Carbon tanks?

[mikeetee]

Hi all,

Does someone know something about those new carbon tanks that can take up to 300bar?

They must be damn expensive!

carpe diem,
mikee

 

[C_C]

authorized for underwater SCUBA use by the US Department of Transportation.

Other uses in the US for these cylinders include SCBA--Self Contained Breathing Apparatus used by firefighters etc.

Yes, they are very light weight and also cost substantially more than what we know as traditional SCBAs--FRP 1 and FRP 2.

FRP-- Fiber Reinforced Plastic
FRP 1--Fully wrapped with Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, etc.
FRP 2--Hoop wrapped with thin Aluminum liner.

C_C

 

[chiara]

I saw them in Holland less than a month ago.

They are legally approved for diving this side of the Ocean, and they are not substantially more expensive than steel, on the contrary, the price is about the same.

The only thing that makes me doubt about buying a second one (first is a steel 15lts with int) is just that: I have a int octopus and you can't use 300bars with int, only din.

 

[Iguana Don]

The tanks are considerably lighter, but you will have to make up the weight loss of the tank somewhere else, guess where.....
Your weight belt.

Steel tanks do have their advantages.

Also from what I've read on the subject, the life of the tank is not a long as that of steel or Al.

ID

 

[mikeetee]

4 all the input!

merci bien,
mikee

 

[Bob3]

The only carbon fiber tanks I know of that are approved for diving are the Interspiro (AGA)
Like CC says, the US is lagging behind the times in approving them for use over here, but you can get them where you're at.
AGA had 4500psi tanks over 30 years ago, it's just now becoming possible to get a fill for the critters.

see a pic:
http://www.dyk-brand.se/images/mk2.rescue.jpg

How's your swedish?
http://www.dyk-brand.se/sidor/interspi.htm

40+ year expected lifetime.
http://www.interspiro.com/divator.html[/ur

 

[OkieDiver]

For what it's worth, Luxfer has been working on a fiber wrapped 104 or 105 cu ft tank @ 4200 psi. As far as I know the DOT has not certified it yet. Also fiber wrapped tanks in the U.S. have a 15 year life span. This is a DOT regulation.

 

[vjb.knife]

Interspiro is in the process of having their diving tanks approved for use in the USA by the DOT at this time. They are possitive bouyant and require a ballast weight attached between the tanks. I dove the steel version of the system (which was negative bouyant) back in the seventies and it was the best thing I ever used. In non diving applications composite tanks have been around a long time with operating pressures up to 25,000 psig. Diving equipment is so sadly behind the times, esspecially in the USA. When Interspiro gets their Divator system approved I will get one but it isn't going to be cheap, I am expecting around $3,000 usd.