Scuba tank to run air Tools / Bilge pump

[ski69sail]

Thank You In Advance

I want to use a scuba tank with a US divers conshelf regulator to run a bilge pump in an emergency. Does anybody know of a water pump that runs on air?
Can anybody recommend a brand of air tools that suit a navel application ?
Or have any advice ??

Ray

[skipmac]

Don't know off hand of a water pump sold for marine use that runs on air but have used them in the chemical business to pump flammable solvents so they're out there. You're looking for an emergency pump and not a day to day keep it dry pump so a big chemical pump might work.

I've used SCUBA tanks to power a spray painter before and worked just fine. Just need to make sure the intermediate pressure in the reg isn't set too high for the tools.

Have not encountered "marine" air tools but don't see why any good air tools wouldn't work.

[Lancerbye]

http://www.fluidsystems.net/pumps/sa...s20mdl1ds1.pdf
Have used these air operated in Industrial applications to pump a variety of fluids.

[a64pilot]

Intermediate pressure is around 150 PSI, if I remember correctly.
But, remember you only have 80 cu ft or air in a common tank, actually a little less, but 80 is a nice round number, so you may have considerably less time to run a big pump than you may think.
I use a SCUBA tank to put air into tires etc all the time, but don't run a sander off one.
An average impact wrench takes about 5 CFM to run it, using that as a gauge, you can only run it for about 15 min. until the tank is empty, plus empty a tank that fast and you likely have icing to deal with from the expanding gas.

[Stumble]

You are going to need something bigger than a scuba tank. That pump for instance uses up to 150 cubic feet/minute at 100psi. A scuba tank only holds 80cubic feet. So your tank is going to run the pump for ~1 minute...

It works in theory, but you need massive tanks to make any difference.

[SVTwilight]

I have tried for years to use a variety of pneumatic devices on scuba tanks and save filling your car tires there is NEVER enough capacity to get anything done.

For emergency de-watering in dire circumstances I can only think of two viable solutions:

1) a scared crew member with a bucket,

or

2) the more versatile and high volume solution, the Edson size 30 pump that cranks out an amazing 4L or one gallon, per stroke!

Manual Diaphragm Pumps

I have one (and no association with Edson) and practice with it and it is rugged and fast, plus a great workout!

You can use them as portable, or there are various inlet and outlet configurations so that you can even have it fix mounted in the cockpit and pump while you steer.

[mark n brown]

with a 17 galon air tank at 120psi and a 3/4 inch impact i have changed a 8 lug bus tire--pressure times volume equals actual work output.

[groundtackle]

There's a reason oxygen is not ideal for driving a variety of tools
1) it is corrosive
2) it creates an explosion risk
It might be worth considering these things......or not? Just saying.



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[Capt.Alex]

Scuba tanks are filled with air, not oxygen. No issues.


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[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Capt.Alex

Scuba tanks are filled with air, not oxygen. No issues.

They certainly better be if they're going to be used for diving.

Except of course for the deco tanks.

[ski69sail]

I want to use a scuba tank with a US divers conshelf regulator to run a bilge pump in an emergency. Does anybody know of a water pump that runs on air?
Can anybody recommend a brand of air tools that suit a navel application ?
Or have any advice ??

I also have a dive compressor on my yacht. I intend to use the vessel to sail the Pacific and hopefully plenty of other remote areas..

Raymond

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by ski69sail

I want to use a scuba tank with a US divers conshelf regulator to run a bilge pump in an emergency. Does anybody know of a water pump that runs on air?
Can anybody recommend a brand of air tools that suit a navel application ?
Or have any advice ??

I also have a dive compressor on my yacht. I intend to use the vessel to sail the Pacific and hopefully plenty of other remote areas..

Raymond

So what is the fill rate on your compressor? The ones that I'm aware of that would fit on a boat are 2 to 5 SCFM. At 5 SCFM it takes 15 minutes to fill an 80 CF tank and you're burning through a tank somewhere on the order of 1 to 5 minutes based on equipment posted above.


Lots of better ideas on the forum. Clutched impeller pump on the engine can get you 100 GPM. Big centrifugal bilge pumps. Trash pump, can be belted on engine, or have its own engine, or AC motor, not sure if it's sold anymore but there was a centrifugal pump where the impeller is bolted on the prop shaft that put out 150 GPM.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by cal40john

So what is the fill rate on your compressor? The ones that I'm aware of that would fit on a boat are 2 to 5 SCFM. At 5 SCFM it takes 15 minutes to fill an 80 CF tank and you're burning through a tank somewhere on the order of 1 to 5 minutes based on equipment posted above.


Lots of better ideas on the forum. Clutched impeller pump on the engine can get you 100 GPM. Big centrifugal bilge pumps. Trash pump, can be belted on engine, or have its own engine, or AC motor, not sure if it's sold anymore but there was a centrifugal pump where the impeller is bolted on the prop shaft that put out 150 GPM.

If he is using a gen set to run his diving compressor It would be easy to run a big electric trash pump.

[groundtackle]

Originally Posted by Capt.Alex

Scuba tanks are filled with air, not oxygen. No issues.


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Darn I knew that ....but had a brain fart!


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[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Capt.Alex

Scuba tanks are filled with air, not oxygen. No issues.


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Actually, divers use SCUBA tanks filled with pure O2 all the time. They are O2 clean and they would be well marked.


The pure O2 is used for speeding decompression and for rebreathers. Caution, training is needed to avoid killing yourself.