Propane Tank For Horizontal Mounting

[WolfgangSeaLife]

What makes a propane tank qualified for horizontal storage?

[denverd0n]

It's the type of fitting that it uses. The gaseous propane has to be drawn from the top of the tank. With horizontal tanks the fitting is on the side, and a tube inside the tank goes up to draw the gas from the top. If you stand one of those tanks on end, or turn a vertical tank on its side, then its going to draw liquid propane into the hoses instead of the gas--not a good thing.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by WolfgangSeaLife

What makes a propane tank qualified for horizontal storage?

To clarify a little further, Are you asking about use or storage? The previous post is correct for use. But for storage, other than some concerns about venting an overpressured tank, it doesn't make a difference.

[wolfenzee]

The propane tank on my boat mounts horizontally (bolted down in a locker using brackets built onto the tank), the fill gauge reads both horizontal or vertical

[WolfgangSeaLife]

I am using the tank, not just storing it, in a horizontal position in a deck propane locker.
The gauge would work either way off course, since the pressure is the same either way.

What would be the problem if liquid propane gets into the hose to the stove?

[Sailmonkey]

The Tanknanny® - Propane Safety

this will clear up a few things.

The level gauge built into a tank measures liquid level, not pressure. Horizontal tanks with a level gauge have a float designed to read in both positions.

[wolfenzee]

The drain for my cockpit is actually in my cockpit lockers, so it makes it a safe place to store a propane tank (if there were a leak it would drain overboard), the tank is securely bolted down in a horizontal position. I also have room to and will eventually store my extra tank in the same place.

[Sailmonkey]

An improperly mounted tank won't necessarily be a danger sitting in the locker or the cockpit. the problem comes from the delivery of liquid propane through the regulator and to the stove.

think about what would happen to the size of the flame is a slug of liquid propane hit the burner when it's designed only for gas. A flame roughly 200% larger than what you're used to!!

[WolfgangSeaLife]

Sailmonkey describes a float gauge. But my gauge is a pressure gauge in the hose from the tank to the regulator. It does not reach into the tank, and the pressure drops to 0 if I close the tank valve.
Does that mean I have had the wrong tank for 18 years?
And I used it from full to empty, in a horizontal position. Does that mean I drew liquid propane when full?
And what would have been the consequence of drawing liquid propane?
Very mysterious.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by WolfgangSeaLife

Sailmonkey describes a float gauge. But my gauge is a pressure gauge in the hose from the tank to the regulator. It does not reach into the tank, and the pressure drops to 0 if I close the tank valve.
Does that mean I have had the wrong tank for 18 years?
And I used it from full to empty, in a horizontal position. Does that mean I drew liquid propane when full?
And what would have been the consequence of drawing liquid propane?
Very mysterious.

It's misleading to call the pressure gauge a level gauge......but they're sold and marketed that way.

If your gauge is dropping to zero, with no gas appliances in use, it means you have a propane leak somewhere.

If you have a propane tank designed to be used in a horizontal position, you've been fine for 18 years, otherwise just lucky.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by WolfgangSeaLife

And what would have been the consequence of drawing liquid propane?

Trust me, if you were drawing liquid propane you would know it. Things would go BOOM!

Follow the link that Sailmonkey provided. It explains what happens if you draw liquid propane instead of propane gas. Short answer is: everything that can freeze does, sudden dramatic expansion of gas breaks stuff and explosions ensue. Not pretty.

[Dulcesuenos]

Also propane in liquid form is corrosive it wcan and will damage the regulator. Horizontal tanks have an antisiphon tube that wont draw in the liquid, a good propane place can and actually has for me changed the siphon tube on a horizontal tank, when the valve went bad they had to switch the tube from old to new and braze it in place, worked great.