Propane Tank Sizing
Propane Tank Sizing
(OP)
I am trying to size a above ground liquid propane tank for use with an emergency generator.
I calculate required run times, convert from natural gas cfh to propane cfh, calculate wetted area of the tank based on % full, design temperature of the day, but what I am having trouble with is frost generation due to relative humidity.
I haven't found much engineering literature about doing this. The engineering books (and some propane literature) I have found say to consider frost. From them, for a 0 F design day, the usable temperature difference could vary from 2 F to 29 F, depending on the relative humidity
But the literature from the generator manufacturer, the engineering staff for the generator, and even an engineer for a large propane supplier do not seem to take frost into consideration.
I don't want to tell the equipment engineers who have been doing this a lot longer than I have that they are wrong, but I cannot discount that much of a variance in other engineering literature.
Has anybody designed these and am I missing something?
I calculate required run times, convert from natural gas cfh to propane cfh, calculate wetted area of the tank based on % full, design temperature of the day, but what I am having trouble with is frost generation due to relative humidity.
I haven't found much engineering literature about doing this. The engineering books (and some propane literature) I have found say to consider frost. From them, for a 0 F design day, the usable temperature difference could vary from 2 F to 29 F, depending on the relative humidity
But the literature from the generator manufacturer, the engineering staff for the generator, and even an engineer for a large propane supplier do not seem to take frost into consideration.
I don't want to tell the equipment engineers who have been doing this a lot longer than I have that they are wrong, but I cannot discount that much of a variance in other engineering literature.
Has anybody designed these and am I missing something?





RE: Propane Tank Sizing
RE: Propane Tank Sizing
The generator we have specified would be running on propane vapor.
RE: Propane Tank Sizing
Steve
RE: Propane Tank Sizing
Looking at the following information is what got me thinking there is more to it than temperature.
www.doc
The approach advised by Emerson would make it a very large tank. The math works, but it is one of those instances where actual experience is lacking to tell me that my numbers are suspect.
RE: Propane Tank Sizing