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Composite Cylinders

SCI Aviation Cylinders

In 1976, Structural Composites Industries (SCI) was issued the first Department of Transportation (DOT) approved to manufacture composite wrapped high pressure gas cylinders for a Chevalier® wrapped cylinder used to inflate evacuation slides on the Boeing 747. In the past 30 years, SCI has received 7 additional approvals including approval for carbon composite cylinders in 1996.

SCI has designed hundreds of DOT approved composite cylinders ranging in size from 45 cu in (.74 liters) to 5450 cu in (89.3 liters) with operating pressures of 1850 psi to 5000 psi.

The advantage of carbon composite cylinders is their very high strength to weight ratio. Carbon composite cylinders are typically 10 to 20% lighter than comparable Kevlar cylinders and 60 to 65% lighter than comparable steel cylinders. Carbon cylinders have a minimum safety factor of 3.4 to 1 and the typical safety factor is 3.6 - 3.7 to 1.

Commercial Aviation is one of the largest users of carbon composite cylinders. Composite cylinders are used to inflate evacuation slides, store oxygen for the passengers and crew, inflate emergency floats on helicopters and store energy to open doors, lower flaps or the landing gear.

SCI Hall of Fame

Boeing 777:

The world's newest and most advanced commercial jetliner uses SCI composite cylinders in many applications: Aircraft evacuation slide and life raft inflation systems; emergency aircraft oxygen for cockpit crew.

F-22:

The newest air superiority jet fighter in development for the U.S. Air Force uses many SCI composite pressure vessels: Emergency Power Unit Air Supply; Air Fuel Pressurization System; Pneumatic Air Start System; and Pneumatic Landing Gear Actuation.

Boeing (Hughes) HS601:

SCI provides the helium pressurant tank for this communications satellite.

F-117A:

The storied star of recent conflicts uses SCI cylinders for an important safety system: the backup Pneumatic Air Start System for emergency jet engine restarts.

B-2:

The famed Stealth Bomber also depends on SCI for its Pneumatic Air Start System

Commercial Aircraft Standard Cylinders (More models are available)
Model
Spec
psi
Bar
Volume cu in
Volume liter
OD inches
OD MM
OAL inches
OAL MM
Weight LBS
Weight KG
Fiber Type
183
DOT-SP 8162
3000
207
370.00
6.06
7.02
178.31
16.55
420.37
9.65
4.38
KEVLAR
210A
DOT-SP 8162
3000
207
200.00
3.28
5.36
136.14
14.80
375.92
4.90
2.22
KEVLAR
216A
DOT-SP 8718
3000
207
1000.00
16.39
8.75
222.25
25.33
643.38
16.80
7.62
KEVLAR
274
DOT-SP 8162
3360
232
260.00
4.26
5.39
136.91
18.10
459.74
6.30
2.86
KEVLAR
351
DOT-SP 8162
3000
207
225.00
3.69
5.36
136.14
16.20
411.48
5.30
2.40
KEVLAR
411
DOT-SP 8162
3360
232
1074.00
17.60
7.90
200.66
32.80
833.12
22.00
9.98
KEVLAR
554
DOT-SP 10019 / TC
3000
207
650.00
10.65
7.81
198.12
21.36
542.54
15.10
6.84
KEVLAR
63
DOT-SP 7218
3000
207
1074.00
17.60
7.90
200.66
32.80
833.12
22.00
9.98
KEVLAR
715
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
1510.00
24.74
10.15
257.81
27.70
703.58
23.20
10.52
CAR/GLS
716
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
1624.00
26.61
10.15
257.81
29.40
746.76
25.20
11.43
CAR/GLS
726
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
1200.00
19.66
8.70
220.98
28.90
734.06
18.70
8.48
CAR/GLS
727
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
1299.00
21.29
8.70
220.98
30.90
784.86
19.90
9.03
CAR/GLS
736
DOT-SP 10945
1850
128
1500.00
24.58
9.35
237.49
30.00
762.00
16.00
7.26
CAR/GLS
738
DOT-SP 10945
3360
232
1115.00
18.27
8.30
210.82
28.90
734.06
17.50
7.94
CAR/GLS
745
DOT-SP 10945
3800
262
1624.00
26.61
10.15
257.81
29.20
741.68
27.70
12.56
CAR/GLS
749
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
360.00
5.90
6.18
156.97
17.90
454.66
7.30
3.31
CAR/GLS
750
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
300.00
4.92
6.18
156.97
15.50
393.70
6.30
2.86
CAR/GLS
751
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
650.00
10.65
7.20
182.88
23.70
601.98
10.80
4.90
CAR/GLS
789
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
125.00
2.05
4.55
115.57
12.70
322.58
3.40
1.54
CAR/GLS
791
DOT-SP 10945
3500
241
1144.00
18.75
7.90
200.66
32.46
824.48
18.90
8.57
CAR/GLS
806
DOT-SP
4500
310
456.00
7.47
6.85
173.99
19.70
500.38
10.80
4.90
CAR/GLS
826
DOT-SP 8162
3295
227
750.00
12.29
7.38
187.45
27.00
685.80
15.20
6.89
KEVLAR
827
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
411.00
6.74
6.11
155.19
21.00
533.40
8.60
3.90
CAR/GLS
828
DOT-SP 10945
3400
234
1636.00
26.81
10.15
257.81
29.40
746.76
25.30
11.48
CAR/GLS
829
DOT-SP 8162
3400
234
1900.00
31.14
10.22
259.59
35.00
889.00
34.50
15.65
KEVLAR
830
DOT-SP 8162
3295
227
1615.00
26.47
10.26
260.60
30.55
775.97
29.70
13.47
KEVLAR
831
DOT-SP 8162
3295
227
405.00
6.64
5.37
136.40
26.20
665.48
8.00
3.63
KEVLAR
832
DOT-SP 10945
3295
227
360.00
5.90
6.22
157.99
18.59
472.19
7.80
3.54
CAR/GLS
842
DOT-SP 10945 / TC
1850
128
1580.00
25.89
9.10
231.14
31.50
800.10
15.70
7.12
CAR/GLS
Commercial Aircraft Oxygen Cylinders
(More models are available)
Model
Spec
psi
Bar
Volume cu in
Volume liter
OD inches
OD MM
OAL inches
OAL MM
Weight LBS
Weight KG
Fiber Type
279
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
650.00
10.65
6.80
172.72
25.00
635.00
7.90
3.59
KEVLAR
372
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
511.00
8.37
6.80
172.72
20.40
518.16
6.40
2.90
KEVLAR
280
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
295.00
4.83
5.20
132.08
19.80
502.92
4.00
1.81
KEVLAR
281
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
1000.00
16.39
7.60
193.04
29.60
751.84
12.90
5.85
KEVLAR
282
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
1500.00
24.58
9.10
231.14
31.50
800.10
18.10
8.21
KEVLAR
621
DOT-SP 8162 / TC
1850
128
142.00
2.33
3.62
91.95
18.85
478.79
2.00
0.91
KEVLAR

Contact a SCI Composite Cylinders Sales Representative