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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

ASME on Tank ?

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Andy in NC

02-06-2006 16:59:31




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I was reading all the posts about air compressor tanks and I decided to replace my 15yr old tank. I got on a website that has just what I need but the description says "Not ASME Certified". Is it a low grade tank? Should I look for others? Thanks, Andy




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Andy in NC

02-07-2006 11:45:43




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Andy in NC, 02-06-2006 16:59:31  
The tank is still in great shape...no dents, rust, etc. I just wanted to make sure it's safe since it is in my house garage and not a remote shop. The pressure relief valve works and I only have reg set to cut off at 125psi. Thanks for all the info. Andy



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Charles (in GA)

02-06-2006 20:01:08




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Andy in NC, 02-06-2006 16:59:31  
Wayne has some very good comments on tanks. You will very rarely find tanks under 30 gal that have ASME certification. I'm not sure why, but you simply don't. Look at almost any portable compressor in the store, you won't find a ASME tag. I have seen manufacturers that offere ASME tanks for more dollars, sometimes required in some locations. Other mfgs simply state that their products are not for sale/shipment to certain locales (MA for instance).

Charles

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NC Wayne

02-06-2006 18:28:38




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Andy in NC, 02-06-2006 16:59:31  
I've also read the same posts and I agree that an expoding tank, of any type, is a dangerous thing. That said, why exactly have you decided to replace yours? If it's starting to develope cracks, etc then I agree it's time, heck beyond time, to replace it. If however your doing it just because it's 15 years old then, in my opinion, your simply wasting your money. I've worked around air compressors all my life and have seen tanks that are over 40 years old that are still in service and under pressure every day. Many of the tanks were in businesses where they had to have a state inspection "pressure vessel" sticker on them and they never failed to pass for the sticker. Unless a tank has visible physical damage, like dents, cracks, rust holes nearly through it, etc then it's still safely usable. Heck even a rust hole isn't likely to cause a rupture, usually they just leak and keep the compressor running trying to keep up. The tanks I've heard of rupturing over the years were typically not really "the tanks fault". It is usually a combination of factors, a stuck safety valve and an inoperative/defective pressure switch on the compressor, somebody running into it with a forklift, or something along those lines. If your tank is still in good shape there's no reaon to get rid of it. Heck the way quality control is nowdays the chances of a tank coming off the line with problems that could cause it to burst are probably higher than they were 15 years ago. Either way your gonna have a minimum of a 50/50 chance of something happening, either the tank is good or it isn't. The only way to know 100% for sure would be to have it hydro tested which really isn't a feasible thing for a tank on a personal compressor. Basically if there are signs it needs replacing other than just the age then do so, otherwise, keep the water drained to help prevent internal rusting, make sure the safety valve and your comoressors unloading valve or pressure switch is working and save your money for something else you really need. Just my .02

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Slowpoke

02-07-2006 01:03:15




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to NC Wayne, 02-06-2006 18:28:38  
NC Wayne,
What's a good way to test a home tank yourself? Can it be done? Would about double the normal running pressure be enough?
How about filling with water and plugging all inlets and outlets. Then if one happens to have a 12 volt portable air compressor that puts out a zillion psi @ 1/4 cu' a minute, one could pressurize to about 300 psi for the test. Might that work?



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NC Wayne

02-07-2006 20:25:26




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Slowpoke, 02-07-2006 01:03:15  
Personally I'd never try it myself nor would condon anyone attempting it. In order to get a true test you'd have to pressurize it well over it's actual "rated" operating pressure. I've always been told they basically take a certain amount of tanks, at random, and pressurize them til they burst. This testing gives them a good average "burst rating" for that particular size/style tank. This figure is then used, along with a predertimined safety factor, to get the actual working pressure. So, when their done they have a tank with a rated working pressure with enough safety factored in to keep the end user from blowing themselves up without trying really hard. So, to really answer your question, if you can pressurize it to it's rated pressure and it doesn't blow up that's all I'd ever try except under strict, safe, lab conditions.To do anymore could potentially cause damage to the tank which could then cause it to burst well below it's rated pressure...which wouldn't be a good thing as you know... Most tanks you see on a typical shop compressor are rated for a working pressure of 200-250 psi. A typical single stage compressor is usually rated around 100 psi or so output while most two stages aren't rated but 150psi or so. Basically with either type of compressor you can run a safety valve with a pop off pressure higher than the compressor is gonna be rated to produce but still well under the tanks rated pressure. As long as you do this you should be good, barring some freak occurance which no one can ever predict.

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Vern-MI

02-06-2006 17:49:56




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Andy in NC, 02-06-2006 16:59:31  
Certification by ASME-the American Society of Mechanical Engineers-is the only guarantee of quality in design, workmanship, materials, and quality control that assures that all these standards are being met. The design of the tank must be accomplished by a certified mechanical engineer to be able to withstand the service stresses without failure. The type of materials used for the tank walls, end caps and welding rod must be detailed and verified during the fabrication of the vessel. ISO 9001 quality manufaturing standards must be met meaning that each and every pressure vessel produced will have met the designed standard for that vessel.

If you buy a non-ASME pressure vessel you won't know that it safe for the use intended. A weld may be insuffeceint or the material may be thin or of poor quality to assure safe use.

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johnlobb

02-07-2006 14:42:48




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Vern-MI, 02-06-2006 17:49:56  
I agree with Vern. The only thing I would add is that a ASME certified welder (who had to pass a very rigerous test under independent observation) must do the welding on a ASME certified tank. You have to be good to pass this test!



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RustyFarmall

02-06-2006 18:24:20




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 Re: ASME on Tank ? in reply to Vern-MI, 02-06-2006 17:49:56  
Thank you Vern. An air compressor tank is definately not a place to skimp on quality, not in materials, and not in workmanship.



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