Frozen propane bottles?

[Jravpro1]

Any outdoor cold weather brewers out there? I live near Chicago and tried to do this today, and encountered a problem about half-way through the boil where the flame kept getting smaller. Adjusting the regulator or air mix didn't help, and there was plenty of fuel left in the tank.

Since there was really thick frost on the propane tank, I wondered if the problem might be cold related somehow.

I got through it by applying hot wet rags to the propane tank valve itself, (especially near the blowoff disk) and that seemed to revive the flame to its former "virility".

I've never had this problem before, but I've never brewed in 30 degree weather either. Has anyone else encountered this before? How about you Minnesota / North Dakota guys? I just wonder if I was attempting something stupid. Does everyone know this except me?

 

[ifnotuthenwho]

I've had this problem too. In fact I had it this past weekend. My solution is to use a shallow pan, maybe 3 inches deep, and set the propane tank in that pan. I then put warm water in the pan which gently warms the propane tank, and then the gas flows better.

 

[douglasbarbin]

Yeah, that can happen. In fact, it can also freeze if the propane is flowing too fast out of the tank.

 

[dkwolf]

There's a couple things going on. but what's happening in this case is this: Your tank is filled with liquid propane. Propane has a low boiling point; when you fill the tank, a small amount of liquid boils into gas, and creates pressure in the "empty" space in the tank. When we hook an appliance up, this pressure is what pushes the gas out of the tank. But once we start drawing propane gas off, the pressure in the tank drops, which allows more liquid to evaporate/boil. Propane's boiling point under standard temperature and pressure is -43.6°F - but because it's under pressure in the tank, it remains liquid. Remove pressure, and it will boil -- and in the process, the temperature will drop (same reason sweat evaporating off our skin cools us).

Especially towards the end of a tank, it is easy to be pulling enough gas out of the tank fast enough to bring the remaining liquid down to a low enough temperature that it is no longer evaporating fast enough to maintain pressure. A quick shake of the tank can temporarily re-build pressure, or like has been mentioned, warm water.

 

[myelo]

I just wonder if I was attempting something stupid.

Nah. Setting the propane tank on your burner to thaw it out ... now that would be stupid.

 

[BentBrewer]

It's a pretty common problem for people using the smaller tanks on full bore for an extended period of time. The usual solution for me, is a 20 gallon water tub filled with (you guessed it) water. Doesn't need to be hot. You'll lose more heat to the surrounding air than you'll put in the tank anyway. 50~70 degree water works just fine. If ice forms, dump the bucket, and refill.

 

[Transamguy77]

I had it happen 2 weeks ago, I just used the hose to spray down the tank, what I didn't expect was the tank freezing to my driveway. In the past I have used a 18gal tub filled half way with water to keep the tank from freezing.

Now if you were in a position to purchase a 100lb tank that would not freeze up as fast if at all (with at least half a tank) because it will take longer to chill down all that liquid.

 

[Jravpro1]

This thread can die now.