9
Tanks and Piping
Complete information regarding tank sizing for vaporization,
recommended regulator settings and pipe sizing is
available from most regulator manufacturers and propane
gas suppliers.
Since propane gas will quickly dissolve white lead or
most standard com mercial compounds, special pipe dope
must be used. Shellac base compounds resistant to the
actions of liquefied petroleum gases such as Gasolac
®
,
Stalactic
®
, Clyde’s
®
or John Crane
®
are satisfactory.
See below for typical propane gas piping.
200 PSIG
Maximum
5 to 15 PSIG
(20 PSIG Max.)
Continuous
11" W.C.
Second Stage
Regulator
First Stage
Regulator
Typical Propane Gas Piping
Sizing Between First and Second Stage Regulator
Maximum Propane Capacities listed are based on 1 PSIG Pressure Drop at 10
PSIG Setting. Capacities in 1,000 BTU/HR
3/8"
1/2"
5/8"
3/4"
7/8"
1/2"
3/4"
30
309
700
1,303
2,205
3,394
1,843
3,854
40
265
599
1,115
1,887
2,904
1,577
3,298
50
235
531
988
1,672
2,574
1,398
2,923
60
213
481
896
1,515
2,332
1,267
2,649
70
196
446
824
1,394
2,146
1,165
2,437
80
182
412
767
1,297
1,996
1,084
2,267
90
171
386
719
1,217
1,873
1,017
2,127
100
161
365
679
1,149
1,769
961
2,009
150
130
293
546
923
1,421
772
1,613
200
111
251
467
790
1,216
660
1,381
250
90
222
414
700
1,078
585
1,224
300
89
201
378
634
976
530
1,109
350
82
185
345
584
898
488
1,020
400
76
172
321
543
836
454
949
To convert to Capacities at 15 PSIG Settings -- Multiply by 1.130
To convert to Capacities at 5 PSIG Settings -- Multiply by 0.879
PIPE OR
TUBING
LENGTH,
FEET
NOMINAL PIPE SIZE,
SCHEDULE 40
TUBING SIZE, O.D., TYPE L
Sizing Between Single or Second Stage Regulator and Appliance*
Maximum Propane Capacities Listed are Based on 1/2" W.C. Pressure Drop at
11" W.C. Setting. Capacities in 1,000 BTU/HR
3/8"
1/2"
5/8"
3/4"
7/8"
1/2"
3/4"
1"
1-1/4"
1-1/2"
10
49
110
206
348
539
291
608
1,146
2,353
3,525
20
34
76
141
239
368
200
418
788
1,617
2,423
30
27
61
114
192
296
161
336
632
1,299
1,946
40
23
52
97
164
253
137
284
541
1,111
1,665
50
20
46
86
146
224
122
255
480
985
1,476
60
19
42
78
132
203
110
231
436
892
1,337
80
16
36
67
113
174
94
198
372
764
1,144
100
14
32
59
100
154
84
175
330
677
1,014
125
12
28
52
89
137
74
155
292
600
899
150
11
26
48
80
124
67
141
265
544
815
200
10
22
41
69
106
58
120
227
465
697
250
9
19
36
61
94
51
107
201
412
618
300
8
18
33
55
85
46
97
182
374
560
350
7
16
30
51
78
43
89
167
344
515
400
7
15
28
47
73
40
83
156
320
479
*DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA PAMPHLET NO. 54
NOMINAL PIPE SIZE,
SCHEDULE 40
TUBING SIZE, O.D., TYPE L
PIPE OR
TUBING
LENGTH,
FEET
Table 3 - Propane Gas Pipe Sizing
Gas Piping Checks
CAUTION
T
O PREVENT PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO FIRE, THE
FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE PERFORMED R EGARDING GAS
CONNECTIONS AND PRESSURE T ESTING:
•
T
HE UNIT AND ITS GAS CONNECTIONS MUST BE L EAK TESTED BEFORE
PLACING IN OPERATION.
B
ECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF EXPLOSION OR
FIRE, NEVER USE A MATCH OR OPEN FLAME TO TEST F OR LEAKS.
N
EVER
EXCEED SPECIFIED PRESSURES F OR TESTING.
H
IGHER PRESSURE MAY
DAMAGE GAS VALVE AND C AUSE OVERFIRING WHICH MAY RESULT IN
PREMATURE HEAT EXCHANGE F AILURE.
•
T
HIS UNIT AND ITS SHUT-OFF VALVE MUST BE DISCONNECTED FROM
THE GAS SUPPLY DURING ANY PRESSURE TESTING OF THAT SYSTEM AT
TEST PRESSURES IN EXCESS OF 1/2
PSIG
(3.48 K
P
A).
•
T
HIS UNIT MUST BE ISOLATED FROM THE GAS SUPPLY SYSTEM BY
CLOSING ITS MANUAL SHUT-OFF VALVE DURING ANY PRESSURE
TESTING OF T HE GAS SUPPLY PIPING SYSTEM AT TEST PRESSURES
EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 1/2
PSIG
(3.48 K
P
A).
WARNING
T
O AVOID PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY
, BE SURE THERE IS
NO OPEN FLAME IN THE VICINITY DURING AIR BLEEDING.
There will be air in the gas supply line after testing for
leaks on a new installation. Therefore, the air must be
bled from the line by loosening the ground joint union
until pure gas is expelled. Tighten union and wait for five
minutes until all gas has been dissipated in the air. Be
certain there is no open flame in the vicinity during air
bleeding procedure. The unit is placed in operation by
closing the main electrical disconnect switch for the unit.
PROPANE GAS INSTALLATIONS
WARNING
T
O AVOID PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO F IRE
OR EXPLOSION CAUSED BY A PROPANE GAS LEAK, INSTALL A GAS
DETECTING WARNING DEVICE.
S
INCE RUST CAN REDUCE T HE L EVEL
OF ODORANT IN PROPANE GAS, A GAS DETECTING WARNING DEVICE
IS THE ONLY RELIABLE WAY TO DETECT A PROPANE GAS LEAK.
C
ONTACT A L OCAL PROPANE GAS SUPPLIER ABOUT INSTALLING A
GAS DETECTING WARNING DEVICE.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Propane gas conversion kits must
be installed to convert units to propane gas.
All propane gas equipment must conform to the safety
standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters (See
NBFU Manual 58).
For satisfactory operation, propane gas supply pressure
must be within 9.7 - 10.3 inches W.C. at the manifold with
all gas appliances in operation. Maintaining proper gas
pressure depends on three main factors:
1. Vaporization rate, which depends on (a) temperature
of the liquid, and (b) wetted surface area of the
container or containers.
2. Proper pressure regulation.
3. Pressure drop in lines between regulators, and
between second stage regulator and the appliance.
Pipe size required will depend on length of pipe run
and total load of all appliances.
