I'm a little confused about pounds Vs. gallons in regards to propane. Could someone please help me out.

-- John (im@john.com), March 24, 1999

Answers

This is not documented online but I believe propane weighs a little over 4 lbs per gallon and normally the tanks are not completely filled for safety reasons. Oh and allways keep your tanks silver or white as the heat will expand the gas and dark colors attract heat.

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-- Brian (imager@ampsc.com), March 24, 1999.

Hi Brian, I thought I was the only person who stayed up this late to read this forum. Some of my confusion involves my comparing of specs on propane refridgerators. Some say they consume a certain # of pounds per week, while others say that they consume a certain # of ounces per day, which could be volume or weight. I want to get the most efficient model that I can.

-- John (im@john.com), March 24, 1999.

Very cool Brian. I'm impressed.

-- PNG (png@gol.com), March 24, 1999.

Two important stats regarding propane:

BTU/lb = 21,632 lb/gal = 4.22

The standard home-usage measure is in pounds. The standard home storage method is the 20-pound tank used by gas BBQs. So, if you have a coleman stove or heater rated at 10K BTU/hr, the tank should last (20lbs x 21,632 btu/lb) / 10,000 BUT/hr = 43hrs or maybe 80hrs at half-speed.

Now, caveats: if you ar planning on using propane to heat/cool/cook: Any storage vessel larger than the the 16oz (worthless)cylinder will require an adapter and special hose. Simple storage tanks also are available (Northern Tools, Ace Hardware, etc) in 30 and 100 pound sizes.

I prefer popane to many other fuels because it produces no carbon monoxide, can be stored indefinitely, and is easily found today all over the country. Here is a good (cut and paste) link:

http://www.flamex.com/comparisons.qsp?_QUSR=355773010

I hope this helps. By the way, thanks to all for the usesfull advice and support.

-- Uhm... (jfcp81a@prodigy.com), March 24, 1999.

Are we sure about the point that propane combustion doesn't produce CO? I thought that any fossil fuel combustion produced some level of CO. Please verify the statement that it is carbon monoxide free in its combustion..

-- Ninh Hoa (cant@say.com), March 25, 1999.

-- Ninh Hoa (cant@say.com), March 25, 1999. wrote: ****Are we sure about the point that propane combustion doesn't produce CO? I thought that any fossil fuel combustion produced some level of CO. Please verify the statement that it is carbon monoxide free in its combustion.. ****

Right you are Ninh, even propane will produce CO if burned in the wrong "environment" Burning in an oxygen rich environment will produce CO2 but when burned in an oxygen poor environment then incomplete combustion occurs and you get CO.

ventless fireplaces that use LP or Natural Gas employ an oxy sensor that shuts off the fire if the O2 level get to low thus avoiding the production of CO. Of course your coleman stove has no such sensor so be careful about using it in a small tightly enclosed space.

got CO monitors?

LM

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), March 25, 1999.