Help with compressed air regulator (not a typical scenario)

[padstack]

I need to regulate CO2 @ about 30 PSI. Will I be able to use a regular air regulator from a compressor adapted onto a CO2 tank, or will I have to use a system like an acetylene torch setup? I want to do something myself similar to a CO2 system for a fountain pop system, but would prefer to go the DIY route. I don't see how it wouldn't work or how it would be dangerous, but I wanted to ask people with more expertise in the subject than me.

Thanks!

 

[PSYKO_Inc]

You will need a regulator similar to an acetylene setup. They make CO2 regulators for soda fountains and beer taps that will be perfect for what you're doing. An air compressor regulator won't work because it's only designed for 150-200 psi, while a CO2 tank can be upwards of 3000 psi...

 

[padstack]

You will need a regulator similar to an acetylene setup. They make CO2 regulators for soda fountains and beer taps that will be perfect for what you're doing. An air compressor regulator won't work because it's only designed for 150-200 psi, while a CO2 tank can be upwards of 3000 psi...

Good to know. Something like this?:

http://www.harborfreight.com/oxygen-regulator-94846.html

Or would this be better?:

http://www.beveragefactory.com/draf...mercial_double_gauge_beer_co2_regulator.shtml

Thanks!

 

[porcupine73]

Probably you'd want a cylinder regulator that screws right into the cylinder. CO2 is a little different than compressed gases such as nitrogen, since the CO2 is liquid in the cylinder. Its vapor pressure is around 900psig at room temperature, so using an air regulator from an air compressor is not a good idea. Not sure what fitting CO2 cylinders usually have such as CGA 580.

 

[padstack]

One more question - where would be a good source to score a CO2 tank? Beverage supply place? Hospital supply place? Welding supply?

 

[porcupine73]

Of those two regulators you posted I would go with the beveragefactory unit. The HF unit for oxygen has a CGA 540 fitting, so you'd have to find an adapter to go from that to the CGA 320 on the CO2 cylinder.

 

[porcupine73]

You might want to check with wherever it is you plan to get the cylinder filled. Sometimes they will allow you to lease a tank, or just pay a deposit on the tank. Then you can just swap tanks when you go in if they keep that size tank in stock. Otherwise usually they want to transfill your tank, which isn't a big deal, but can take longer while you wait for them to do it. Some cylinders need a hydrotest every 10 years to be legally filled, so if you own your cylinder you might have to replace it every 10 years (cheaper for small cylinders usually than having it hydrotested).

 

[socapots]

sounds like a good project. Keep us posted and get some pics up.

 

[nosnownogo]

try a place that services fire extinguishers ( co2 )

 

[pcmeiners]

What you need is a carbonator.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cornelius-Carbonator-/270884140618?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f11f3f64a

and a Co2 regulator off ebay

Both rather cheap

 

[waggie]

i have a co2 regulator off a soda fountain, if you're in CA, i'll trade it for a trip to IN&Out

 

[A_Pmech]

The pressure of liquid CO2 in the bottle is on the order of several thousand PSI. The maximum input pressure of an air compressor regulator is usually 250 PSI. The result of using an air compressor regulator as a high pressure CO2 regulator would be a grenade.

Keep in mind that all the fittings from the carbonator to the fountain must be plastic or stainless. Brass fittings will react with the carbonic acid forming chemicals which will, at a minimum, make you sick.

 

[pro machine Engineering]

if serving to the public you might check regulations on being made of food grade material

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Just buy the proper beverage CO2 regulator. As others have mentioned, CO2 is in liquid form, not compressed gas form, so you need an appropriate regulator.

While it is true that air compressor regulators are meant for lower pressures, there are of course compressed air regulators that work for extreme high pressures. Think of scuba systems, they work at 3000psi or higher.

Now another option to consider that might be cheaper, or at least easier to fill with less issues of having to lease a CO2 tank, is to use a paintball CO2 cylinder and regulator. Once the liquid CO2 has been regulated into it's gaseous state, you can then regulate it with a standard air compressor regulator. The downside would be that they are relatively small.

 

[rlitman]

CO2 is a liquid in the tank. The pressure is normally around 900PSI, but can reach 2000 at high temperatures.
The beverage regulator is what you want. Most have the output pressure limited to around 60PSI, and are around $40.

As for where to get CO2. A welding gas supplier typically sells a lot of CO2 for beverage purposes too.

Now, if you can find a used CO2 fire extinguisher, you can trade that in for a newly tested CO2 tank and save a big bundle. Compressed gas cylinders are expensive.