Gas Bottle in Sun - >BANG<?

[MarkJ]

Hi Folks

We bought a new gas bottle and now have 3 but only have room in the gas bottle compartment for 2.
We have seen other boats with a gas bottle strapped to the deck in the sun.

Can we stow a full gas bottle in the tropical sun? Or will we be the next to orbit the moon?



Mark

[SouthernComfort]

It will be fine. Won't go boom. Most farmers and ranchers I know back home have large propane and butane tanks by their house in 105 degree west texas heat and they dont blow up. Think about all the cheap gas grills out there that sit in the hot sun all day long.

[donradcliffe]

If they are so full they are completely liquid, they may go hiss in the sun--there is a relief valve which opens if the pressure gets too high. I remember one hissing on my shoulder on the walk back from the filling station in Blackwattle Bay. That is the main reason the new US valves only allow the tanks to be 80% filled.

[scotte]

For a bottle on deck, it may be worth some sort of cover to help keep the salt spray off - It would probably greatly lengthen the life of the cylinder and any of it parts subject to corrosion. You'd want to keep the bottom well open though so any trapped gas could escape, and a breathable fabric would probably be a good idea as well.

[David M]

There would be something wrong with any bottle that is that temperature sensitive.

[MarkJ]

OK, Now I'm worried if your advice is good, or if all of you are trying to get rid of me

I'll stick it on deck and send you the bill if the boats arse gets blown to hell.






Mark

[cabo_sailor]

All the advice is good but if the boat's arse gets blown to hell, just send the bill there. I'm running a tab.

Rich

[David M]

Mark,
Put it in the oven at 400F and go see a movie. If the boat is not underwater when you get back you can assume its safe.

Did you ever manage to make your screen wife proof?

[Christian Van H]

I think you should be fine. Now, please don't anchor near me...

[sailorboy1]

Grew up in the desert when the temp would be 118 F. Never heard of a tank blowing up on any house or RVs out in the sand dunes. Every once in awhile a spray can in the back car window might. But nothing ever out in the open.

[Cowboy Sailer]

Mark, while I agree that there is no danger of the gas bottle blowing up, you know about the worth of free advice. Please send me a consutation fee and I will give you some worthy advice.

[mesquaukee]

Relax it will not blow up
Normal propane cylinders, such as those used with portable grills have pressure relief valves set to 375 PSI. That is 161 F for propane. You would not be able to hold your hand on the tank.
PRV settings for ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) tanks are 250 PSI. or 127 F
DOT engine fuel cylinders use PRV settings of 312.5 PSI. or 145 F
During manufacture of propane cylinders each propane cylinder must be exposed to two times its service pressure, and one out of every 500 cylinders is exposed to four times its pressure, or about 960 PSI. That is over 300 F
I have seen some steel bottles in the tropics that were so rusty I wondered why the propane, or more correctly propane/butane mix did not pour out through the rust.
I have had two 25 lbs aluminium Panamanian tanks sitting in the sun for years.
In the tropics a lot of butane is mixed in with the propane, this lowers the pressure.

[Wotname]

Hey, is this a trick question?

As you are in Darwin, you would have surely heard of the two boats (both from Sydney) that blew up when they forgot to replace their Sydney-side gas bottles for the tropical proof Darwin ones. You will OK until the build up starts around October. Just make sure you have replaced those southern bottles by then. I am guessing your new one is already a Darwin model.

BTW, this is free internet advice - be very cautious
TFIC

[GordMay]

Do crematoriums give discounts to burn victims?
Just asking ....

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Just make sure you have replaced those southern bottles by then.

Don't worry - When you get here I'll trade in your southern bottles for Asian ones and because you are a CF buddy I'll only charge you $400 each. Unless you want to trade Nicolle again...

PS - There are boats with bottles hanging off the a$$ end all over here. Probably traded in for Asian bottles though...