce emissions of harmful combustion products into the atmosphere. When gas is used as a fuel for a car, emissions of harmful toxic compounds of lead and aromatic compounds are completely absent, emissions of CO, CH, nitrogen oxides are reduced by several times, smoke from the exhaust pipe is reduced by three times. Even if you are not an ardent fan of "green" vehicles, cars with installed methane gas equipment are exempted from environmental control when passing through a technical inspection.
And the feasibility of using various "devices" to reduce the fuel consumption of a car has already been considered earlier.
Further, there are two options for refueling a car with gas at home:
Purchase a ready-made factory mobile gas filling station. Unfortunately, the domestic industry does not produce such (it is understandable, no one will be given permission), and there are already quite a lot of foreign samples. For example, they are serially produced by Neuman ESSER (Germany), Maschinenfabrik (Austria), Litvin (France) and many others. The only but very significant disadvantage is the price. These gas stations are not cheap, especially for a person who wants to save on this, and therefore, certainly not an oligarch.
Do it yourself. Option, again ten times cheaper, but requires desire, time and, most importantly, "straight" hands, moreover, they must grow from the right place;).
Manual for self-production of a set of gas equipment for refueling a car with household gas
At the beginning, it is necessary to clarify: there is a gas apparatus for compressed gas and an apparatus for liquefied gas. Compressed gas equipment uses conventional natural gas- methane, which can be taken from the residential or industrial gas network. The only problem is how to fill this gas into the car at home.
In a conventional gas pipeline supplied to a home stove, column or boiler, the pressure of natural gas is about 0.05 atm., And in a high-pressure gas cylinder up to 200 atm. Therefore, a compressor is needed that will raise the gas pressure to the required value. The design of such a compressor is somewhat different from that used in conventional household appliances.
A conventional single-circuit compressor is capable of raising the pressure to a maximum of 20 -25 Atm., And to refuel a gas cylinder, it is necessary to reach 200 Atm. This is achieved by adding additional circuits to the system. It looks like a set of several compressors, each subsequent one, of which compresses the gas previously compressed by the previous one to a higher pressure.
In general, a high pressure compressor circuit looks like this.
Legend on the diagram: 1 Filter for gas inlet. 2 Stage 1 inlet valve. 3 Stage 1 outlet valve. 4 Cooling tube between 1st and 2nd stages. 5 Inlet valve stage 2. 6 Stage 2 outlet valve. 7 Cooling tube between 2nd and 3rd stage. 8 Inlet valve 3 stages. 9 Exhaust valve 3 stages. 10 Cooling tubes in the last stage of gas exit. 11 Pressure switch. 12 Active carbon / molecular filter. 13 Safety valve. 14 Pressure sensor. 15 Outlet connection for hoses.
The principle of operation of a compressor for refueling a car with gas:
Gas from the domestic gas pipeline through the inlet filter (1) is fed through the inlet valve (2) to the cylinder of the primary circuit. Compression occurs and through the outlet valve (3) it is piped through the cooling radiator (4) to the cylinder of the next circuit. Further, the gas previously compressed in the primary circuit is compressed to an even higher pressure. All processes are repeated in the third loop. The number of contours can be increased to five. There are three of them in the above diagram. But this does not change the principle.
Natural gas compressed to the required pressure (this is about 200 atm.) Passes through the pressure switch (11), is cleaned in a molecular filter and through the safety valve is fed into the cylinder of the refueled car or into the reserve high-pressure cylinder. The filling time will depend entirely on the productivity of the installation.
In order to speed up the refueling time of the vehicle, additional stationary cylinders can be used. Then, in free time, the compressor pumps gas into these stationary cylinders. And when you need to quickly refuel your car, you distill the methane directly from them. Thus, the refueling time can be reduced to 10-15 minutes.
Description of a home-made device for refueling a car with household gas.
As previously stated, this requires a high pressure compressor (up to 200 kg / cm2). Compressors such as GP4, NG-2, AKG-2 can be used, but they require a powerful electric motor, which is not suitable for many. A good option- this is the use of the AK 150S air compressor. It is used on modern armored vehicles and in aviation. This compressor is quite small, lightweight, requires a low-power electric motor of 1.5-3 kW, which allows it to be connected to an apartment or garage electrical network. The main question is where to get it. But believe me, this is not as difficult a task as it seems at first glance. Often they can be written off, while using up no more than 10% of their resource. Those who are looking will always find (sometimes for very little money or liquid barter :)).
A schematic of the filling device is shown in Fig. 2
From a household gas network through a rubber hose (it is possible from a gas welding machine), gas is supplied through a valve to a gas filter (7). The pressure gauge (2), connected through the adapter (3), serves to control the pressure in the gas network, The gas in the filter (7) is cleaned of impurities and supplied to the compressor (10), where it rises to 150 kg / cm2. Then the gas enters a water separator (18), a high pressure gas filter (19), a pressure machine (20) of the ADU-2S type. The gas is then supplied to the filling valve.
When the pressure rises above 150 kg / cm2, the ADU 2 valve opens and the gas returns through the pipe (23) to the compressor inlet. The NMP 100 type pressure gauge is used with a measurement range of 0-400 mm of water. Art.
The function of the gas filter can be performed by a new fuel filter for fine cleaning of diesel engines. A tap (17) is used to drain condensate from the water separator. To control the pressure at the compressor outlet, a pressure gauge (22) (0-250) kg / cm2 is installed.
Elements 18, 19, 20 (Fig, 2) are most preferably used from air system tank. In principle, you can do without the ADU-2 pressure machine, but then you need to constantly monitor the outlet pressure so that it does not exceed it.
In fig. 4 shows the layout of the holes and the main parameters of the compressor. The compressor does not have its own drive unit and lubrication system.
Fig. 3 shows a variant of the compressor drive unit.
It is fastened to the compressor flange (1) with the help of sheet metal, studs in flocks (8) through the gasket (10), the housing (11). A plate (12) is welded to the bottom of the casing for fastening the compressor with a lubrication unit (Fig, 5). Bearing (4) of type 205 is pressed into the housing (11) (Fig, 3). A sleeve (7) is pressed into the bearing from the slot, which is fastened with a retaining ring (19). The spline shaft (6) of the compressor enters the bushing on one side, and on the other side the shaft (17) is pressed in, the key of which enters the splines of the bushing (7). This is done in order not to cut splines on the shaft (17). After pressing in, the shaft (17) is gently tacked to the sleeve (7) by welding.
After that, the body (11) is closed with a cover (14) with an oil seal (13). The cover is fastened with bolts (5). On the other end of the shaft (17) a drive pulley (15) with a key (16) is fitted. The compressor lubrication unit is shown in fig. 2 and fig. 5. The base is a tank (24) (Fig. 2), which can be made from a rectangular profile or welded from sheet metal. A drive unit with a compressor is attached to the top of the reservoir. Hole (13) (Fig. 3) must line up with hole (11) (Fig. 5) on the tank. A hole is cut out on top of the tank in a convenient place, to which the filler neck (3) and the lid (2) are welded (Fig. 5).
A hole is drilled in the lower part of the tank for the drain plug (14) (Fig. 2). A hole is drilled in the side wall of the tank for the oil pump (1) and the pump drive shaft (17). The oil pump is attached to the tank wall with studs. Hole (4) (fig. 5) serves to supply oil to the pump. Shafts (6) and (17) are connected by means of plate (7) and bushing (8). For fastening the bearing (12) is a housing (15) with a cover (16), an oil seal (13). The cover is fixed to the body with screws (14). A pulley (18) with a key is put on the shaft (17). The oil pump is used from the GAZ-51, 52, 69 car, but it should be borne in mind that the pumps differ in the length of the drive shaft.
The oil level is monitored by a sight glass (11) of any design. The lubrication system works as follows. The torque from the pulley of the electric motor through the belt drive is transmitted to the pulley (16) (Fig. 2), (18) (Fig. 5) and through the shaft (17), bushing (8) and plate (7) is transmitted to the shaft (6) pump drive (1). The oil enters through the hole (4) into the pump (1) (Fig. 5), (8) (Fig. 2), passes through the adapter (3), into which the automobile pressure sensor (4) is screwed in, and is fed through the tube to the inlet fitting (12) oil supply to the compressor. The fitting (12) in Fig. 2 is conditionally deployed. It is screwed into hole (3) (fig. 3). The thread diameter depends on the tube you have, which can be used from hydraulic system autotractor units.
Then the oil passes through the compressor lubrication channels (fig. 3, fig. 4), collects in the lower part and is thrown out through the oil drain hole fig. 4, fig. 11 (part 11) then flows through the hole (13) (Fig. 3) into the reservoir (24) (Fig. 2) Part of the oil passes through the bearing (4) (Fig. 3) and lubricates it. Part (7) ( fig. 11) can be made from the compressor drive gear, which must be purchased. To do this, it is necessary to grind off the gear ring to the dimensions shown in Fig. 11 (detail 7) .A car bulb can be connected to the pressure sensor (4) (fig. 2). Instead of a sensor, a pressure gauge can be connected for monitoring. In order to divert the gas that has broken through the piston rings into the housing of the drive unit, there is a threaded hole at the top of the housing (Fig. 11), (det. 11), section A-A, into which the fitting (13) is screwed ( fig. 2). A rubber tube is put on the fitting and is displayed above the roof of the garage, at home. Although the design of the filling device provides for the localization of possible gas emissions into the room, it is advisable to install it outside the room.
The design of the compressor allows pumping gas of any pressure. But it must be remembered that when the compressor is operating at very low pressure or a complete absence of gas at the inlet, with the main valve fully open, a vacuum can be created at the compressor inlet and the compressor instead of gas begins to draw air through leaks in the valve glands, etc. Therefore, before When filling the gas cylinder, it is necessary to let the compressor run into the atmosphere for several minutes until the air is completely removed from the filling device.
Conversion of the vehicle to work on natural gas.
In fig. 1 depicts scheme gas equipment for natural gas.
First you need to make sure that it is advisable to install LPG equipment on your car.
The natural gas cylinders (5) are connected by high pressure pipes (3) through adapters (4) screwed into the cylinders instead of valves. Through the shut-off valve (6), the gas is supplied to the flow valve (9) and enters the high pressure reducer (HP) (11), where the high gas pressure (200 atmospheres) is reduced to 10 atm. During this process, the gas quickly and strongly cools, so the reducer can freeze when the gas is quickly drawn in, then the gas stops flowing. To prevent gas freezing, a reducer heater (12) is used. Further, the gas is already through the low pressure pipeline (14), through solenoid valve(15) enters the low pressure reducer (18), where the gas pressure decreases again and is directed through the tee (20) to the car's carburetor (22), in proportion to the engine load (depending on the accelerator pedal depression). By transferring the voltage of the P1 switch to the EV gas valve (15) or to the petrol valve (23), it is possible to switch the type of fuel on the fly. Gasoline enters the carburetor (22) through the fuel pump (24), valve (23). A start valve (19) is used to start the engine on gas.
In fig. 1 shows a simplified diagram of EM valve control. Valves 15, 19, 23, reducer-heater 12, low pressure pipes can be used from the set of equipment for liquefied gas. All this can be mounted in the engine compartment at its original locations. This can be done in a workshop for the installation of equipment for liquefied gas, where you can also purchase these units, install, adjust, check. You can do all this yourself, but you still need documents to register a gas installation on a car, and they can only be issued by a workshop that has a license for this. And for correct adjustment gas equipment, on which both engine thrust and consumption are very dependent, it is desirable that a qualified technician perform on the appropriate equipment.
You don't have to buy a balloon. A standard car will not work, because it is designed for low pressure (16 atm) and the mileage will be very low. Therefore, it must be replaced with a high pressure cylinder (Fig. 7) 200 (150) atm and a high pressure reducer (11) (Fig. 1) must be added to reduce the pressure from 200 (150) atm to 10 atm. Aviation oxygen gearboxes that do not freeze are well suited for this, or a gearbox from a truck with a heater.
Also, for this purpose, you can use a conventional oxygen reducer for gas welding. But it needs to be slightly modified. It is necessary to change the cover with a large thread diameter, at the upper part for the union and the safety valve with the union from the truck gearbox. The fact is that the oxygen reducer is not suitable for venting gas when a safety valve is triggered or when a diaphragm ruptures. A rubber tube (10) (Fig. 1) is put on the union of the safety valve and the union of the cover (13) and is led out of the body.
In addition, it is necessary to purchase a liquid heater (12) (Fig. 1) with a bracket for the oxygen reducer. In this way, you can reduce the cost of the system. It should be borne in mind that the above refers to the oxygen reducer type DKP-1-65. There is also a gearbox of the new type EKO-25-2, to which the cover from the gearbox of a truck does not fit.
The HP reducer is installed in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The liquid heater is installed in the break of the hose that goes to the stove. The copper tubing from the LPG equipment kit that goes into the trunk must be replaced with a seamless high pressure steel tubing from the compressed gas equipment of the truck. The control over the operation of the HP reducer is carried out using a pressure gauge (16) (0-25 kg / cm2), which is installed in place of the reducer pressure sensor.
To determine the amount of filled gas and control the pressure in the cylinders, a high pressure gauge (1) (Fig. 1) (0-250 kg / cm2) is installed on the final cylinder. The filling valve (7) (Fig. 1) serves for filling high pressure from a home filling device, or at a filling station - CNG filling station. For this, a filling connection from a truck is used. To connect the cylinders to each other, to connect the high pressure reducer, tees, you can use only steel seamless high pressure tubes (3) with an outer diameter of 10 mm and an inner diameter of 6 mm.
In order to prevent damage from vibration and distortions, short parts of gas pipelines are bent in the form of rings with a diameter of 100 mm. In addition, the cylinders must be installed on a common frame in the sockets lined with rubber bands. The entire package must be compressed with pins to prevent movement of the cylinders. Each car brand has its own layout option.
In fig. 9 shows one of the possible options. In addition, the design of a package of cylinders depends on the type of cylinders, their number, which ultimately determines the mileage.
The mileage depends on the amount of gas in the cylinders, the determination of which is made difficult by the fact that when different temperatures air in the same volume includes a different amount of gas. For orientation, you can use a simplified conversion factor:
a) at a pressure in the cylinders of 150 kg / cm2 - 1 liter of the volume of the cylinder, equivalent to 0.3 liters of gasoline.
b) at a pressure in the cylinders of 200 kg / cm2 - 1 liter of the volume of the cylinder, equivalent to 0.4 liters of gasoline.
That is, if the average consumption of a car is 9 liters of gasoline per 100 km and the total volume of cylinders is 50 liters (for example), the mileage will be as follows:
a) at a pressure in the cylinders of 150 kg / cm2; 50 * 0.3 = 15 liters of gasoline (15 * 100): 9 = 167 km
Now knowing this, you can choose the type and number of cylinders depending on the required mileage. You should not chase high mileage, because the weight increases, the volume of the cargo compartment decreases. It is better to have a basic set of cylinders for a mileage of 80-100 km and an additional one for long trips.
Our industry does not produce high-pressure cylinders specifically for passenger cars. Therefore, you have to use them from different areas of technology,
In fig. 7 shows the dimensions of the most common types of HP cylinders. Oxygen cylinders of non-standard reduced size may be suitable for our needs. Scuba tanks are perfect for scuba diving. Cylinders are produced from fiberglass, reinforced by winding a steel wire, from composite materials. They are very light and sturdy and are perfect for our needs, but they are in short supply.
Aviation or tank high pressure cylinders can also be used. In extreme cases, a cylinder of the required size can be made from ordinary oxygen by cutting out the middle part. After that, the cylinder is cooked by argon-arc welding, scanned with a gamma flaw detector, and subjected to hydraulic testing in a specialized organization. It is strictly forbidden to do this in artisanal conditions.
After installing the valve cylinders, the adapters, the filling connection are placed in a box (4) (Fig. 9) made of soft sheet, into which the connection (3) and the service window (2) are soldered, which is installed on the seal. The design can be taken from LPG cylinders. A piece of rubber tube is put on the fitting and is displayed outside the body through a window for refueling a gas tank or another place.
On average, filling gas cylinders with gas lasts 1-1.5 hours. To reduce the filling time, two compressors can be paired. Truck owners can use 4 compressors. In fig. 10 shows a schematic electrical diagram for connecting a 3-phase electric motor to a single-phase network.
Voltage is supplied to the IM motor through circuit breaker Q1, magnetic starter MP. When the "start" button is pressed, relay P1 is triggered, which, with its contacts P1.2, supplies voltage to the coil of the MP starter and connects the starting capacitors Cn with contacts P1.1. In this case, the starter is triggered and connects the motor and working capacitors Cp to the network. At the same time, the auxiliary contacts of the MP 1.1 starter are closed and the starter becomes self-locking. When the "Start" button is released, the Cn is turned off. When you press the Stop button or when the RT motor thermal protection relay is triggered, the circuit is opened, the starter is disconnected, the motor is turned off and the circuit returns to its original position. When connecting the motor windings with a triangle Cp = 4800 (IHOM / U), where IHOM is the rated current of the motor, U is the voltage in the network. Cn = (2-3) Cf.
When storing the car in the garage, a tube is put on the fitting, which is led out above the roof of the garage. With this design, you will be fully guaranteed against any gas leaks. Before using cylinders, you need to check them operating pressure, volume, technical condition. The outer surface should not have dents, cracks, deep scratches and traces of corrosion. Near the VD neck it is indicated:
- date of test and date of next test;
- type of heat treatment (N - normalization, W - hardening with tempering);
- operating pressure;
- test hydraulic pressure (p225);
- actual weight, brand of the plant,
To connect gas pipelines, special adapters are used (Fig. 8), which are screwed into the cylinder instead of the valve, lubricating the thread with lead red lead. The tightening torque of the adapter is 45-50 kg / m (450-500) Nm. This can be checked with a special torque wrench, which can be borrowed from a car service station. When the valve or adapter is fully screwed in, 2-5 threads should remain on its threaded part. The size of the tapered thread (fig. 8) depends on the types of cylinders.
High-pressure pipes have a non-gasket nipple connection, which, when the union nut is tightened, abuts against the tapered surface of the fitting and, deforming, seals the connection point. If you have purchased old pipes, you need to cut off the end of the pipe with the nipple and put on a new nipple, coat it with red lead, and tighten the union nut. After carefully tightening all threaded connections, the filling valve is opened, the filling device is connected and air is pumped in to half of the working pressure, the connections are checked, and in the absence of gaps, pumped to the full working pressure.
Air leaks must be eliminated after the pressure has been completely relieved. If there are no gaps, then open the filling valve and completely release the air from the system and pump gas into the cylinder. After that, the flow valve is opened and gas is introduced to the high pressure reducer, and its operation is checked.
To do this, using the fitting (13) (Fig. 1) set the gas pressure at the outlet to 10 kg / cm2, then purge the low pressure system with gas until air is completely removed, start the engine on gas and check the pressure at the outlet of the HP reducer. may fall slightly. All work must be carried out outside the premises. After that, the actuation of the safety valve of the reducer is checked. To do this, screw the fitting (13) smoothly (Fig, 1) and gradually increase the pressure at the outlet of the reducer until the valve is triggered. It should work at a pressure of 15-17 kg / cm2.
If the valve trips at a different pressure, it is necessary to loosen the locknut on the valve and adjust the tripping. After that, check the tightness of the main valve. To do this, completely unscrew the fitting (13), while the gas should not enter the low pressure line. If the pressure increases slowly, then the valve seat in the reducer is changed or taken to a workshop. If everything is in order, make a test drive and check the low pressure reducer.
How to do this is well described in the operating instructions for gas equipment on liquefied gas and there is no need to describe it.It should be borne in mind that when using a low pressure reducer from a nozzle for liquefied gas, your car may slightly lose dynamism. To prevent this from happening, you can drill the jets in the gearbox by 1-2 tens, but then the mileage and efficiency will decrease. So the decision is yours.
Safety regulations for the operation of the vehicle and the refueling device.
You need to know that natural gas is lighter than air and rises upward, unlike liquefied gas, which spreads along the ground, fills all the cracks and basements. Therefore, during operation, this feature must be taken into account.
Before each departure and return to the garage, after Maintenance and repair it is necessary to do a tightness check gas system... Most available ways gas leak detection is odor control and soaping. If you smell gas while driving, you must eliminate the malfunction. If you cannot eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to release the gas from the cylinders into the atmosphere (in the absence of people nearby, open fire, other vehicles).
If the gearbox freezes and the engine starts in winter, it is necessary to use hot water, it is strictly forbidden to use open fire! When gas equipment lights up, it is necessary to close the valves, turn off the filling system. To extinguish a fire, you must have a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher on hand. In this case, it is necessary to water the cylinders with water in order to prevent an increase in pressure in them.
Once every three years, it is necessary to check the high-pressure cylinders by a hydraulic test, once a year - it is necessary to take it for inspection. It is strictly forbidden to attach structural elements to the surface of the cylinders by welding. When refueling a car, it is necessary to control the gas pressure at the compressor inlet and outlet, the temperature of the cylinders, and the pressure in the lubrication system. There must be no people in the vehicle while refueling.
If gas leaks are detected, refueling must be carried out at following conditions: refuel only with the flow valve closed, when refueling, do not stand near the refueling hose, do not tighten the nuts during refueling under pressure, do not knock with metal objects on the parts of the refueling system. Disconnect the filling hose only after closing the filling valve. When the working pressure in the cylinders is reached, it is necessary to turn off the compressor engine, close the filling valve, and close the valve at the compressor inlet.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the task was to give you a simplified, affordable and at the same time safe and efficient design of the filling device, which can be assembled in enough a short time and get moral and material pleasure from their work. At the same time, the article is informative and the site is not responsible for possible consequences use of materials.
Today, refueling gas cylinders is a very topical issue. Especially considering that it is much cheaper and easier to refuel an old cylinder than to purchase a new one. Bottled gas is often used both at home and at work. Most often, gas is used for heating private houses and for household needs (cooking). In connection with the growing popularity of the use of gas in various fields, many people have an expedient question of where to purchase and subsequently refuel gas cylinders for their household needs.
Where to refuel gas cylinders? And where should you not do this?
Gas for household cylinders is sold at specialized filling points. Most often, such points are located at stationary automobile gas stations. Of course, the opportunity to fill gas cylinders is available at many gas stations that are not even equipped with special cylinder points, but experts strongly advise against purchasing liquefied gas from them. This is associated with certain risks:
- when refueling with gas, the cylinders are not checked for gas leaks;
- there is no control on the part of refuelers of the timing or period of inspection of cylinders, which makes further operation of cylinders unsafe;
- the format of an automobile filling station does not make it possible to fill the cylinder properly. According to the approved standards, the volume of gas filling should not exceed 85%. This allows the creation of a so-called "steam cap" in the cylinder, which prevents the risk of explosion of the cylinder under the influence of high temperatures (for example, the sun). In automobile gas cylinders, unlike household ones, a special cut-off device is placed to timely prevent gas overflow. Taking this into account, gas cylinders should be filled with mandatory control of the weight of the equipment on the scales.
Refueling gas cylinders at gas stations is possible only with specialized equipment and a license.
Companies that fill any gas tanks are called "gas filling stations". By the nature of their activity, they can have different equipment configurations. Often, the process of filling a cylinder can take place in three ways:
- pumping - using a pump;
- pumping and compression - gas is taken by the pump and supplied to the cylinder under the increased pressure created by the compressor;
- pump-and-evaporation - additionally introduced into the gas supply system electric heater- an evaporator that provides increased pressure.
Such a gas filling station should contain:
- exhaust and pumping units;
- gas storage tanks;
- technical tools for transportation;
- additional devices: dispensers, instrument for measuring gas density, etc.
Rules for refueling gas cylinders for summer cottages
Enough high degree explosiveness determines the presence of standard requirements for filling gas cylinders.
For example, gas refueling should not be carried out if one of the following disadvantages exists:
- the equipment is defective;
- there is no residual pressure in the cylinder;
- are present visible defects valves or valve;
- the surface of the cylinder is covered with rust;
- there is a presence external signs peeling paint;
- there are dents or damage.
In addition to the standards, the cylinders are marked with the inscription "compressed gas" and a sticker is applied to signal the explosion hazard.
Before direct filling, the vessel must be freed from condensate and gas residues. The filling of the cylinder is carried out strictly on the basis of its characteristics specified in the technical passport.
Gas cylinders can be filled in two ways:
- exchange - the consumer provides his cylinders and in return receives cylinders already filled with gas. The main advantage of this method can be considered significant time savings. Disadvantage: Getting someone else's equipment that may have lower technical specifications;
- using their own cylinders - the consumer leaves the cylinders at the filling station, and after a certain time (1-2 days) picks them up. Positive moment this method- their cylinders are constantly used. Minus - delivery costs and refueling time.
The cost of refueling gas equipment
The price for such services depends on several factors:
- service level (assembly / disassembly);
- availability of transport services (additional transportation);
- electricity costs for refueling;
- the cost of the gas itself.
HOW TO FILL A THREADED TOURIST GAS CYLINDER?
It is best to fill a threaded container from the same half-empty cartridge or a cheaper collet. But some craftsmen fill the container with gas from a household cylinder. A five-liter container in which there is a propane-butane mixture is suitable. Unlike pure butane, which is initially found in commercial gas cylinders, it works great at subzero temperatures.
Secure connection e is carried out through a special adapter for refueling gas cartridges. It is a transparent tube, at the ends of which there are threaded adapters for connecting to cartridges. A part of the adapter tip is made of brass. It has a wing retainer and an O-ring. This device helps to screw and fix the adapter on the cylinder. In addition, it has a regulator valve to ensure smooth gas supply.
Refueling the cartridge must be carried out in compliance with safety rules.
Algorithm of work:
- 1. Check if the regulator valve on the adapter is closed. Then insert the gasket into the fitting and screw the adapter to the household bottle. For reliability, tighten the union using an adjustable wrench.
- 2.Turn the cylinder over and, if possible, hang it up.
- 3. On a previously prepared balance, you need to weigh the cylinder and find out its empty weight. The resulting weight should be written on the bottom of the container with a marker, this will come in handy at the next refueling.
- But the main purpose of this weighing is to find out the exact mass, so that when filling the cartridge, it does not exceed the specified volume and leave an air "cushion".
- 4.After weighing, the cylinder is screwed onto the adapter. First, the valve on the large cylinder opens, and then on the small one, the gas supply begins. Through the transparent tube you will see
- movement of gas bubbles.
- 5. After a certain time, the movement of liquid gas may slow down, in this case
- it is necessary to suspend the process and release the gas from the tourist spray. Evaporation
- some part of the substance in the container will drop in pressure and the filling process can be continued.
- Another solution in this situation would be to cool the entire cylinder, which can be
- place in the freezer for a short period of time and then refuel.
- 6. After refueling, the can is weighed again, and if the collected volume exceeds the required volume, then it is necessary
- bleed off excess gas.
HOW TO REFUEL THE COLLET TOURIST CYLINDER?
The source of gas can be a household cylinder. To connect it, you need to make a special adapter. The manufacture of such an adapter consists in connecting the torch, previously removed from the gas collet cartridge without a nozzle, and the hose. The latter is clamped with metal clamps on both sides, which provide reliable fastening and protection against slipping of the hose. At its other end, a fitting is attached. He puts on a balloon, but before him one should not forget put a pad and then tighten the homemade adapter tightly. The balloon is placed on the table, and on the other side of the adapter, a tourist analogue is put on and filled to the required volume, checking it by weighing.
You can also fill the collet cartridge with gas from its threaded counterpart. One has only to make a homemade adapter from the needle of a disposable syringe and use it to connect two cans.
Refueling of gas cylinders for tourist burners can be carried out independently, taking into account the above nuances. After the first time, you can remember all the steps and repeat them at the next refueling. But we must remember that any tourist spray is a disposable product and its refueling is done at your own peril and risk.
What do you need to refuel gas cylinders?
A household gas cylinder has different capacities. Starting from 5, ending with 300 liters. It will be needed as a gas source. The cylinder will be refueled from it. All of them are refueled according to the same scheme. For the refueling process, you will need the following materials:
- empty tourist spray;
- household gas cylinder for refueling;
- adapter;
- scales.
Before proceeding with the filling itself, you must make sure that the container of the tourist burner does not contain gas residues. For this, the cylinder is turned over so that the valve is at the bottom. Such a simple movement will help get rid of the remaining gas. Only after making sure that the gas has escaped, you can proceed to the next stage.
Burner Cartridge Filling Technology
The first stage is working with weights. Weigh the empty cans. This is necessary to determine exact amount poured gas at the very end. Then, using an adapter, an empty cylinder is connected to a household one.
There is little trick... Large gas cylinder stacks on its side. In this case, the lower part should remain on a hill. Therefore, they enclose an object. For example, a brick. This is done to keep the valve as low as possible for better gas transportation.
Then we close the valve, which is located on the adapter, and open the one on the cylinder. Open the valve on the adapter little by little. Thus, the air is squeezed out of the hose by the gas. Refueling has started.
During operation, you can clearly hear how liquid gas moves along the hose. The moment the sound stops, you can shake the tourist spray. Thus, a small amount of gas will get into it. On average, it takes no more than 5 minutes to fill one small canister.
After completing the work, close the valves and carefully disconnect the tourist spray. It can be shaken to make sure it contains gas. The gas should just flounder. This will indicate the presence of a small space, the so-called gas cap. You should also check the valve for leaks using a soap solution. Fire verification is prohibited. After filling the first cylinder, you can fill others in the same way.
Weighing should be carried out after filling one or several cylinders. Thus, you can track how much gas is in the bottle. It should not be in abundance. But it will not be advisable to leave too much space unfilled with gas.
Gas station tricks you need to know
Always wear protective gloves when working with gas. Since the gas has a cooling effect. Also, due to this property of the gas, frost can be observed on the system during refueling. Don't panic. You should wait for the frost to thaw, and then continue working.
It was already mentioned above that you need to leave a little space in gas canister... This is due to the high coefficient of thermal expansion of the gas. Follow the rules fire safety... There should be no open flames or sparks near the workplace. After all, the gas is flammable.
Branded cans can be refilled up to three to four times, but not desirable. Valves on cartridges are easily deformed, so they often cannot survive several refills.
The trouble with household gas is its smell. Moreover, fresh gas also smells, but it is quite tolerable. But the one that has been in the bottle for up to several years has a nasty smell. Be prepared for this when you work.
Summing up, we can say about positive aspects refueling gas cylinders. Economically refueling gas cylinders household gas profitable process. On average, the cost of a tourist spray for a burner is 300 rubles. While refueling a large domestic gas cylinder can be done for an average of 800 rubles. Moreover, you will use a household balloon many times. The savings are clear. From additional materials only a hose is needed. That is, the costs of optional equipment are insignificant.
I remember the time (the beginning of the 2000s), when Chinese gas stoves and attached half-liter cylinders (in common people - "dichlorvos") began to appear in fishing and tourist shops. At that time, for one such balloon, merchants asked for about a hundred scars, which was, to put it mildly, not quite affordable for not quite profitable strata of the population. And then the crafty gol learned to fill them - these cans - from household gas cylinders.
The name of the pioneer who was the first to erect a bridge in the form of a hose between a mighty 50-liter giant and a tiny half-liter is unknown, but this event became an epoch-making event, because the Great Era of Free Gas began with him.
We are partners in this business, darling, at one time, too, well averted. So many cylinders were refilled - we lost the score! And everything would go on and on, until an unpleasant flaw was discovered in one more than once refilled cylinder. He, this balloon, gave a leak and began, slowly but surely, to release its precious contents into the atmosphere.
Not immediately, but we suspected that the pressure of the gas pumped into the cylinder clearly does not correspond to the pressure that it is obliged to hold. This suspicion was also bolstered by one remarkable event that happened to a completely different refilled cylinder.
This balloon has been inserted into a portable gas unit located in the newly installed (on good frost) the angler's mobile haven. And for the time being, a dubak reigned in the tent - the unit regularly emitted calories, gradually increasing the temperature. And when this reached the value at which the holes (and also the angler's rake) stopped freezing, the emergency pressure valve in the unit immediately worked, immediately shutting off the gas supply to the system. One valve - if you believe a piece of paper with hieroglyphs - is needed in order to prevent overheating of the cylinder. But the balloon was cool! Aki beer from the fridge!
It became clear that after the artisanal refueling, something was wrong with the cylinders, and the gas inside them was clearly uncomfortable.
So yes, but the original gas, pumped into the cylinders by the manufacturer, was quietly splashing inside, without making any attempts to slip out.
Subsequently, it turned out that initially liquid butane or isobutane was poured into the cylinders, but we, by the simplicity of our soul, “inflated” them with technical propane. The table below shows eloquently how propane differs from its cousins butane and isobutane.
Table 1. Pressure (in atmospheres) of saturated vapors of saturated hydrocarbons.
| Temperature, ° C | Pressure, atm - tolerant; - unbearable; - boys, scattered! |
||
| Butane | Isobutane | Propane | |
| 0 | 1,01 | 1,15 | 4,59 |
| 5 | 1,21 | 1,80 | 5,36 |
| 10 | 1,44 | 2,12 | 6,21 |
| 15 | 1,72 | 2,49 | 7,16 |
| 20 | 2,02 | 2,90 | 8,22 |
| 25 | 2,37 | 3,37 | 9,39 |
| 30 | 2,76 | 3,89 | 10,66 |
| 35 | 3,20 | 4,46 | 12,10 |
| 40 | 3,69 | 5,11 | 13,64 |
| 45 | 4,23 | 5,82 | 15,34 |
| 50 | 4,84 | 6,60 | 17,17 |
| 55 | 5,50 | 7,49 | 19,18 |
| 60 | 6,23 | 8,42 | 21,34 |
| 65 | 7,03 | 9,44 | 23,67 |
As we were told by a Paraguayan intelligence agent working undercover in South Korea- all "dichlorvos" are designed for pressure up to 6.4 atmospheres. Based on the above-mentioned plate, one can easily understand why the manufacturers of cylinders prohibit heating their products above 40-45 ° C - it is at this temperature that the pressure of isobutane begins to really test the strength of the thin walls of the cylinder. But the bottle with butane, as you can see from the table - theoretically you can warm it up a couple of tens of degrees, but - the company said nizya, then nizya! Why - there is one version, but more about it below.
Well, now it's time to look into the propane column and round your eyes ... Already at zero degrees, this gas noticeably presses on the walls of the cylinder, hinting that it becomes a little tight inside. At 15 ° C, the vapor pressure exceeds the limit of 6.4 atmospheres. And at 40 ° C it is already more than twice the maximum allowable (which is categorically unacceptable). I can't say for sure - at what pressure the cylinder will finally fail and crack at the seams, but it's better not to check this in practice. We managed to store the cylinders refilled with propane at room temperature, just in case, not allowing them to heat up, and, apparently, the cylinder could withstand 8 with a penny of atmospheres.
Do not forget that in addition to the walls, which are likely to cope with the pressure slightly exceeding the declared norm, there is also such an intimate part in the cylinder as a valve. How long it will withstand is an interesting question, because in the design of this "organ", in addition to metal parts, there are also plastic parts. He could simply be "nudged" when refilling, therefore, in one bottle, he began to poison.
The balloon could have been “blown over”. It is known that any liquefied gas must be poured into a container in such a way that there is free space on top. Why is this necessary? Scientists from physics have repeatedly written in their scientific treatises that liquid gas is not water; when the temperature rises, it - without having time to evaporate - expands noticeably. And if there is no free space in the cylinder, the gas will break it like a capelin (that's probably why the heating limit for pure butane cylinders is 45 ° C, despite the fact that the vapor pressure has not yet reached the maximum 6.4 atmospheres).
What conclusions can be drawn from all of the above?
And the only conclusion here suggests itself: I'm not sure - don't refuel.
Of course, with proper equipment, straight arms and a sober head, this is quite feasible. And after all, it is not necessary to pour pure propane into cylinders, it is also possible to pour a propane-butane mixture, where there is only a third of propane.
With pure propane, the only thing left is to keep the cylinders in the cold and operate them there, not allowing even the slightest heating.
And most importantly - any refueling disposable balloon carried out by the refueller at his own peril and risk, and in case of any unpleasant consequences- all responsibility for what happened will lie solely with him.
By the way, recently gas in cans has dropped significantly in price, and a natural question arises: is it needed at all - all this fuss with hoses? Maybe it's still easier to buy a new cylinder than to fiddle with refilling the old one?
If the gas cylinder runs out of gas, then it is easier to buy it than to refuel the used one. But for the sake of saving money, people still try to fill an empty cylinder with gas on their own, avoiding the purchase. Of course, this is quite possible and easy to do. The main thing is to follow all the rules and safety measures. You can fill up a small cylinder at the dacha or a tourist gas cylinder using a large-capacity donor cylinder.
Household gas cylinders are available in different capacities: from 5 to 300 liters. In order for the liquid gas to flow out, turn the donor balloon upside down, the valve should be at the bottom. For convenience, you can use any structure, for example, hang it on a rope or set the cylinder on a stand. You can think of many options for mounting the cylinder upside down. The main thing is that the design is reliable. To assemble a system for filling gas into an empty cylinder, you will need: a tap, hose adapters, threaded head, high pressure hose. In order for the assembled filling system to be durable and serve more than once, it is better to take all of the listed items from gas equipment, preferably for liquid nitrogen. If you take ordinary plumbing equipment, then the system will quickly fail. Assemble the gas filling system, secure carefully with couplings. You will not need a gearbox; it will make the refueling process slower.
It is possible to fill only household cylinders with a valve, and not old-style cylinders with a "lamb". Always remember that gas is highly explosive and must be handled carefully and carefully. You can fill the cylinder at gas stations equipped with special scales and having official permission.