The “bulging” phenomenon in liquid chlorine cylinders
Thread Content
Recently, when the company went to the manufacturer of empty chlorine gas cylinders to have them filled, the manufacturer reported that those cylinders could not be used as they had a \"bulging\" issue. What is the cause of this bulging? How to prevent it?
Has it corroded or is there a problem with its strength? Reference.
Once a steel cylinder develops a bulge, it must be discarded immediately and cannot be used any longer. Liquid chlorine is a highly corrosive substance, and a bulge can cause uneven pressure within the cylinder, leading to explosions or fire and poisoning incidents during transportation; this issue requires serious attention. Additionally, you need to thoroughly inspect all steel cylinders, check their inspection dates, and eliminate any potential safety hazards.
The most likely cause of the bulge is that the bottle was previously overfilled, and combined with an increase in ambient temperature, this led to the bottle expanding.
1. The filling pressure was too high in the past. 2. The pressure resistance is insufficient after corrosion
I’ve never encountered that; it should be scrapped and can no longer be used! Could you send a picture for me to see?
A bulge in a gas cylinder occurs because corrosion at that area causes the material there to thin out, resulting in reduced strength at that bulged spot under certain pressures. In cases like this, the steel cylinder should be scrapped immediately.
In a situation like the one you described, where bubbling occurs in the liquid chlorine cylinder, the cylinder must be scrapped. Liquid chlorine is inherently highly corrosive; if there is moisture present in the cylinder, the corrosion becomes even more severe. Various factors can cause the inner wall to thin out, and when the cylinder is filled to capacity, this can lead to uneven internal pressure, resulting in bulging.
Gas cylinders are pressure equipment, and they should be scrapped promptly if corrosion or deformation occurs. One must never rely on luck.