DOT4BW Cylinders
There are many different sizes of cylinders available at KSC/CCAFS. All share a common heritage in with the original NASA-designed 30-gallon fuel version. DOT4BW refers to the Department of Transportation design specification under which these containers fall. They are all similar to a propane tank. All are covered by various exemptions to existing DOT specifications primarily due to being constructed of 304L stainless steel – which is not currently an authorized material for this classification of containers.
The KSC/CCAFS cylinder fleet normally stay in our local area but can be transported cross-country when required to support NASA missions.
| Hydrazine Family Fuel DOT4BW cylinders | ||||
| Cylinder Size | 5-gallon Model A | 30-gallon | 55-gallon (2 models) | 120-gallon (2 models) |
| Height | 24.5″ | 44.5″ | 50″ or 50.5″ | 49.5″ or 66″ |
| Diameter | 12″ | 18″ | 22″ | 36″ or 30″ |
| Tare Weight | 45 lbs | 135 lbs | 300 lbs or 405 lbs | 760 lbs or 785 lbs |
| Gross Weight Full w/N 2 H 4 | 83 lbs | 362 lbs | 717 lbs or 822 lbs | 1670 or 1695 |
| Fluid Capacity with 10% ullage | 4.5 gallons | 27 gallons | 49.5 gallons | 108 gallons |
| Quantity – Notes 1 & 2 | 12 | 25 | 5 | 5 |
| Connections | 0.5″ KC male | |||
| DOT Special Permit DOT-SP-XXXXX | 11378 | 11378 | 11173 or 11580 | 11173 or 11580 |
| MAWP | 225 psig | 225 psig | 300 psig | 300 psig |
| Operating Pressure | Full vacuum to MAWP | |||
| PRV | None | |||
| Approved Fluids | Hydrazine family fuels and their solutions | |||
| Other Features | Built-in dip leg. Normally place cylinder on scale to determine content. | |||
| N 2 O 4 oxidizer DOT4BW cylinders | ||||
| Cylinder Size | 5-gallon Model C | 30-gallon | 55-gallon | 120-gallon |
| Height | 23.5″ | 40.5″ | 60.5″ | 68.5″ |
| Diameter | 12″ | 21″ | 20.5″ | 30″ |
| Tare Weight | 93 lbs | 340 lbs | 465 lbs | 835 lbs |
| Gross Weight Full w/N 2 O 4 | 147 lbs | 665 lbs | 1,062 lbs | 2,139 lbs |
| Fluid Capacity with 10% ullage | 4.5 gallons | 27 gallons | 49.5 gallons | 108 gallons |
| Quantity – Notes 1 & 2 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 6 |
| Connections | 0.5″ KC male | |||
| DOT Special Permit DOT-SP-XXXXX | 11580 | 11383 | 11580 | 11580 |
| MAWP | 500 psig | 300 psig | 300 psig | 300 psig |
| Operating Pressure | Full vacuum to MAWP | |||
| PRV Setting | None | |||
| Approved Fluids | N 2 O 4 and its solutions (blends of N 2 O 4 and nitric acid in water) | |||
| Other Features | Built-in dip leg. Normally place cylinder on scale to determine content. The lid is removable to reduce weight by 53 lbs during operations (must be in place for transport). | |||
Note 1: Quantity listed represent total numbers of cylinders in NASA/KSC inventory. Due to maintenance and fleet optimization actual quantity in service is less.
Note 2: Additional 55 and 120 gallon cylinders are available from DESC DFSP and are routinely available to all NASA, DOD and commercial programs at KSC/CCAFS