Propane discharge question

[rodjburge]

I recently had a breakdown with my 1999 HR Endeavor diesel pusher, lost the drive shaft (pretty much exploded). After pulling over the first obvious issue was thatthere was a maasive propane discharge going on. Initially sat away from the unit afraid of a propane explosion. After some time got the courage to crawl underneath and shut of the propane tank valve. This stopped the discharge.
Well...after getting towed to a repair facility, we cannot get what I thought was a damaged system (leaking hose??) to repeat. Is there a safety valve in the system that might have went into venting as a result of the drive shaft drama?? Cannot find a leaking propane issue anywhere and am uncomfortable not being able to explain the massive discharge that was encountered.

[Golden_HVAC]

Did you check both the gas propane valve to the appliances and the liquid propane valve to the generator? It might be that one valve is not leaking, while the other is.

Just a thought.

Fred.

[DrewE]

If you (the OP) are sure it was propane, have you checked the obvious—that there is still some propane left in the tank to leak out when you open the valve now?

[dougrainer]

1999. Do you have the LP Genset? Doug

[MEXICOWANDERER]

To the OP. Only you know if it was LPG. It would be virtually impossible to not detect the LPG odorant in a leakage magnitude which you describe. You need the services of a propane motor fuel repair facility to test and verify the integrity of your system. The excess flow valve (shutoff) obviously did not do it's job if it were indeed LPG leaking. By testing with an electronic "LPG Geiger Counter" minute leaks can be found that would be difficult to impossible to find with soapy water. Time to dig out the Yellow Pages IMHO.

[wa8yxm]

There are three possible explanations (Well perhaps 4)
1: It got fixed
2: It was not propane, it was something else
3: IT was a system that you have yet to activate (Very very low odds)
And I forget the 4th already.

The pressure vent on the tank would NOT have been affected by the shut off valve.. Best odds are it was something else.. My guess is a how water line (Engine Coolant) But if it was a propane line, the mechanic who fixed the other damage may have fixed it kind of in passing.

[path1]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Yikes, Path1!

That's a vid showing a BLEVE event- propane flaring off due to the tank being superheated by an external fire. Nothing like that indicated here, and since the release mechanism involved is actuated by temperature, I think it to be an unlikely cause of the O.P.'s event.

Correct, "unlikely cause of the O.P.'s event"

Could some parts of driveline hit the valve and made it go off? Or do these valves work for heat only? Sort of like when a garden hose leaks at the nozzle if it gets tweaked a little bit.

MY first sentence

Reading your post I can't see why system was venting either. If there was no impact or heat to your propane system can't see why it was venting.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Yikes, Path1!

That's a vid showing a BLEVE event- propane flaring off due to the tank being superheated by an external fire. Nothing like that indicated here, and since the release mechanism involved is actuated by temperature, I think it to be an unlikely cause of the O.P.'s event.

[path1]

Cannot find a leaking propane issue anywhere and am uncomfortable not being able to explain the massive discharge that was encountered.

Reading your post I can't see why system was venting either. If there was no impact or heat to your propane system can't see why it was venting.

Most RV's have a blow off valve. Here is a good example of a "pressure blow-off valve" doing what it should be doing around the 2 min mark. Sort of sounds like a whale or dauphin coming up for air.

Notice how it expels to atmosphere, watch for flames underneath.

I remember this vid because we take that road sometimes. Brings up couple good points IMO

1 You never know when something like this will happen. Prevention is best.

2 Your insurance limits can run out quick depending on something like this happens at.


And I have no idea where my blow off valve is actually at or if it even works and would like to find out. Just not the way the RV did in vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zSjZVlnKHg

[Francesca_Knowl]

Even as far back as 1999, I think such systems were equipped with devices that prevented continuous discharge in the event of a line rupture or other sudden surge of fuel. The most that should leak in such an event would be whatever was in the line itself. Could be wrong about that, but if true...are you sure it was propane that was discharging? Could you see/smell the vapor, or just hear it?

I ask also since you haven's been able to find any ruptures anywhere-?

[ScottG]

There is a pressure relief valve on the tank itself but I don't know why it would have vented. Also, closing the valve would not have stopped it.