Why can’t oxygen cylinders be placed on their side?

Personally, I think if there are collision-proof measures on the gas cylinder outlet, it should be possible to place it horizontally.

Oxygen cylinders can be placed horizontally, but acetylene cylinders must not be laid down; in addition, they need to rest for a while after being moved before they can be used!

I also want to ask the original poster: why can’t oxygen cylinders be placed horizontally? Acetylene cylinders must not be placed lying down because they contain propane, and doing so can easily lead to leaks

Why can’t oxygen cylinders be placed horizontally? There is no such requirement in welder operations; in other words, they can be placed horizontally. Acetylene cylinders, however, cannot be placed horizontally because this will release propane, affecting the amount of acetylene that can be stored in the cylinder.

It doesn’t seem there’s any requirement stating that oxygen cylinders cannot be placed horizontally; however, acetylene cylinders must not be used in a horizontal position due to the acetone present in them!

It can be placed horizontally, but vibrations must be prevented. Oxygen cylinders must be placed securely to prevent vibrations that could cause an oxygen explosion. When standing upright, it should be secured with iron bands or chains ； When lying down, use shims for support to prevent rolling; it is advisable to fit two rubber shock-absorbing rings around the bottle. During transportation, it should be moved using a dedicated vehicle.

Oxygen cylinders can be placed horizontally, but acetylene cylinders cannot. Since the acetylene gas in the acetylene cylinder is dissolved in propane, placing it in a horizontal position during use can easily cause the propane to leak.

It seems the question was asked incorrectly; oxygen cylinders can be placed flat

Since the oxygen in the cylinder is compressed under high pressure, when the cylinder is placed upright, the higher pressure gas is at the top while liquid oxygen is at the bottom. When it is placed horizontally, the cylinder opening is in the middle, and liquid oxygen may flow out from this opening; an immediate increase in pressure can then occur, leading to unpredictable consequences.

Under normal circumstances, it is possible to place them horizontally, such as with oxygen cylinders used in welding. However, as mentioned above, since the oxygen inside the cylinder is compressed at high pressure, when the cylinder is upright the high-pressure gas is at the top while liquid oxygen is at the bottom. When the cylinder is placed horizontally, the opening is in the middle, and liquid oxygen may flow out from this opening; this can cause a sudden increase in pressure and lead to unpredictable consequences. ”It makes perfect sense as well, because accidents are very likely to occur with high-pressure pure oxygen; iron will burn in pure oxygen

I’m not sure if there can be liquid oxygen inside an oxygen tank?

The oxygen cylinders used for gas cutting contain gaseous oxygen, so there is no issue as feared on the 10th and 11th floors! Oxygen cylinders can be placed flat

When the gas cylinder is placed in a horizontal position, it should be equipped with brackets to prevent it from rolling; its opening should face in one direction, and the opening must not be below the horizontal level, so as to prevent water inside the cylinder from entering the oxygen system.

Oxygen cylinders can be placed horizontally, but when in this position they must be equipped with brackets to prevent them from rolling. The cylinder’s opening should face in one direction, and it must not be below the horizontal level, so as to prevent water inside the cylinder from entering the oxygen system.

I. Safety Technical Operating Procedures for Oxygen Cylinders 1. Transportation (1) Before transportation, check whether the safety rubber rings on the valve nozzle are intact, and whether there is any oil on the cylinder body or nozzle. (2) During loading and unloading, the nozzles of the bottles should face the same direction to prevent collisions, damage, and explosions. (3) The transport of other flammable gases is prohibited. (4) When transporting in strong sunlight, cover it with canvas. 2. Storage of oxygen cylinders (1) Flammable materials must not be placed around the warehouse. (2) The temperature inside the tank must not exceed 30°C, and it must be at a distance of 10 meters from any open heat source. (3) The pressure regulator, pressure gauge, fittings, and tubes of the oxygen cylinder must be marked. 3. Regulations for the use of oxygen cylinders: (1) Before installing the pressure regulator, slightly open the cylinder valve for one or two seconds and check the quality of the oxygen; it can be used only if it meets the requirements. (2) The oxygen pressure in the bottle should not be reduced to zero; 0.1 Mpa should be retained. (3) When checking the bottle valve, only soapy water is allowed for inspection. (4) Oxygen cylinders must not be used to hold other gases. II. Safety Technical Operating Procedures for Acetylene Cylinders 1. When using, transporting, or storing acetylene cylinders, the ambient temperature must not exceed 40°C. 2. The paint color of the acetylene cylinder must remain intact and must not be altered arbitrarily. 3. An appropriate pressure regulator must be installed on acetylene cylinders when in use. A tempering inhibitor must be checked to ensure it is functional before use; it must not be used if it is not working properly. When activating it, the operator should stand to the side and behind the valve, and move slowly. 4. The operating pressure should not exceed 0.05 Mpa, and the gas flow rate should not exceed 1.5–2.0 cubic meters per hour per bottle. 5. When in use, make sure to secure it properly to prevent it from tipping over; it is strictly forbidden to use it in a lying position. If an acetylene cylinder has been placed in a lying position, it must not be used immediately – it needs to be set upright and left stationary for 15 minutes before connecting a pressure regulator, otherwise it poses a danger. Hitting, bumping, and other rough behaviors are prohibited. 6. Gas cylinders must not be placed near heat sources or electrical equipment. In summer, shading measures should be taken to prevent exposure to direct sunlight, and the distance from open flames should be more than 10 meters (for work at heights, this refers to the horizontal distance from the vertical ground surface). 7. When the bottle valve freezes, it is strictly prohibited to use heat to thaw it; instead, warm water at below 10°C can be used for thawing. 8. When the work location changes frequently, it should be installed on a dedicated trolley; acetylene cylinders and oxygen cylinders should not be placed together. 9. It is strictly prohibited for copper, silver, mercury, and their products to come into contact with acetylene; copper alloy utensils that come into contact with acetylene must have a copper content of over 70%. 10. The gas in the bottle must not be completely exhausted; a residual pressure not lower than that specified in the table below must be retained. Relationship between the residual pressure in the acetylene cylinder and ambient temperature: 11. When transporting acetylene cylinders using vehicles or carts, handle them gently. Throwing, sliding, rolling, or touching is strictly prohibited. When lifting and transporting, specialized fixtures and rainproof transport vehicles should be used; it is strictly prohibited to use electricity to operate cranes and chains for lifting and transportation. 12. During shipment, the acetylene cylinders carried in vehicles must be properly secured. When placed in the vehicle, their openings should face in one direction; the height at which they are loaded must not exceed the height of the vehicle’s cargo compartment. When positioned upright, the height of the cargo compartment must be at least one-third of the cylinder’s height. 13. In summer, shading measures should be taken to prevent exposure to direct sunlight; it is strictly prohibited to transport it in the same vehicle as chlorine cylinders, oxygen cylinders, or flammable materials. 14. Fires and open flames are prohibited on vehicles transporting acetylene cylinders. 15. The quantity of acetylene cylinders stored at the site of use or in the team’s storage area shall not exceed 5 cylinders. They may be constructed adjacent to a building with a fire resistance rating of at least grade two; the separating wall must be a fireproof wall without any doors or windows, and it is strictly prohibited for any pipelines to pass through it. 16. Acetylene cylinders must be stored upright, with measures in place to prevent them from toppling over. It is strictly prohibited to store them alongside oxygen cylinders, chlorine cylinders, or flammable materials. The storage area must be at least 10 meters away from open flames and sources of ignition, and it should not be located in basements or semi-basements. 17. Acetylene cylinders must not be placed in areas with poor ventilation or exposure to radiation, nor on insulators such as rubber. Cylinder storage areas must be under the supervision of designated personnel, equipped with fire-fighting equipment, and marked with prominent fire prevention signs.

The oxygen cylinder contains high-pressure oxygen, not liquid oxygen.

Permanent gases can be liquefied under pressure only when the ambient temperature is below the critical temperature; as long as the temperature does not meet this requirement, the gas remains compressed regardless of the pressure applied, and there cannot be a liquid phase in an oxygen tank. The original poster probably hasn’t been to a construction site; oxygen-acetylene cutting is a very common practice there. There are two gas cylinders: the oxygen cylinder is placed horizontally while the acetylene cylinder is placed vertically. The reason for this is that it’s safer to keep the oxygen cylinder horizontal, as its valve usually doesn’t have any protective cover. If it’s placed vertically, it might tip over and hit some protrusion, thereby blocking the valve and causing an accident. When placed horizontally, there’s no risk of it tipping over ； Acetylene cylinders must be placed upright, as the acetylene gas inside them is dissolved in propane; placing them horizontally or on their side during use can easily cause the propane to spill. When in use, oxygen cylinders must have measures in place to prevent them from rolling, and their openings must not be below the horizontal level to avoid water from entering the oxygen system. The surface on which acetylene cylinders are placed must be flat; if necessary, supports or brackets should be used to ensure that the cylinders remain upright ； The safe distance between oxygen cylinders and acetylene cylinders must be maintained at 8 meters or more ； The air duct must be long enough, and pulling or forcing it should be avoided during use

Under normal circumstances, oxygen cylinders should also not be placed in a horizontal position. Although this does not significantly affect safety, it can cause difficulties in operation; rust on the internal containers of the oxygen cylinder can be carried away with the gas, affecting the accuracy of the pressure gauge. It may also emerge from the cutting nozzle, causing blockages that lead to the torch going out or resulting in weak backfire explosions!

Sure, but acetylene gas cylinders must not be placed horizontally! Absolutely! The reason is that the propylene in the acetylene cylinder may prevent the proper release of acetylene; furthermore, if propylene escapes, it could lead to an overflow of excess acetylene and cause an accident