Any Hank Hill types out there??

[G-force]

My shop is heated by a large industrial propane furnace. The tank sits outside the shop and there is a line plummed to the furnace in my shop. Last weekend I was inspecting the line and fittings on the exterior of the shop. I disconnected the tank, and when I opened up the valve in the line a big chunk of propane gell came out. I stuck a stick up the line and it seems like most the line is coated in this propane gell substance. Is this normal? It's about 40 degrees outside.

I'm wondering if I need to replace the whole line (probably 80 feet) or if I need to flush the gell out, or maybe just leave it as is. I'll probably have someone come out to have my tank filled/inspected/replaced soon, but I figured I'd ask here in case there were any experts on "propane and propane accessories"..."ughugh!"

 

[G-force]

**crickets**

 

[atvmech]

Just to let you know somebody is alive...im here but i have no idea

 

[5Cent]

Me neither, sorry man. I would call local LP company or HVAC and inquire as to what they know about it.

 

[atvmech]

Ive seen actual LP run out of a line but no gel

 

[powellscooter]

It could be the odorant agent coming out. The propane guy here in town told me that natural propane is odorless and the companies add the "stink" to the tanks for the obvious reasons. I drained a 55 gal. propane cylinder to use as an auxilirary air tank and tried to get all the odorant out with lacquer thinner and other solvents, the ground still stinks where I drained it.

 

[G-force]

It could be the odorant agent coming out. The propane guy here in town told me that natural propane is odorless and the companies add the "stink" to the tanks for the obvious reasons. I drained a 55 gal. propane cylinder to use as an auxilirary air tank and tried to get all the odorant out with lacquer thinner and other solvents, the ground still stinks where I drained it.

That sounds like it could be the problem because the odor associated with this gel was nausiatingly strong. The whole barn smelled of it from the rags I used to wipe it up. I guess the real test would be trying to ignite the gel...

 

[tatra]

Video Required.................................

 

[veratyr]

oh hell yea, video tape this

 

[5Cent]

Lets see it!

 

[redsky49]

Propane storage tanks typically belong to the gas vendor. Was this a recently installed tank and does it appear to be brand new?

 

[G-force]

No infact I have not ever used it since we moved here 3 years ago.

 

[Tscott]

As far as I know propane cannot gel, and if it did, when exposed to regular atmospheric pressure it would immediately change states and expand to gas. I did a bit of googling and found nothing like you describe. The substance added to propane to produce an odor is Ethyl Mercaptan. I also did some searching on this substances ability to gel and it should behave the same as propane. It sounds to me like you have a foreign substance in your tank. Is it possible the "gel" was actually an ice slush formed in the line as you released pressure by opening the valve?

This is an odd one.

Tom