propane tank purging

camper19709 wrote:
Yes. My tank was so full of air that the tank would not fill. The vapor vent needed to be opened for an extended time to expel the captured air. This was at a large propane supplier in Arizona that serves RVers.

YES ...air in a propane vessel WILL interfere with filling and the air has to be purged

Purging of air is NOT done by filling with liquid propane and 'vent air out' via liquid level bleed screw.
IF that is what 'large propane supplier in AZ that serves RVs' did then you still have AIR in tank, mixed with propane which has moisture and will cause problems with propane appliances.

SO HOW did your propane tank get AIR...... :H

OR
Tank was just 'normal empty' and propane supplier had problems cause they hadn't OPENED liquid bleed valve when the started filling and THEN opened bleed valve and proper filling occurred????

Air just doesn't get in a propane tank unless brand new or valves/components removed

Dutch_12078 wrote:

camper19709 wrote:
Yes. My tank was so full of air that the tank would not fill. The vapor vent needed to be opened for an extended time to expel the captured air. This was at a large propane supplier in Arizona that serves RVers.

That "vapor vent" is actually the "liquid level gauge" that's used to indicate when the tank is full. Proper purging involves a few cycles of filling the tank with propane vapor and slowly venting it with the proper equipment before filling it with liquid propane.

oops! Thanks Dutch. I learned something new.

camper19709 wrote:
Yes. My tank was so full of air that the tank would not fill. The vapor vent needed to be opened for an extended time to expel the captured air. This was at a large propane supplier in Arizona that serves RVers.

That "vapor vent" is actually the "liquid level gauge" that's used to indicate when the tank is full. Proper purging involves a few cycles of filling the tank with propane vapor and slowly venting it with the proper equipment before filling it with liquid propane.

Yes. My tank was so full of air that the tank would not fill. The vapor vent needed to be opened for an extended time to expel the captured air. This was at a large propane supplier in Arizona that serves RVers.

Couple of times what the Army asked me to do caused me personal involuntary purging...then I did what our Army asked.

Sounds like revenue enhancement. Yes, for a new tank. No for a tank run empty. Been there and done that many, many times. Left open to the air, I have no clue. After replacing the valve, I have no clue. Maybe I should ask my local propane company.

I guess mine gets purged every time it runs out of fuel.

I just took my cylinders in to refilled and the attendant started to purge them. When I asked why he told me you get more propane in the cylinder. That made no sense since the propane is liquid and any air would be forced out of the vent hole. I insisted he stop. I do know that scuba tanks should never be run to zero pressure because atmospheric air can get in and cause corrosion issues and I assume that holds true for propane cylinders as well.
RichH

My doctor requires me to purge occasionally but not my propane tanks.

F450 wrote:
I was reading in the FMCA magazine that it should be done once in awhile.

What was the purpose of it or what are they trying to purge out of the tank?

No, mines never been purged.

Bill