mowermech
Billings, MT
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
HappyKayakers wrote:rrupert wrote:On the valve head and on the side on OPD tanks there is what looks like a setscrew. If you loosen it gas will escape from the tank. It would be wise to check that for tightness on your tanks. I discovered that when having a tank filled, there was gas escaping when the tank started to fill. Once the screw was tightened all was well. I don't know if all the OPD tanks have that.
That's a bleed valve and should be open when filling a tank. If the inside OPD mechanism fails (and they do), the dispenser can stop filling when he/she sees liquid coming out the bleed valve.
Yessir, that's a fact. the filler should fill until the OPD shuts off, or liquid propane appears at the bleed valve, whichever occurs first. Ideally, the OPD will shut off just as liquid appears.
right.
If the filler does not open the bleeder ("spitter", "80%", etc.) valve, go someplace else, that filler doesn't know what he (or she) is doing!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
|
rrupert
NW PA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/26/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
HappyKayakers wrote:rrupert wrote:On the valve head and on the side on OPD tanks there is what looks like a setscrew. If you loosen it gas will escape from the tank. It would be wise to check that for tightness on your tanks. I discovered that when having a tank filled, there was gas escaping when the tank started to fill. Once the screw was tightened all was well. I don't know if all the OPD tanks have that.
That's a bleed valve and should be open when filling a tank. If the inside OPD mechanism fails (and they do), the dispenser can stop filling when he/she sees liquid coming out the bleed valve.
This was on a standard 20# portable tank. I have never seen anyone open the bleed valve on one of them when filling. I know they do it on built in tanks.
Rich and Joyce
2010 HiLo 2310H
2012 Ford F150 4X4 Supercrew EcoBoost
Reese Strait-Line Dual Cam Hitch
Amateur Radio K3EXU
|
SuperDutyFiver
Long Valley, NJ, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/30/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
The place that fills my bottles puts them on a scale and opens the bleeder-it seems like the scale balances just ahead of gas coming out of the bleeder-usually we're talking and sometimes a little will escape!
1 PSD 4x4 Custom Tow Vehicle-the 550
1 PSD 4x4 SUV-the X
2 PSD 4x4 Duellies-F350&F250HD
36' Carriage Carri-Lite
32' Open Triaxle Dovetail
22' Gooseneck Dump
E450 PSD 4x2 Chassis Cab
E550 PSD 4x2 Cube Van-The Beast
RIP-Prowler 345Y LSI-THANKS SUPERSTORM SANDY...
|
tatest
Oklahoma Green Country
Senior Member
Joined: 05/14/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Just because a news writer says a propane tank exploded, doesn't mean that is what actually happened. Tank explosions are rare, tank safety valves will vent the gas before pressure exceeds capacity of the tank.
Most likely what exploded was propane outside of the tank, from a plumbing leak, and appliance leak, or safety valve venting.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B
2001 Ranger Edge
|
JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
The report says the explosion could be felt 10 miles away… there were 2 explosions, and this was a seasonal camper in a cold weather state…
Chances are this was a 120 gallon tank maybe 2 of them and not a cylinder like most RV’s use…
If not it was most likely two 100 pounders…
* This post was
edited 04/28/12 06:30pm by JJBIRISH *
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
|
|
|
Jim & Betty
Brandon, South Dakota
Senior Member
Joined: 08/29/2003
View Profile
|
I will assume that the first explosion was caused by a leak and the propane settled in a confined area and when the correct fuel air mixture was achieved and a spark provided an explosion occurred. If you look in the photos you will see one tank peeled completely open. That was caused by direct flame impingement causing the propane to get hot so hot that even the blow-off valve would not keep up and the pressure was so much that the tank ruptured spewing hot liquid that immediately vaporized and ignited causing a B.L.E.V.E Boling Liquid Vapor Explosion. Either explosion or rapid ignition is very violent and has been known to cause serious injury and death.
Look up BLEVE on the web and you will see train cars being thrown ½ mile or more. I think the big one was in Texas a few years ago.
JimR
|
JJBIRISH
Butler, PA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 10/06/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Very good point Jim and most likely correct…
BTW looking at the picture ( I hadn’t seen before) they were two 100 pound tanks… they don’t have the OPD safety features of the newer smaller cylinders nor the ACME connector… not that that would have prevented this…
Based on Jim’s observations the proximity of the tanks to the fire would have been a bigger factor…
|
slickest1
canada
Senior Member
Joined: 07/19/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
From what I seen in the picture there was one or more 100 lb. cylinders. They likely had them filled and reconnected them and never checked for leaks. Propane will leak and settle low to the ground and form a cloud on the ground. All it takes is a tiny spark and you have a horrendous explosion. The write up said something about recommending having a propane company install your cylinders.
2000 H.R. Imperial 38wds rr8r roadmaster, isc 350 cummins
2007 Chevy Trailblazer, Blue ox towbar
Ready Brake with breakaway.
|
wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
There are so many unanswered questions in that article that it is amazing.
Was the tank a modern tank with OPD or not
Was the tank on the trailer, or a portable tank on the grill.
Was the connection to the tank POL or ACME
Modern tanks with OPD valves and ACME connectors USUALLY (At least that I have seen) have internal threads for a POL fitting.. I still have POL hoses for my luggable tank. . With POL if you do not tighten it properly it can leak,
With ACME,, I'm not sure, I do not have ACME hoses (Well I think I have one, not often used) and thus do not have a lot of experience with 'em.
Was the tank new, or older. If older was it re-certified.
Was there a leak "Down line" Of the tank (I have had regulators leak)
Were they using some kind of home made "Extend-a-stay" adapter without check valves like the real McCoy has. All this is missing from the article.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
|
smildrum
Durham,Maine
Senior Member
Joined: 09/25/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Maybe the Fire Marshall's office will make their report available after the investigation.Until that comes out all else is speculation.From the pictures I've found online it's hard telling what came from where.
|
|
|
