Quote: (Originally Posted by leadking)
I am working with Worthington to design new 2/3 liter cylinders and want to know what features are important to end users;
1. Weight is most important (neutral buoyancy 2400 psi)
2. Total gas volume ( -2 neg. 3442 psi)
3. Price (heavy but cheap)
Hi there,
1. I don't understand why in 2006, the concept of "low pressure" (and therefore the + rating) is still used in Northern America as it was in the 50's. In our modern world and with the materials available, I personally think that low pressure is outdated.
2. Tanks with these characteristics are standard, widely used worldwide for years. Work great. Ther are not new (except maybe for PST!
). See Faber range of products for a
reference. a good fit for all Rebreather's. Mind you, this concerns only the onboard tanks. Neutral bouyancy for bail out tanks is prefered, but there AL is the material of choice.
3. Tanks manufactured for the scuba industry or the medical industry are overpriced anyway, part going to the manufacturer, part to the distributor/sub-distributor/retailer and nowadays to shipping companies. It's business, nothing wrong with that as long as the consummer is ready to pay.
"Heavy but cheap" implies that different material is used according to the pricing strategy of the finish product ? Year, right! that's true for a minuscule - should I say negligible? - fraction of the consumer price only. This relates to pricing strategy, not much to technical aspects of the tank.
Best
Philippe