Today's Message Index:
----------------------
1. 07:10 AM - butane/propane fuel cylinders (Gary Casey)
Message 1
| NEXT | Skip to NEXT Message |
| LIST | Reply to LIST Regarding this Message |
| SENDER | Reply to SENDER Regarding this Message |
|
| Subject: | butane/propane fuel cylinders |
--> Cessna-List message posted by: "Gary Casey" <glcasey@adelphia.net>
<<Been to OSH many times in 172 as high as 10K MSL w/o any problems carrying
full
16 oz bottles of propane. They do have an over pressure relief but overall
these
tanks are low pressure. Unlike scuba tanks which start at sea level with
4K psi so you want them empty when your depart.>>
The difference in atomospheric pressure going from sea level to 10,000 feet
is only about 5psi. Butane exists at fairly low pressure and propane is at
maybe 100 psi at about 100 degrees F. In either case the tanks are
certainly designed with far higher burst pressure margin than 5 psi. In
fact, the pressure in the tanks will vary dramatically with temperature and
going to altitude will expose the tank to much lower pressures than leaving
it out in the sun, which it is designed to tolerate. I wouldn't worry about
it at all, but I would use normal precautions in carrying fuel in the
passenger compartment.
The comment about scuba tanks is puzzling as they typically are pressurized
to a few thousand psi and the tanks are certified to several times that. An
extra 5 psi out of 5,000 is only 0.1% extra pressure. That same change in
pressure can be obtained by increasing the temperature of the tank only 0.5
degrees F! I wouldn't even think about taking the air out of a scuba tank
except if you were worried about breaking off the valve in a crash or when
flailing about in turbulence, creating missile. If the relief valve popped
(no more likely than when strapped to your back) it would make a lot of
noise. I think airlines like them empty just because (the same reason they
don't like you using your GPS in flight).
Gary Casey
Other Matronics Email List Services
These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.
-- Please support this service by making your Contribution today! --
|