"Alex Brewer" > wrote in message
om...
> (David D.) wrote in message
. com>...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am considering using gas (CO2) to transfer wine from a open-head
> > (locking top) 55 gal poly drum. There are 2 small screw-plugged holes
> > on the lid that should handle the gas-in and wine-out flows. Has
> > anyone tried this before? What type of pressure can the drums handle?
> > What type of fixtures/stoppers are best for this?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> > David
> > Denver, CO USA
>
> Be very carefull when you do this. I would not go over a few PSI.
>
> Others will probably say that they do it all the time with no ill
> effects, but my company had an accident doing this transfering gear
> oil. The worker used a homemade bung to pressurize the vessel and the
> seam burst almost taking the arm off another worker. Though this was
> against the stated rules an policy of the plant, he had been doing
> this procedure for years with no ill effects until the accident
> occured.
>
> Standard plastic and metal drums are not "pressure vessels" and should
> not be treated as such!
Good advice, Alex.
I pressure rack from oak barrels too, and have for many years with no
problem - BUT I never go above a few psi, and even that scares me a little.
I know that the head of the barrel is 22 inches in diameter, and that makes
the area about 380 square inches. Multiply that by the pressure and you
have over a half ton of force trying to pop that head out of the barrel at a
mere 3 psi!
Tom S