Propane Cylinder Orientation 2

[jerry1423]

We are working on a project that will utilize a 16.4 oz propane cylinder.
Can the propane cylinder be oriented in any direction when used ?
If it can be oriented in any direction, is there an orientation that is better than the others ?

I did a little bit of investigating on this and couldn't find anything.

 

[SteveWag]

Depends on what you want, liquid or gas feed, and then how the tank is internally piped. 16.4 oz, vertical with the valve at the top.
Steve

 

[jerry1423]

Gas feed, to a small propane engine.
I think we will cut a can open to see how it is piped.

Jerry J.
Milwaukee Electric Tool

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/

 

[racookpe1978]

Valve on top. DON'T just arbitrarily cut open a propane or acetylene cylinder. The source is stored differently in each.

 

[EmmanuelTop]

If it is a gas-fed system, I think the logic dictates to have such an orientation in which the pressure regulator (or flow regulator) valve will see at its inlet flange the fluid phase it has been designed for. Regulators designed for gas/vapor do not behave well if they need to manage liquid, and vice versa.

Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE

 

[bimr]

The propane is "Liquefied Propane Gas" (LPG), which has been compressed into a liquid and is stored in cylinders designed to keep the propane compressed.

What happens inside the cylinder is that the liquid gas vaporizes just until the pressure is sufficient to prevent additional vaporization, which depends on the temperature. Pressure keeps the propane a liquid in the tank. The vaporized propane gas exerts pressure. Enough of the liquid vaporizes to maintain the pressure inside the cylinder to prevent any more of the liquid propane from vaporizing.

When you open the valve, and thereby release some of the pressure inside the cylinder, the liquid starts vaporizing again. As long as some liquid propane remains in the tank to vaporize, whether it’s 90% full or 10% full, the pressure inside the cylinder remains constant. That’s why the pressure is the same with a nearly-empty tank as with a full tank.

The tank needs to be orientated so that the liquid is below the level of the outlet valve. If you turn the tank upside down, you will allow the liquid to escape. The liquid causes the outlet flow to be uneven and sputter.

 

[jerry1423]

Thanks blmr for the excellent reply.

Jerry J.
Milwaukee Electric Tool

http://www.milwaukeetool.com/

 

[LittleInch]

Just to be really picky, but LPG actually stands for Liquefied Petroleum Gas and is a generic term which covers propane, butane and a common "LPG" mix of butane and propane which is what you commonly buy why you just buy "LPG" canisters unless you specifically buy Propane.

The only thing missing from the otherwise excellent answer is that the vapourisation or boiling needs heat. For most domestic situations this comes from ambient air, but the canister often becomes very cold and if the tank / propane itself is already quite cold you can actually freeze it and severely reduce the flow of gas. You can sometimes need tank or canister heated blankets to maintain gas flow, but all depends on how much propane you're using, what the liquid and air temperatures are etc.

There is usually a regulator or orifice somewhere in the system to drop the pressure inside the canister (typically 90- 200 psig) to something much less for burners. No idea what your engine is going to need.

Keep the valve above liquid level though at all times.

this link is quite good - scroll down to propane.

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/gasfacts.php

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