Purge a Propane Tank?

[WyoJim]

How do you purge a propane tank?

 

[TowPro]

How do you purge a propane tank?

I have watched the guys do it several times. all they did was put around 10psi of propane into the tank, then bleed off until it was almost empty. I think the idea is propane is heaver then air, so with some gas in the tank, the air goes to the top. they had a fitting that went into the valve which they opened and the air comes out.

I have seen them do it with the 10% screw, but think about it, that screw it not all the way at the top.

 

[WyoJim]

Thanks TowPro..... but my service man claims there is oil in propane that over time settles to the bottom and needs to periodically be purged out. Maybe they would turn it upside down and bleed it. I'll find out next time I fill one but I am curious about the procedure now.

 

[seemore]

How do you bleed a propane tank with the OPD valve? On mine if you open the valve nothing comes out, even if the tank is full.

 

[mgoncalves]

WyoJim, my brother and I used to flip the bottles over when burning brush. After a few seconds of being upside down, the weed burner shoots out propane in liquid form. The liquid shot out farther, and made for a more intense fire. I would imagine that if you just open the valve with the tank upside down, any oil would come out also.

 

[WyoJim]

WyoJim, my brother and I used to flip the bottles over when burning brush. After a few seconds of being upside down, the weed burner shoots out propane in liquid form. The liquid shot out farther, and made for a more intense fire. I would imagine that if you just open the valve with the tank upside down, any oil would come out also.

mgoncalves..... Bingo, makes sense... . I'll try it and post the results. Maybe not today though... . its so cold out I just put my longjohns back on.

 

[JimBeck]

They purge the tank by putting in non liquid propane from a hose off the top of their source tank. Assume they bleed it off from the bleeder screw.

 

[CCBrady]

WyoJim if your sevice man thinks that you purge a tank to remove oil, then you need to find a new place to have your unit serviced at.

You purge a new tank or a contaminated one to remove any air or other gas that is not Propane from it. The correct way is to have a hose and fitting that draws LP vapor from the top of the supply tank. The fitting you use is two valves set up on a "T", one leg is the valve from the supply tank, one leg is the valve that you use as a dump and the last leg has the fitting that you hook up to the tank to be purged. This set up is so you can dump the air and LP vapor from the new tank. You put about 20-25 LBS of vapor into the tank to be purged, then you close the supply tank valve, and open the dump valve. Repeat this four or five times and your new tank is ready to be filled. As for oil in the bottom of the tank, the best way is to empty the tank remove the valve, then clean the tank out. But if you need to do this, find another place to buy your LP, there isn't suppose to be that much oil in it.

 

[WyoJim]

CCBrady..... I certainly thank you for this information. Now when I ask someone to purge the tank I will be able to tell if they know what they are doing.

 

[CRuth]

When I brought my new tank over for its first fill it was quite an operation. They had some kind of cascade system. It took a good twenty minutes. But I was the guys only customer and he was bored so he may have drug it out

Never heard anything about oil in propane. In fact, googling propane I can't find any suggestion that it does have some oil.

 

[WestTN]

Just go to any RV dealer and buy a replacement 'pig tail', or take one off your gas grille. Hook it to the tank and it will open the safety valve. Then turn on the supply valve and purge.

 

[WyoJim]

WyoJim if your sevice man thinks that you purge a tank to remove oil, then you need to find a new place to have your unit serviced at.
You purge a new tank or a contaminated one to remove any air or other gas that is not Propane from it. The correct way is to have a hose and fitting that draws LP vapor from the top of the supply tank. The fitting you use is two valves set up on a "T", one leg is the valve from the supply tank, one leg is the valve that you use as a dump and the last leg has the fitting that you hook up to the tank to be purged. This set up is so you can dump the air and LP vapor from the new tank. You put about 20-25 LBS of vapor into the tank to be purged, then you close the supply tank valve, and open the dump valve. Repeat this four or five times and your new tank is ready to be filled. As for oil in the bottom of the tank, the best way is to empty the tank remove the valve, then clean the tank out. But if you need to do this, find another place to buy your LP, there isn't suppose to be that much oil in it.

I turned the tank that was being used when the furnace quit upside down and after three days opened the vent screw while it was still upside down and all that came out was propane. So much for the oil diagnosis!! CCBrady must know what he is talking about.