What happens to the pressure of the gas in a steel cylinder if it's heated?

Diamondlance

VP/T for a gas is a constant, so if temperature goes up with a fixed volume, pressure must increase. Aug 23 07, 2:24 AM

MonkeyOnALeash

Simply, it expands. There is a WHOLE LOTTA thermodynamic properties involved concerning the ultimate outcome of this expansion. Worst case scenario is that the cylinder succumbs to the forces of this expansion and fails to maintain integrity. Then kaboom! No more cylinder. Here is an example..(Warning!!! Kids = offensive language) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGgbQ77bsYU The following is a Fire Control Technicians term and explanation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLEVE The following video explains BLEVE quite well. It shows the result of the LARGEST non-military explosion ever experienced in this country. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmmLvAYqkI Aug 23 07, 2:24 AM

MonkeyOnALeash

The following video explains BLEVE quite well. It shows the result of the LARGEST non-military explosion ever experienced in this country. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmmLvAYqkI Aug 23 07, 2:26 AM

Baloo55th

Pressure can't expand. It can increase, and when the breaking point of the containment material is reached, the gas will expand. Rapidly. This applies to other things too, like fluids and solids, but far less dramatically in the case of solids. Actually, if you have a gas in a steel cylinder, you will have to heat it rather a lot before anything will happen. If the 'gas' is stored in the cylinder in liquid form it is already under pressure (or it wouldn't be liquid), and any increase in pressure to a point beyond that that can be sustained will be dramatic. Aug 23 07, 5:59 PM