Re: Experience with "cheap" portable diesel gensets?

On Sun, 26 Mar 2006 23:19:23 GMT, "Gil Faver" <Rowdy'sboss@xxxxxx>
wrote:


interesting re the pressurization. How do you do that? Is
the can of butane permanently plumbed in to the drum? Or do
you pressurize it and remove?


I leave the pressure can hooked up all the time. The gasoline will
reach an equilibrium with the butane and quit absorbing it after
awhile. I guess one could seal off the drum but I never bothered.

I made some down'n'dirty adapters. I drilled a hole in the small bung
plug, positioned a 3/8" hose Tee over the hole and filled the space in
the plug around the Tee with epoxy. I simply stood the drums side by
side and daisy-chained the Tees together with EFI fuel line. The
typical bung plug is thick enough that it could be drilled and tapped
for an NPT Tee but I wanted to make several very rapidly so I used the
epoxy method.

The pressurization assembly consisted of a can of butane fuel, the
valve assembly from an old butane lantern snarfed up from a pawn shop
and a small pressure regulator I had on hand. A "high pressure"
propane regulator as used with those propane fired fish fryers would
probably work. I think that they'll go to 15 psi.

I've read that propane is sometimes used to trim Reid Vapor Pressure
at the refinery but butane is more common. I prefer butane because it
is lost more slowly once the gasoline is dispensed to atmospheric
pressure. The proper RVP is important for cold weather starting and
smooth running. Too high a RVP can cause hot weather vapor lock and
flooding. Twelve PSI at 70 deg F is typical.

Even though I didn't do it with my setup, I highly recommend equipping
the butane manifold with a pressure relief valve set to around 15 psi
to make sure an overpressure event can't burst a drum. Tractor Supply
(and probably any other ag supply outfit) sells an adjustable "back
pressure regulator" valve for chemical spray rigs. It works well as a
relief valve.

John
---
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.johngsbbq.com
Cleveland, Occupied TN
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.-Ralph Waldo Emerson
.

Relevant Pages

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