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Page 1 of 12 A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas as a component of SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus). It provides gas to the SCUBA diver through the demand valve of a diving regulator. Diving cylinders typically have an internal volume of between 3 and 18 litres and a maximum pressure rating of 200 bar to 300 bar, (about 3000 psi to 4500 psi). The internal cylinder volume is also expressed as "water capacity" - the volume of water which could be contained by the cylinder. When pressurised, a cylinder carries a volume of gas greater than its water capacity because gas is compressible. 696 (3 x 232) litres (25ft³) of gas at atmospheric pressure can be compressed into a 3-litre cylinder filled to 232 bar. Cylinders also come in smaller sizes, such as 0.2, 1.5 and 2 litres, however these are not generally used for breathing, instead being used for purposes such as Surface Marker Buoy, drysuit and buoyancy compensator inflation. Divers use gas cylinders above water for many purposes including storage of gases for oxygen first aid treatment of diving disorders and as part of storage "banks" for diving air compressor stations. They are also used for many purposes not connected to diving. The term "diving cylinder" tends to be used by gas equipment engineers, manufacturers, support professionals, and divers speaking British English. "Scuba tank" or "diving tank" is more often used colloquially by non-professionals and native speakers of American English. The term "oxygen tank" is commonly used by non-divers when referring to diving cylinders. This is a misnomer. These cylinders typically contain (atmospheric) breathing air, or an oxygen-enriched air mix. They rarely contain pure oxygen, except when used for rebreather diving, decompression in technical diving or for oxygen therapy.
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