Argon bottle on its side

[restorer]

Is it ok to lay a Argon bottle on its side?

Reason: The regulator I have is made to go into a vertical adapter. The 9.4 lt hobby gas bottle I have has a side adapter.

I'm going to get an elbow, but was wondering if I could use it on its side till then. I used disposable bottles on their side with no problem.

Thanks.

 

[restorer]

And I guess changing the positions of the gauges and so on, is a non-starter.

That is, moving the valves, gauges etc so I can screw it in horizontally so the flow meter works properly.

 

[shenion]

No need to move things around.

As pictured, lay reg on its back, then rotate flow meter 90 degrees.

 

[malcolm]

Should add for the benifit of people searching the forum that Acetylene and CO2 bottles shouldn't be placed on their side (Acetylene=explosion and CO2=liquid). Argon is fine so far as I know as it is stored as a gas. Propane is uncool too - see the posts below.

 

[restorer]

Thanks ppl.

@ Shenion, I thought about that, but didn't know if pressure gauge would work correctly in prone state.

@ Malcolm, you da man!

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

when working for BT we were always told not to lay any pressurised bottle on it's side as it increases the pressure at the outlet.

As an example we were shown a safety film where someone opened a propane bottle and lit the end (by remote control, of course!).

The flame came out about 16 - 18" or so. The bottle was then tilted (again by remote control) to 90 degrees and the flame shot out 12 feet or more.

Regards
Peter

 

[English Steve]

Laying a bottle on it's side can only increase the pressure at the outlet by the head of liquid remaining in the bottle, which in the case of those bottles we are talking about, is very little. As a general rule of thumb, 10m head = 1 bar (14.5psi) pressure, so if you completely inverted a full 2m tall bottle the pressure at the outlet would increase by less than 3psi. The propane example mentioned above is more likely due to introducing liquid propane into the flame, than the small increase in pressure.

If you do lay a CO2 bottle down for transportation etc, (as I have to) stand it upright for a few minutes before connecting and using it.

Regards

Steve

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

Ah, makes sense.

Thanks
Peter

 

[restorer]

I made a few more enquiries about this, and the general consensus seems to be it's better have a bottle vertical no matter it holds. No real harm can come from lying a cylinder containing gaseous substances on it's side, but it not recommended. It's just not good practice and that's that.

Anyhoo, I followed Shenion's advice and the regulator works fine.
Using shielding gas from a proper bottle is a whole new experience compared to disposables.
All the problems I was having were due to poor gas flow and not me.

 

[^neo^]

18 years of site welding, the bottle usually lays in the back of the van for me!
<waits to get shot down in flames>

 

[restorer]

^ Go up in flames more like

Go for it, I hate this risk adverse attitude that prevails these days.

 

[Drains]

^ Go up in flames more like

Go for it, I hate this risk adverse attitude that prevails these days.

Know your gases though, eh lads. As mentioned above, it don't work like that with co2 or acetylene. Try that with the acet, and BOOOM.

Restorer, you're right re the cotton wool, but why take SILLY chances, or worse, set a bad example.

If you must use bottles on their sides, don't let any idiots see you, cos they might copy you with the wrong colour bottle.