Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

di pako nakakita ng actual na pangyayari pero narinig ko na rin po iyan sa mga kapitbahay na sumabog mga G.I. tank nila. we also had one. ang nangyari naman e nabutas dahil sa kalawang. until nagpagawa na lang ng concrete overhead tank.

ang magandang gawin siguro to prevent injury to persons nearby e gawan ng steel cage yung tank. para di sya maging projectile.

di kaya pp-r pipes yung nabanggit nyong "gray pvc"? yung pp-r ay ginagamitan ng fusion (plastic) welding unlike solvent sa pvc...muntik na ring yun ang ipalit ko sa g.i pipes namin kaso wala ako pang plastic welding.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

imho, walang kinalaman ang replacement of g.i. pipes. yung ipinalit ng "gray pipe", they are not pvc but rather "CPVC" or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride. they comes on colors gray, black and white. they are high tensile strength, fire proof, and can withstand extreme heat.
meron ibat-ibang measures na ginagawa para di ulit mangyari ang pagsabog, meron may buzzer pag inabot nya yung overpresure, bubusina, meron ding may safety valve na mag re-release ng presure pag sumobra (just like sa o2 air ng airbreaks of trucks), etc... try nyo pong magtanong sa mga manufacturer ng presure tanks.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

Thanks for the reply.

Inspecting the gray pipes closely, I was able to read the markings "PVC-U" and based on this, Google came up with some results that satisfied my doubt.

Pwede pala sila sa potable water and it appears that the color gray signifies industrial use such as acidic or corrosive liquids .

I'm contemplating the steel cage, pero may point din si misis na baka added projectile pa yun kung sakaling sumabog ulit. Her solution in the meantime is just turn off the pump while in the tank vicinity.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

I'm not aware of how your system is configured but I hope the plastic (PVC-U) pipes are rated for the pressure that you are using it in. I am more familiar with HDPE pipes in my work and we rate pressure capacities of pipe in terms of its thickness. For example, for HDPE pipes used on pressure less than 100psi, we use SDR17. SDR stands for Standard Dimension Ratio which is the ratio of the thickness of the pipe to its diameter. SDR 17 means the thickness of plastic pipe is 1/17th of its diameter. Hihger pressures, we may use SDR11.

I'm not sure how PVC pipes are rated but you may want to check and determine if your pipe is ok for the pressure you are subjecting it to. Any pressurized system will break at its weakest point; you may have solved the tank's pressure problem but you may see the pipes breaking next.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

wow meron palang gray pvc water pipes, last time nasa handyman/ace hardware ako wala naman ako nakitang gray pipes. pero nakabili ako ng 'gray' na gate valve galing daw ng taiwan.

possible ba na lagyan ng metal enclusure yung new tank mo? para hindi na lumipad due to pressure?

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

Another alternative is to use an imported bladder tank. They usually have to meet a much higher safety factor to withstand higher pressures.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

wow nangyari din 'to sa amin.....
sumabog ang g.i. tank namin sira daw ang pressure switch kaya kumarga ng todo..
ang nangyari naman sa amin ung cover sa top ang bumuka at ang lakas ng pagsabog
kaya pabaon sa lupa ang tangke namin...ung nakapatong na sirang mono block sa tangke ang tumalsik pataas
(sideway)
after 2 days nalaman ko sa neighbor namin na ang daming lumabas sa haus nila to check kun saan galing ung pagsabog...even ung sundalo namin kpitbahay naglabas ng "daw" ng armalite...para daw granada ung sumabog -11pm po nangyari

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

The plumber who did the replacement (stainless steel na ngayon) prescribed a useful life of 5 years for galvanized tanks after which a replacement is advised.

Thanks for sharing this info. I again learned something new today.
As what Zumtimes shared, even with a pressure switch, it can still happen (explode), due to a faulty equipment. The only way to prevent it from happening, if its possible, is to use a pressure switch that will have 3 settings, one to start the motor at a given low PSI, another one to stop the motor at a higher PSI (normal), and lastly to stop completly at a certain higher PSI than the normal. I'm not sure if there is such a product like that in the market.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

I would suggest installing pressure relief valve.

Re: Exploded pressurized water tank

I would suggest installing pressure relief valve.

That's a great idea and much more simplier. I'll take note of that in my project, thanks.

experienced it before sa dati namin apartment. yes the tank it self is a factor and there's a lot of choices for replacement, but i agree with sir bmac. Pressure relief valve is a hassle free alternative and continuous maintenance check with pressure switch and pressure relief valve will give additional safety factor.

ah ung tank ho namin nag karoon ng butas dahil sa kalawang bago lng un tank almost 1 year lang now ang concern ko may posibilidad ba sumabog un tank dahil may pressure ?

Gandang araw mga bro,

First let me share a recent experience to serve as a warning. I learned it the hard way.

This Sunday, our pressurized water tank (40 gallons) exploded. The bottom was completely ripped off and the rest of the tank flew vertically higher than the second floor. I do not know the exact height but the first floor roof of the surrounding neighbors got wet.

My wife was very lucky that she already finished tending her basil plants, since the tank landed on her exact spot earlier.

Our tank is made from galvanized sheet and after asking around, I leaned that such explosions are normal for such type of tanks. The plumber who did the replacement (stainless steel na ngayon) prescribed a useful life of 5 years for galvanized tanks after which a replacement is advised.

After that heads up, I have a question for our seasoned experts:

The plumber used 3/4" gray pvc pipes as replacement for the original G.I. pipes. He claims they are imported from U.S. and sourced from Manila. He uses them on water refilling stations that use his service.

In the meantime, tiwala muna ako. Innocent until proven gulity 'ika nga.

What I understand is PVC for water lines are colored blue or white. Google provided inconclusive info specially for Philippine setting.

Have any of you used or know of any installations here in the Philippines where gray pipes are used for water lines?

I guess, there is no problem if they use a gray pipes as water line going to your tanks.

There are things to be consider why your water tank exploded:

1. Having a rust or nicks surrounded of your tank.
2. Too much high pressured water going to your tank.
3. It could be lack of maintenance in your tank.