TC Horizontal LP Cylinders

silversand wrote:
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NRALIFR:

I bled (rather, purged) our horizontal cylinder myself (with a qualified gas tech), the first time it was filled. That end cap on the bleeder spigot is interesting. I can't recall if our tank has that. On edit: OK, I can remember now; I have no cap, and the screw is indeed exposed.

On edit: was the 12 year initial requalification period reduced from 12 years to 10 years in 2017? And, the subsequent requalification period lengthened from 7 to 10 years?

Also, a question to everyone: do you have your brand new propane cylinders "purged" before first filling?

Silver, here’s a better picture of the new valve. I suspect the screw you loosened to purge your tank was the bleed screw, rather than what is under the red cap on my valve.



I looked at the OPD valves on all of my old tanks, and guess what? NONE of them have that red cap. Maybe that’s a recent thing on them, and will just be phased in as the old valves are replaced.

My second old horizontal cylinder still has its original valve, and it looks like this (no red cap):



All of my older cylinders have a valve that looks more like this, with no red cap. Did they ever have that, I can’t say but I find it hard to believe that they all just fell out. I’m going to guess that the purpose of the red cap is to give a visual indication that the pressure relief valve has vented. It seems like you’d want to know that. With the older valves, the relief valve could vent and you may never know it.

As far as the requalification period, I can only refer you back to the two links I posted earlier. They only mention a 5, 7, and 12 year period, and it’s totally dependent on what type of qualification test is performed.

I do remember that when I brought my two new horizontal cylinders to be filled the first time, they were purged as well. What they did, I couldn’t tell you because I left them and came back a few hours later to pick them up.

:):)