Re: Supplying gas to a small steam boiler

On 2009-03-09, PaulS <pauls77@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mar 9, 5:14 pm, "Calif Bill" <bmckees...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<sta...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:c7853da0-2913-469e-9e5e-4c3aa78c906d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Mar 9, 2:05 pm, PaulS <paul...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



Hello Steamers,

Can anyone suggest a way to supply a small model steam plant with
propane to fire it? The 3/16"-dia copper inlet tube for the gas to
the boiler has both an on/off valve, and a proportioning valve to
control the flow. My question relates to how to best feed the propane
from a small Bernzomatic-type cylinder to the tube. Will i need a gas
regulator? Can I adapt a Bernzomatic torch head in some way? How have
you seen it done?
for a regulator, just look around.  Lots of scrap barbeques go to the dumps.

OK, so this is where I am confused. I need to somehow connect to the
propane cylinder's top , like how a torch head screws on it. Then I
need to pipe that connection to a gas regulator, say from a gas BBQ,
then a simple rubber tube will go from the regulator output to the
burner infeed tube.

It's the cylinder connection/regulator set-up I can't figure out how
to do yet.

I have an old Bernzomatic torch head. I suppose I can cut off the
torch's top at the brass tube after the screw cap/valve assembly part/
but before the torch metering jet. Now I'll have a cut-off piece of
brass pipe that screws on to a cylinder, but it will put out full
bottle pressure when I open the valve.

The pressure from a Bernzomatic bottle is quite low, and I,
personally, would keep the needle valve and simply unscrew the pipe from
the burner or from the head and screw in an adaptor to the hose.

The only reason for a regulator would be to keep the flow closer
to constant as you run low in the bottle. The needle valve should be
all you need for most things.

Then I suppose I can fit a
compression fitting, or even solder a brass pipe connection fitting,
to transition that to a pipe thread size that will feed into a gas
regulator's input.

Most regulators are going to require too much pressure
differential requirement to work well at propane pressures. Have you
ever wondered why the gas regulator on the entrance to your house is so
large in diameter? That is so it can be sensitive enough to regulate
the very low pressures in a natural gas line.

output side is easy I suppose, just a pipe reducer
to a rubber tube that slips onto the burner infeed tube.

Just do that after the needle valve and let the flow be set by
the needle valve -- into a burner which is always open.

Every BBQ regulator the same? How many PSI we talking in a typical
small torch propane cylinder?

A quick google search found this -- in the summary without even
following the link.

======================================================================
VAPORIZATION RATE - 100 lb. Propane Cylinder (Approx) ... Vapor
Pressure at 0°F. 28 PSI. Vapor Pressure at 70° F. 122 PSI. Vapor
Pressure at 100° F. 190 PSI ...
======================================================================

So -- you can see that the pressure is very sensitive to the
temperature, and at the boiling point of water it won't go over 190 PSI.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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