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Introduction

Gas bottles are stored on racks, usually eight (8) bottles of the same gas on one metal rack. If it can’t be avoided bottles filled with different gases are on one rack. The gas bottles are strapped to the rack with metal banding. The racks get shipped back and forth between shore and ship, usually to have them refilled, when empty, and/or pressure tested every 5 years. The shipment from SHORE to SHIP is a HAZARDOUS SHIPMENT because the gases are under 22 psi pressure, from SHIP to SHORE they are a regular shipment because they are empty.


This document summarizes all necessary steps as well as knowledge that was acquired over time.

General Rules for Handling Gas Cylinders

All compressed gases cylinders present significant physical hazards, and many of them present chemical hazards as well. Before handling gas cylinders (or racks of gas cylinders), you should be aware of the following:

  • All compressed gas cylinders shall be secured with chain or strap between the “waist” and “shoulder” of the cylinder at all times.
    • This includes empty cylinders.
    • Cylinders not currently in use must be capped.
      • “In use” includes cylinders connected to equipment or processes used at least 3 times per week.
      • Empty cylinders must be capped.
      • Cylinders must be kept away from electrical wiring where the cylinder could become part of the circuit.
      • Store cylinders in well-ventilated areas designated and marked only for cylinders.
      • Store cylinders in an upright position (includes lecture bottles).
      • Empty cylinders should be clearly marked and stored as carefully as those that are full because residual gas may be present.
      • Mark empty cylinders clearly.
      • Keep valves closed on empty cylinders.
      • Protect cylinders from corrosive vapors and sources of heat.
      • Do not store cylinders in egress areas near emergency exits, hallways, or under stairs.
      • Do not keep cylinders more than 5 years past their hydrostatic test date (see receiving cylinders, below).

        More safety rules for gas bottles can be found HERE.

Ship

Marking/color coding/storage

Gas bottle racks are mainly stored on the UpperTween Deck on the Joides Resolution. Some gas bottles are located in the labs (i.e. chemistry). A gas bottle inventory is kept at this location on the server: ALO/Logistics/Gas Bottles and is updated each expedition/crew change, when changes occur.

Gas bottles are color coded on the neck of the cylinder based on their gas content:

Argon – Brown

Helium – Yellow

Oxygen – White

Like every other supply, gas bottles get cycled through, so that the oldest on board get used first and the newly delivered should be stored to be used last (at the back of the gas rack assemblage).

When a gas bottle rack is prepared for shipment back to shore, each cylinder is vented outside (either on the dock or on the landing). When venting out cylinders ALWAYS open the bottle slowly and control the noise level. 

Shore

Banding

The location and amount of banding used on the gas bottle racks has varied over time. In order to streamline that process, the following banding SOP should be used (see Fig. 1):

Use 1 ¾ “ banding.

Rotate the gas bottles, so that the cylinder valve/outlet is rotated outward for easy connection in the lab.

Place the first four straps around a cluster of 4 bottles, one cluster right, one cluster left. The banding needs to go through the inside bars of the rack if possible. Place two straps on the top 3rd and two straps on the lower 3rd of the rack (See Fig. 1)

The next step is to strap the 2 clusters together. Use one strap just above the upper strapping and one strap above the lower strapping.

Stencil “DO NOT CUT” on the outer two straps.

 

Fig. 1 Gas bottle rack side and top view. Rack - black, Blue - gas bottles, Green - banding, Grey - banding.

One page PDF instruction HERE.

Vendor

Pressure testing and refill

Provide the vendor with our strapping SOPs and talk about the necessity of safety during the long sea voyage that our bottles take to get to the Joides Resolution.

The hydrostatic test date (needs to be done every 5 years) will be stamped into the collar of the cylinder.


 

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