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Regulator Freezing

pachour
pachour Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL
I have a small LP Firepit that I normally run with a typical 5 gal portable tank. I got a 10 gal tank at a garage sale that was half full and used that on the firepit with no issues. When the 10 gal tank ran out, I had it refilled at my usual vendor. When I connected it to the firepit, the regulator and hose became completely frozen within a matter of minutes. The 10 gal tank has an OPD valve. In some of my researching I have come across suggestions that it could be anything from the tank being overfilled to their being water in the tank although most of these were related to large residential tanks. I would like to know if the causes found apply to my small portable tank as it is odd that it worked fine when it was half full.

Comments

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,094
    how is it freezing? is the outside of it icing or is it freezing in the fitting or regulator and blocking flow?
  • lchmb
    lchmb Member Posts: 2,997
    I would guess the OPD failed and the tank is slugged full. Use caution with this.. please
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,728
    Could be some moisture in it. Propane atcs like refrigerant. When it goes through the regulator the pressure drop cause a temperature drop in the propane which could freeze moisture.
    The propane companies can put stuff in the tank to absorb moisture
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,644
    Weigh it. Look for the rare weight marked on the tank handle/rim, usually indicated by TW and something like 24 lbs.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
    Zmanpachour
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    > @EBEBRATT-Ed said:
    > Could be some moisture in it. Propane atcs like refrigerant. When it goes through the regulator the pressure drop cause a temperature drop in the propane which could freeze moisture.
    > The propane companies can put stuff in the tank to absorb moisture

    Actually it is a refrigerant. Actually a very good one except for that annoying flammability issue. R290. Making a comeback in small critically charged systems.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,728
    @mikeg2015

    Your right!! I keep forgetting that propane is R290. They use it on small kitchen equipment I think.
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    Yes, small kitchen equipment... thats factory sealed with no service port to even check pressures. I think the limit is like 12 or 16 oz total charge. Guess that limits the size of the fireball. ;)

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,458
    mikeg2015 said:

    Yes, small kitchen equipment... thats factory sealed with no service port to even check pressures. I think the limit is like 12 or 16 oz total charge. Guess that limits the size of the fireball. ;)

    Max Charge 150 Grams...…….5.3 oz
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,644
    Yeah....kitchen equipment with propane (R290) refrigerant.... environmentally friendly until the fire.

    Joking aside, LP is an excellent refrigerant. Is cheap, and runs at nice low pressures. It's just that pesky flammability thing....
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 11,094
    When i saw this i assumed someone being cheap charged the fridge with a hydrocarbon blend, but it was just his mom extracting oil from pot with butane indoors:
    https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/08/teen-burned-badly-in-butane-explosion-needs-life-changing-surgery.html
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 16,728
    If any of you watch Utube videos "HVCAR Videos" is pretty good had some interesting videos on R290
  • nibs
    nibs Member Posts: 516
    Are you certain it is the regulator.
    Butane is often mixed with propane as a cost saving measure, and butane will not vaporize below 32F (0C).
    In the south, some vendors sell butane but call it propane. Disconnect the tank, bring it into a warm place for 24 hrs and try it again.

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