Our propane tanks were icing up. This video shows how we fixed the issue. The tanks don't freeze anymore. PICTURE CREDITS: sigforum.com/ev... studylib.net/d...
If I could give u 10 stars, you gottem. This frozen propane tank has been driving me nuts. My wife had knee replacement and can’t go up stairs to take a shower. Our bedroom is on 1st floor. So I was using my hottap from my camper and shower tent in the garage for showers. 2lb tank would start frosting up and water temp go down to where she couldn’t use water. I tried new gas connector, new tanks, etc. to no avail. Using your technique it works beautifully. Thank you sooo much.
The frozen tanks were such a pain last maple season. I spent a while trying to figure out a fix. I'm really glad you found this video helpful. Thanks for taking the time to leave the comment.
The key is keeping the frost off the tank as it insulates, creating a postitive feedback and slows the heat transfer through the tank wall. Your water is apparently adding just enough heat energy to keep the tank from building frost. I seen others who had success wrapping the tank tightly in that bubble wrap radiant barrier. It’s the bubble wrap that helps there keeping the humid air off the tank walls.
Thanks for sharing. The bubble wrap method is new to me but one way or another, the reaction needs enough energy (heat) from the tank to convert from liquid propane to gas. You're right about that feedback loop. Once the frost starts then it really slows down quick.
THANK YOU. I just started a small mobile glassblowing studio and was really getting my panties in a bunch over this, especially approaching cold seasons and seeing how quickly the tanks were freezing! God bless you!
Dude I figured that out myself 20 years ago. But it's awesome that you made a video. I always used water from the garden hose. Edit just double checked the numbers. The latent heat of vaporization of propane is 184 BTU/Lbs and the latent heat of fusion for water is 144 BTU/ Lbs. And since water is about twice as heavy as propane you can figure needing 2.5 gallons of water to provide the heat energy to drive out all 5 gallons of propane.
Thanks for the comment, I don't know how I missed it. I usually have to refill the water in the pan a few times to get through a tank but I never measured the exact amount. Next time I plan on using an entire tank all at once I'll measure the water usage. I imagine the initial water temperature will impact the results though.
wouldn't you benefit from just linking two tanks up with double area exchange rate? or just get a wider tank? how about laying the tank sideways? would any of this help? I am curious on learning more. Let me know. Thanks.
We have started using our 9kg bottles on our instant hot water and for the last 3 months it's hit cold cold cold hot. Read in forums today the gas freezes because it can't handle the high flow rate. We t outside and sure enough the copper line was cold asf..wet a rag under Tao and draped it over line. Instant hit water. Just wanted to share incase someone having this issue.
Nice! Yep, my understanding is the conversion of propane liquid to gas is an endothermic reaction and requires a large amount of energy from its surroundings, such as from the tank or lines. The water has enough thermal mass for this reaction so the flow rate doesn’t slow.
You gave me the idea to get a battery powered heating pad for my tank! I don't use it for longer than 30 minutes at a time, but it's a two pounder so freezes up within 5.
@@thelifeofriley7668 I was nervous too so I ended up with those hand warmers with the metal chip that snaps to activate. Put a layer of cloth between it and the tank so it didnt get too hot. Worked fine!
couldn't you just set up a tee candle under the propane tank or a pilot flame from the tank itself? That will work indefinetly and is on the other side so little heat that it will never reach a critical point
@@thelifeofriley7668 the energy from the small flame is so little it will never reach any critical temperature and more over you're right next to it. Just watch that there's always some condensation above the flame and you're safe with the temperature if you have a 30Bar pressure safety valve. Also that is more efficient like a condensing furnace. The moisture in the exhaust gas of a propane flame condenses to temperatures down to 55°C which gives you 20 Bar pressure in the bottle. A small flame will never give you that temperature as the propane will have much stronger cooling effect from the boiling inside of the bottle. So about being unsafe I could argue the same for your hot water trick. A very safe trick is to remove the frost on the bottle because frost is very good insulator but you want to get some heat into your bottle so remove the frost regularly. Safest tip
Sorry I didn't see this comment earlier. Your idea sounds good to me but I'm not an expert. If you decide to do it, please let me know how it turned out.
Perfect! Exact same problem, tried it and solved. Thanks!
Awesome! I’m glad the video helped.
If I could give u 10 stars, you gottem. This frozen propane tank has been driving me nuts. My wife had knee replacement and can’t go up stairs to take a shower. Our bedroom is on 1st floor. So I was using my hottap from my camper and shower tent in the garage for showers. 2lb tank would start frosting up and water temp go down to where she couldn’t use water. I tried new gas connector, new tanks, etc. to no avail. Using your technique it works beautifully. Thank you sooo much.
The frozen tanks were such a pain last maple season. I spent a while trying to figure out a fix. I'm really glad you found this video helpful. Thanks for taking the time to leave the comment.
The key is keeping the frost off the tank as it insulates, creating a postitive feedback and slows the heat transfer through the tank wall. Your water is apparently adding just enough heat energy to keep the tank from building frost. I seen others who had success wrapping the tank tightly in that bubble wrap radiant barrier. It’s the bubble wrap that helps there keeping the humid air off the tank walls.
Thanks for sharing. The bubble wrap method is new to me but one way or another, the reaction needs enough energy (heat) from the tank to convert from liquid propane to gas. You're right about that feedback loop. Once the frost starts then it really slows down quick.
THANK YOU. I just started a small mobile glassblowing studio and was really getting my panties in a bunch over this, especially approaching cold seasons and seeing how quickly the tanks were freezing! God bless you!
I'm really glad this video helped.
Dude I figured that out myself 20 years ago. But it's awesome that you made a video.
I always used water from the garden hose.
Edit just double checked the numbers. The latent heat of vaporization of propane is 184 BTU/Lbs and the latent heat of fusion for water is 144 BTU/ Lbs.
And since water is about twice as heavy as propane you can figure needing 2.5 gallons of water to provide the heat energy to drive out all 5 gallons of propane.
Thanks for the comment, I don't know how I missed it. I usually have to refill the water in the pan a few times to get through a tank but I never measured the exact amount. Next time I plan on using an entire tank all at once I'll measure the water usage. I imagine the initial water temperature will impact the results though.
wouldn't you benefit from just linking two tanks up with double area exchange rate? or just get a wider tank? how about laying the tank sideways? would any of this help? I am curious on learning more. Let me know. Thanks.
I’m not sure. I haven’t tried any of the possible solutions you mentioned but I appreciate the comment.
We have started using our 9kg bottles on our instant hot water and for the last 3 months it's hit cold cold cold hot. Read in forums today the gas freezes because it can't handle the high flow rate. We t outside and sure enough the copper line was cold asf..wet a rag under Tao and draped it over line. Instant hit water. Just wanted to share incase someone having this issue.
Nice! Yep, my understanding is the conversion of propane liquid to gas is an endothermic reaction and requires a large amount of energy from its surroundings, such as from the tank or lines. The water has enough thermal mass for this reaction so the flow rate doesn’t slow.
You gave me the idea to get a battery powered heating pad for my tank! I don't use it for longer than 30 minutes at a time, but it's a two pounder so freezes up within 5.
I don't have any experience with that but I'd be nervous about adding a heating element to a propane tank. How did it work for you?
@@thelifeofriley7668 I was nervous too so I ended up with those hand warmers with the metal chip that snaps to activate. Put a layer of cloth between it and the tank so it didnt get too hot. Worked fine!
Where did you read about the LP boiling into a vapour in the tank? I wouldn't mind knowing more about that. Thanks .
That’s just how I understand it to work. It’s liquid when it goes in and gas when it comes out.
couldn't you just set up a tee candle under the propane tank or a pilot flame from the tank itself?
That will work indefinetly and is on the other side so little heat that it will never reach a critical point
I am not an expert but that sounds like a dangerous idea.
@@thelifeofriley7668 the energy from the small flame is so little it will never reach any critical temperature and more over you're right next to it. Just watch that there's always some condensation above the flame and you're safe with the temperature if you have a 30Bar pressure safety valve. Also that is more efficient like a condensing furnace. The moisture in the exhaust gas of a propane flame condenses to temperatures down to 55°C which gives you 20 Bar pressure in the bottle. A small flame will never give you that temperature as the propane will have much stronger cooling effect from the boiling inside of the bottle. So about being unsafe I could argue the same for your hot water trick.
A very safe trick is to remove the frost on the bottle because frost is very good insulator but you want to get some heat into your bottle so remove the frost regularly. Safest tip
What do you think if I put it in the first step of my pool, out side temp is low 40
Sorry I didn't see this comment earlier. Your idea sounds good to me but I'm not an expert. If you decide to do it, please let me know how it turned out.
I need your help
? What's up?
Dual tank setup will fix the issue the correct way
Because each tank's flow will be halved?
Is it hot water or normal water from the borehole?
I just add room temp water to the pan.
You gotta change your water or just let it sit
I change it when it gets really cold, otherwise it’ll freeze.