What is an OPD Gas Bottle?

An OPD gas bottle has one connection that serves both for filling the gas bottle and for removing gas. Just like you refill a water bottle and then drink from it again.

You must therefore first fill the gas bottle, then remove the filling connection and then reconnect a pressure regulator (or intake line) to it. This is fine if, for example, you use the gas bottle in your garden, patio or on your balcony, so not necessarily in the vehicle where you fill the gas tank.

If you are looking for a gas tank for a fixed location (for example in your camper or caravan) and you do not want to have to change the connection (from filling to taking off and vice versa), then using a MultiValve gas bottle may be a better option for you. This type of gas bottle has a separate entrance (with 80% filling stop) and a separate output to which you can permanently keep the pressure regulator or withdrawal line connected. Read more about MultiValve Gas Bottles here.

With an OPD gas cylinder valve, the LPG filling and gas consumption (vapour gas consumption) occur via the same entrance/exit. So there is only one connection to the gas tank.

This type of gas cylinder tap has the following features:

- Hand tap for opening/closing the gas bottle

- A float with an 80% filling limit. (Overfill Protection Device)

- a pressure relief valve that does not allow the pressure in the gas bottle to become too high (26 bar).

- Common single connection for both filling and gas extraction: EN15252: G.12 = W21.8 x 1/14 (M22) Left-hand thread type SHELL connection with rubber sealing ring.

Image diagram OPD Gas bottle next to it

Filling OPD Gas Bottles

With this type of gas bottle you can order a filling adapter that allows direct filling of the gas bottle. Or you can order a filling set that makes it possible to fill the gas bottle via an external filling connection. Below we will illustrate both options using the diagrams below. Read more about filling LPG gas bottles here.

Filling instructions

A. Close the gas bottle tap.

B. Install the filling pipe or filling adapter on the gas bottle. (If necessary, first dismantle the intake line / pressure regulator if present.)

C. Connect the filling nozzle to the filling coupling.

D. Open the gas bottle tap again.

E. Fill the gas bottle with the desired amount. (maximum 80%)

F. After refueling, close the gas bottle tap again.

G. Disconnect the filling nozzle and the filling pipe / filling coupling.

H. Reconnect the extraction line / pressure regulator to the tank.

TIP!

When filling for the first time: At the pumping station, first connect only the filling nozzle of the pumping station to the filling connection of your system. Then LPG, which is in the filling hose of the pumping station, flows directly into the gas bottle without you actually having to refuel (press the button). This way you immediately build up pressure in the gas bottle and you can test whether everything is connected leak-free. Do this by smelling good and, if necessary, spraying a plant sprayer with soapy water on the various connections. If you then discover a leak or problem, you do not have to let a lot of LPG flow out of the gas bottle first. Once you know that everything is leak-free and properly connected, only then actually fill the gas bottle.

General safety advice for gas bottles

- Always keep the gas bottle upright. (with the tap above)

- Do not drop the gas bottle, as damage may occur to the bottle or the couplings.

- Do not store the gas bottle near an open flame.

- Do not use or store below ground floor level. Leaked gas will accumulate at low levels.

- Gas bottles and pressure regulators often have a pressure relief valve, for this reason these parts may not be placed inside (the living space of) a camper or caravan. These should be used outside or in a ventilated area that is connected to the outside air and not connected to the indoor space.

- The storage must be well ventilated, preferably outside.

- Do not use tools to open the tap.

- Check the hoses regularly and see if the cylinder is properly secured. If the hoses are damaged or show signs of wear, replace the hoses (use the correct quality hoses)

- Use the NPR-2577 guidelines

Schematic images of OPD gas cylinders with filling adapter and filling set

Double OPD Gas Cylinder Filling Set

Some campers or caravans use 2 gas tanks. Then it is of course nice to be able to refuel both gas bottles at the same time via one filling connection. The diagram below shows how this can be done. In our webshop we offer a double filling set for LPG gas bottles.

Schematic images of OPD gas cylinders with double filling set

Gas extraction from OPD gas bottles

Because an OPD gas bottle only has one connection, it must be used for both filling and removing gas. Filling is done using liquid LPG and the supply is vapor gas. (you can read more about this HERE). But that makes it difficult to use the same pipework for both filling and removing. It is therefore necessary with this type of gas bottle to disconnect the filling pipe from the gas bottle after filling and reconnect the intake part.

Note: A MultiValve Gas Bottle solves this problem by having a separate inlet and outlet on the gas bottle. Read more about MultiValve Gas Bottles

What the gas extraction section should look like depends on your application and on the components and types of connections already used in your camper, caravan or other application.

Pressure regulator: But in all cases a pressure regulator (pressure reduction) will have to be used, because the pressure from the gas bottle is much too high to be used directly. This pressure regulator reduces the pressure from the LPG tank or gas bottle to a lower pressure of 30 mbar for the rest of the gas installation and ensures a constant and correct gas pressure for the connected equipment. Read more about pressure regulators for gas bottles and how to connect them in the Tutorial "Pressure regulators for gas bottles"

DISCLAIMER

The information in this article is intended as an aid only. No rights can be derived from this article. The applicable laws and regulations (such as the RDW LPG installation requirements or NPR-2577 guideline) are always leading.

Please read our full disclaimer here.

All images are Copyright protected.