Why Propane Tanks Are Not A Good Option In Very Cold Parts Of The World And How To Remedy That

Posted on: 29 October 2019

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Propane is a hot fuel source lately. Everyone wants to know how they can get and use propane, from homeowners looking for a heating and cooling fuel to refrigerated trucks that run on propane and use propane as fuel. Unfortunately, there are some places in the world where propane just is not a good idea. In these areas, propane may only be used if extra special accommodations have been made. Here are those areas, why propane will not work there, and how you can make modifications and still use propane. 

Most of Canada and Alaska, the Arctic, Antarctica, Etc.

You would think that with propane being a frozen and compressed gas, it would do well in some of the most frozen and freezing parts of the world. Sadly, propane tank failure occurs when the tanks are exposed to any temperatures below -44 degrees Fahrenheit. The tanks have no means to keep themselves warm, and the gas inside them is already so cold. So, dispensing the gas and igniting the gas fails, and any vehicle, refrigeration system, or HVAC system that relies on propane would also fail. If you live anywhere else in the world where the temperatures never drop that low, you are fine if you want to use propane. 

The Exception to the Frigid Cold Rule

However, everything in life has an exception. If you are willing to build a heated shelter for propane tanks, then you can use propane. This is a complicated matter, since the heated shelter can never be too warm, nor can it have close contact with flames as the heat source. A very well-insulated shed works, but the temperature in the shed must always be above the -44 degree mark.

You would have to monitor it regularly during the worst cold snaps in the coldest areas of the globe. Additionally, you could not move these tanks out into the open or leave them exposed to the biting cold outside for more than a few seconds. If you still want to try to construct some means of keeping the propane "warm," and you have a foolproof way to do that, then maybe you could utilize propane in all the ways that other people use it. 

As for using propane-fueled vehicles, the vehicle would either have to stay in a warm garage all winter, or you would have to wrap the fuel tanks in heat wraps. You would have to consult propane experts on how to do that. You may be better off snow sledding in the winter and using the propane vehicle in warmer weather. 

Contact a local company like Taylor Gas Company Inc to learn whether propane gas would work for your needs.