| [GMCnet] Bad Propane? [message #368603] |
Sat, 29 January 2022 12:46  |
fbhtxak
Messages: 191
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
As you may know, a part of my business life was in natural gas processing. If an upset occurs in the natural gas processing plants and is not caught/corrected by the instruments/controls, operating staff, etc., off-spec products (i.e., ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, etc.) will result. In the case of propane (C3), it could have more butane (and heaviers) than spec, resulting in a BTU content that is too high (i.e., too rich) for propane-fired equipment. It may ignite but will flame-out because the fired equipment is designed for spec propane and its associated air/fuel ratio.
This problem is a very rare occurrence among major company producers - but there are "fly-by-night" producers who are "less diligent" in their product quality control. Retailers like AmeriGas Propane, Ferrellgas Partners LP, Suburban Propane Partners LP, etc. generally buy from major company producers and are far less likely to get a load of off-spec product.
Hope this helps...
Fred
Fred Hudspeth
1978 Royale (TZE 368V101335) - Tyler, TX
1982 Airstream Excella (motorhome) - Cooper Landing, Alaska
From: Larry
Subject: [GMCnet] Bad Propane?
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Two years ago I started having troubles with my propane hot water heater. It would fire up, run for 5 minutes or so and the fire would go out.
Sometimes restart, sometimes not. I posted the question here and got lots of advise, but due to other more important stuff never go to do anything about it. I finally ran the tank almost dry this past summer dealing with constant no fire issues. Filled with 12gal this last October. Had troubles relighting frig, and hot water heater, but when I finally got them lit, I have not had a single problem with them since. Frig works and hot water heater lites and heats without incident. Has anyone heard of getting a bad load of propane? It was just that one fill that gave me problems.
We hear often of GMC'rs getting a bad load of gas (I did once) and having to run it out.....but Propane?
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Bad Propane? [message #368607 is a reply to message #368605] |
Sat, 29 January 2022 21:21  |
dsmithy
Messages: 210
Registered: July 2012
Location: Lincoln Nebraska
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
Fascinating thread.
Who ever heard of getting "bad" propane? I certainly never did; but up jumps Fred who has knowledgeable, specialized experience with a plausible scenario.
Thanks Larry for the unanswerable question, and thank you Fred for demonstrating that it's at least possible to get "bad" propane. I'm guessing that most of us never even considered it possible. But Larry calling out the slightly different burner noise throws a definite nod in Fred's direction.
I love this stuff.
Douglas & Virginia Smith,
dsmithy18 at gmail,
Lincoln Nebraska,
’73 “Sequoia” since ‘95: "Wanabizo";
Quadrabag/6 wheel disks/3:70 final/Paterson QuadraJet/Thorley’s/Alloy wheels/Sundry other
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