Propane questions

pbmaniac2000 · Post by **pbmaniac2000** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:40 pm

I'm working on a current project, and have a question about propane. Is it possible to boost propane psi without being stupid dangerous?

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:30 am

Yes. You can use a vaporizer to raise the pressure. A vaporizer is basically an expansion tank with a heater. You should not try to build your own system until/unless you really know what you're doing. They can be quite safe when done properly, but they are much more dangerous than not using one. Your pressure can be much higher, there are more parts to fail and it's more likely there could be catastrophic problems when not properly watched than the typical B-Man propane effect.

There may be other ways too, depending on what you're doing.

Also if it's on an art car or the playa, it will need to be safety checked. The more details you give the more helpful folk around here can be.

Post by **mdmf007** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:59 pm

From:

Reaction Chains in the Thermal Decomposition of Hydrocarbons. A Comparison of Methane, Ethane, Propane and Hexane
J. E. Hobbs, C. N. Hinshelwood
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Vol. 167, No. 931 (Sep. 23, 1938), pp. 447-455

Spontaneous decomposition of propane (explosion) can occur as low as 100 PSI. Nitric Acid can be used to stabilize propane - but i imagine the niric acid causes problems of its own.

later

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:20 pm

Spontaneous decomposition of propane (explosion) can occur as low as 100 PSI

Under what other conditions? Propane tanks get higher than 100 psi on a hot day. But it is a good point that you should NOT try to design one of these unless you already know all of these facts and know why you need to know all of them.

Post by **mdmf007** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:07 pm

MikeVDS wrote:
Spontaneous decomposition of propane (explosion) can occur as low as 100 PSI

Under what other conditions? Propane tanks get higher than 100 psi on a hot day. But it is a good point that you should NOT try to design one of these unless you already know all of these facts and know why you need to know all of them.

That is why Nitric Acid is introduced as a stabilizer. Same way Acetone and sponge keeps Acetelyne from blowing. Gas shops have the instruments and machinery to blend it right as the bottles are filled. I am told that it doesnt take much Nitric Acid to stabilize it - in fact it can be a trace amount - other than that I have never had need to pressurize propane. Gasoline on the other hand can be pumped rather easily, at pressures, and do amazing things. We use Terra Torches (flamethrowers) for controlled burns. Add AlumaGel to gelate it so it sticks to the brush, and trees we need to burn.

One of our pumps can broadcast a flame 260 feet. costs a lot of dough to run though at 3 Bones agallon for gas, and 50-60 cents more a gallon in gelatant