What type of relief valves are commonly used on small tanks and cylinders?

Frangible disks and fusible plugs are commonly used on small tanks and cylinders mainly because of their simple design and reliability in preventing overpressure situations. Frangible disks are designed to rupture at a specific pressure, allowing gas to escape and relieve pressure from the tank to avoid potential ruptures or explosions. On the other hand, fusible plugs are devices that melt at a specific temperature, which is particularly useful in preventing tanks from exploding in fire situations. When the temperature exceeds a certain threshold, the plug melts, enabling the gas to vent safely.

This combination of pressure management and thermal safety makes frangible disks and fusible plugs ideal for small tanks and cylinders, where volume and pressure limits require effective, fail-safe solutions to ensure safety. In contrast, spring-loaded devices, safety valves, and pressure relief valves may not always be as practical for the smaller scale of tanks and cylinders used in medical gas applications. These alternatives might be more common in larger industrial setups where different pressure management approaches are feasible.