ARE YOUR PROPANE TANKS VENTED?

[jackhartjr]

(You may have read this in the other propane post...if so disrergard.)

Propane when it escapes, goes down to the ground.  (When there is a propane leak in an unvented boat the propane settles in the bilge, then a spark from something, usually a switch of some sort, ignites it and the boat usually explodes into smithereens!)  That being said, I am hoping that all of you have vents under the tank so if there is a leak it goes down to the ground so it can can disipate?  You should actually have what the boats have...a "propane locker" in which the propane tank(s) are sealed off from everthing else...AND a means for the propane (In the event of a leak) to go DOWN to the ground where it disipates.

The plan for my bus is to have two tanks at the right rear bulkhead in the last bay, which are encased in basically a 'box' with a door that provides access to them when I open the bay door, and holes cut into the floor so propane can disipate down.  (Not a lot of holes, or for that matter big holes, just enough for propane fumes to escape down to the ground.)

What you don't want is to have a propane leak in you bays not be able to escape, build up, then a switch get flipped automatically, (Or on purpose) and your bus explodes.

[jjrbus]

 Jack, when I did my LP there was a code that said how much vent area you had to have for the amount of LP you would be storing. I cannot remember where I found it.

[JackConrad]

Jack, when I did my LP there was a code that said how much vent area you had to have for the amount of LP you would be storing. I cannot remember where I found it.

Somehow 1 square inch per 7 pounds of LP comes to mind, equall split between bottom and top.  However, my memory is not as good as it once was. Jack

[boogiethecat]

And I often remind everyone a little known rule (DOT I think, but it's been so long that all I remember is the rule, not where it lives) that if you have a permanently mounted LPG tank, you're supposed to HARD PIPE the overpressure valve all the way to the rear of the vehicle, up to the top corner or thereabouts, and aim it up & to the rear.  3/4" galvanized pipe will do nicely, and sticking a cork into the outlet keeps it clean inside until (hopefully never) it gets use.

Point: If that valve ever goes off due to over-temperature or over-filing (it often happens when both occur at the same time) you'd rather have the propane blowing out of the rear of your bus instead of puddling under it waiting for a smoker to walk by if you're parked, and if you're driving it's aimed up so that if it catches fire you won't toast the guy behind you...

[Frank @ TX]

Hi Jack,
We have our mounted 100# LPG tank in the old Batt compartment.
The batt bay is vented by MCI to get rid of the batt fumes.
It's vented both top and bottom.
Don't forget to vent your box to the outside BOTH top and bottom.
Because the gas can't go out the bottom if air can't come in the top to replace it.
Frank

[RTS/Daytona]

boogiethecat

Couldn't venting propane overflow gas out the rear top corner of a bus - cause a diesel engine to runaway as the gas drifts down to the engine intake ??

Pete RTS/Daytona

[TomC]

I think you might be thinking of Natural Gas since it is lighter than air.  You'll notice the vent tube on Natural Gas powered buses in the back.  Never seen one on propane.  Good Luck, TomC