SAFETY:
It’s possible that filling your own tank is illegal where you live, and there are major risks involved.
This isn’t something you should actually do! It’s a hypothetical that can be utilized after the singularity, or if you’re marooned on a desert island and need to convert to a small tank in order to journey across the island to get aid. However, this is probably safer than liquid syphoning transfers, which require the bleeder valve to be opened, increasing the risk of fire or freezing burns. I’ll say it again: playing with HIGHLY FLAMMABLE GAS AT HIGH PRESSURES IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Overview of the procedure:
The gas is transferred using a temperature gradient. Two tanks are linked together, with one kept cooler than the other. In the cool tank, the propane will condense and gradually fill it. This works because, at any given temperature, the liquid and the gas above it in a tank are in equilibrium. By introducing the cooler tank, where gaseous propane will condense, the balance is changed in favor of liquid.
Steps:
1. Use a HIGH PRESSURE hose suitable for full propane pressure to connect the two tanks.
2. Fill the tank you’re filling with ice water, while the source tank sits in the sun/a pail of lukewarm water.
3. Open the warm tank valve first, then the cool tank valve.
4. I haven’t measured the rate of transfer yet, but it’ll take at least half an hour to fill this 2kg tank halfway.
Keep track of how much money has been transferred. It is quite risky to overfill a tank.
5. Turn off the warm tank first to reduce the amount of residual pressure in the pipe.
6. Turn off the cold tank and carefully remove the hose. If both tanks are held upright, there will be some gas under pressure but no liquid gas.
Observations:
This is a long process that should not be left unattended, and there should be no ignition sources around. So far, the worst-case situation that I can envision is a hose burst, resulting in two cyclinders running at full speed. I believe the risk of a hose rupture should be no larger than if you were connecting it to a regular high-pressure burner; in fact, I believe the pressure in the two-cylinder system should be similar to propane at the cold tank’s temperature. It’s probably not a good idea to heat the warm tank above the recommended maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius.
Is it possible to transfer propane from one tank to another?
It’s generally a gas, but it can be held as a liquid in a portable tank with a pressure of at least 12 standard atmospheres (atm). The propane in the portable tank will need to be replenished from a supply tank on a regular basis. It is possible to move propane from one tank to another while keeping it liquid.
How difficult is it to transport a propane tank?
It is not a good idea to try to move a propane tank on your own. The disadvantages vastly exceed the benefits, even if it isn’t technically unlawful. When moving a propane tank, you may need to make complicated adjustments or reinstall your propane connections, such as valves, regulators, pipes, and so on. Incorrect propane system configuration can result in propane leaks (a significant safety risk) and, more commonly, inadequate propane system performance.
What’s the best way to empty a propane tank?
You may find instructions on how to empty a propane tank all over the internet, but the advise should be avoided because it is VERY DANGEROUS. This is NOT how propane gas cylinders should be emptied:
- Do not disconnect the tank from the piping gas line or equipment to which it is connected.
- Place the tank in an open space area outside (this is not a good idea).
- Invert the propane cylinder such that the bottom is facing up and the handles are on the ground (this should not be done).
- (Do not do this.) Open the valve and let the liquid propane go.
- Close the valve (this is not a good idea).
Is it possible for me to fill my own propane tank in my RV?
Propane tanks are most usually refilled by a professionally trained staff person at the location where you’re filling your tank in North America (which is why we mentioned it’s quite easy to refill a motorhome propane tank)!
Simply drive the motorhome to a propane-selling location and pull up to the area where their propane fill is placed. Allow a professional to fill your propane tank for you by positioning your RV on the same side as the fill site. That’s all there is to it.
What is the capacity of a 20 pound propane tank in gallons?
Propane grills, generators, patio heaters, and other outdoor equipment are examples of its use. Find a location near you to buy or exchange a 20-pound tank. Grill cylinders are 20-pound propane tanks that store 4.6 gallons of propane when fully charged.
What’s the difference between propane liquid and propane vapor?
Propane comes in two different forms: liquid and vapour. In general, propane vapour is used for barbeque grills, fireplaces, cooktops/ranges, space heaters, and central heating, whereas propane liquid is utilized in systems that demand a lot of energy, such as drying maize, foundry ovens, or massive systems requiring millions of BTUs (British Thermal Unit). Propane liquid, on the other hand, is 270 times more potent than propane vapour. As a result, if you had one litre of propane liquid, the conversion to vapour will be 270 times larger. This property is what makes propane the most energy-dense fuel available in the smallest canisters and thus the most easily transportable. Nuclear and hydrogen, understandably, produce far more energy with far less volume and mass, but they are far more difficult to transport.