Answer to Question #115402 in General Chemistry for rebekah

Question

Compressed 10L air cylinders are required to be kept at cool temperatures. Why is this a required safety precaution?

Answer 1

Cooling is simply slowind down the molecules. The ideal gas law tells us when the pressure on any constant volume of gas increases, the temperature also increases vice versa. Without cooling, this level of heat can damage equipment, hurt employees and compromise products.

Some compressed air systems also use Fusible Plugs (also called fuse or melt plugs): Temperature, not pressure, activates fusible plugs. These safety devices are used where heat could initiate an explosive chemical reaction. A pressure-relief valve or rupture disc acts too slowly and too late to prevent rupture of the cylinder if an explosive reaction has already begun. The fusible plug releases the gas before the hazardous reaction can begin.