How much volume does an empty 20# propane tank have?

Steve

"Steve B" fired this volley in news:jnh0cr$c04$2
@speranza.aioe.org:

How much volume does an empty 20# propane tank have?

Steve



Roughly six gallons (more or less).

That's not how much propane it will hold, though, because (IIRC) they can
only be filled to 85%.

LLoyd

"Steve B" wrote in message
...
How much volume does an empty 20# propane tank have?

Steve

You find the darndest things on Google.

http://www.missiongas.com/lpgbottledimensions.htm

However, at the site, it says that the water volume for a 5 gal tank is 47.6
(doesn't say pounds, but what else could it be), and that comes out to 9.52#
per gallon. Water is 8.34 or thereabouts. There must be a little headroom
in there, eh?

So, if I take 47.6 and deduct the tare of 12# something, I should have a
lifting capacity in the 35# range.

Odd thing about the 47.6 number, though. Doing the math, I come up with an
extra .7082 gal. of water.

Steve

Steve B wrote:

How much volume does an empty 20# propane tank have?

Steve

According to my calculations, 20 lbs of propane occupies 1100 in^3 (0.64
ft^3) at 60 degrees F. plus 1.5% volume per 10 °F. That's 4.6 gallons
(which is what they are spec'd to carry when full).

Figure some expansion space for elevated temperatures and you need a
liquid/gas interface inside the tank to allow the propane to vaporize.

This page: http://www.mantank.com/products/rvproducts.htm

gives a 20# tank's water capacity as 47.6 lbs. Water is 8.34 lb/gallon, so
that gets you 5.71 gallons, 1318 in^3, 0r 0.76 ft^3.

--
Paul Hovnanian
------------------------------------------------------------------
You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!

On Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:29:45 -0700, "Paul Hovnanian P.E."
wrote:

Steve B wrote:

How much volume does an empty 20# propane tank have?

Steve

According to my calculations, 20 lbs of propane occupies 1100 in^3 (0.64
ft^3) at 60 degrees F. plus 1.5% volume per 10 °F. That's 4.6 gallons
(which is what they are spec'd to carry when full).

Figure some expansion space for elevated temperatures and you need a
liquid/gas interface inside the tank to allow the propane to vaporize.

This page: http://www.mantank.com/products/rvproducts.htm

gives a 20# tank's water capacity as 47.6 lbs. Water is 8.34 lb/gallon, so
that gets you 5.71 gallons, 1318 in^3, 0r 0.76 ft^3.
5.71 X 0.8 = 4.56 gallons propane capacity - so 80% fill capacity of
4.56 gallons = total capacity (empty volume ) of 5.71 ___ I'd say the
numbers work out.

fired this volley in
:

5.71 X 0.8 = 4.56 gallons propane capacity - so 80% fill capacity of
4.56 gallons = total capacity (empty volume ) of 5.71 ___ I'd say the
numbers work out.



Which is what I said about three days ago, Clare -- "approximately 6
gallons".

Lloyd

"Lloyd E. Sponenburgh" lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote in message
. 3.70...
fired this volley in
:

5.71 X 0.8 = 4.56 gallons propane capacity - so 80% fill capacity of
4.56 gallons = total capacity (empty volume ) of 5.71 ___ I'd say the
numbers work out.



Which is what I said about three days ago, Clare -- "approximately 6
gallons".

Lloyd

And what I said. The thing is not going to be filled with anything. The
valve will be left open until all gas has escaped. The valve will be
closed. That is how the tank will be used. Unless drilled with fill/purge
hole, or fitted with valves similar to BC valves on scuba divers stuff to
avoid overpressurizing them from inserting air underwater.

Steve