What is the service life of automotive compressed natural gas cylinders?
2 Answers
GB-17258-1998 "Steel Cylinders for Compressed Natural Gas as Automotive Fuel" does not specify the service life, but in practice, they are scrapped after 10 years. Additional information is as follows: Relevant regulations: GB-17258-1998 "Steel Cylinders for Compressed Natural Gas as Automotive Fuel" does not specify the service life, but in practice, they are scrapped after 10 years. In August 2003, Beijing Tianhai Industry Co., Ltd.'s enterprise standard Q/JBTHB014-2003 "Periodic Inspection and Evaluation of Steel Cylinders for Compressed Natural Gas as Automotive Fuel" clearly stated: "For cylinders used in taxis for more than 5 years and in other vehicles for more than 10 years, they will not be inspected after registration and will be scrapped.
My natural gas vehicle has been running for ten years, and I’ve always been very concerned about the safety of the gas cylinder. According to regulations, the maximum service life for such high-pressure cylinders is fifteen years, and this must be strictly adhered to. Continuing to use it beyond this period is extremely dangerous because prolonged exposure to high pressure can cause metal fatigue cracks. Every three years, I take the car to a specialized inspection agency for a comprehensive check, including visual inspections of the cylinder and pressure tests. Remember the manufacturing date printed on the cylinder—don’t hesitate to replace it when it’s close to fifteen years old. Safety is not something to compromise on, as a cylinder failure is no joke—it could range from vehicle damage to life-threatening situations. I also avoid parking in direct sunlight to slow down the aging process of the cylinder.