Why is it that a propane tank has water residues freezing on the outside?

Question

Why is it that a propane tank has water residues freezing on the outside?

Answer 1

It works the same way that refrigeration works.

Changing state from a liquid to a gas absorbs heat. That is why evaporating water cools things. When you use the propane that lowers the pressure and some of the liquid in the tank turns to gas.

But gases do it at a much lower temperature and that is how you can get freezing.

Answer 2

the liquid propane as whats in your tank and is what is delivered to you is minus 44 degrees. what you burn in your house is a vapor at half a pound  or 10.5 inches water column. the vapor in your tank comes from vaporization or the boiling of the l.p as it is being drawn through the regulator. while the liquid state in your tank is -44 degree's condensation occurs on the outside at the liquid level the same as pouring yourself a ice cold drink and the condensation appears on the outside of your glass.

Answer 3

This line can be used as a gauge to show how much propane you have in your tank also.

Answer 4

The decompressing gas inside the cylinder cools the tank which causes moisture from the atmosphere to condense on the outside of the tank.

Answer 5

Propane actually boils at around  minus 44 degrees, water at 212 degrees above. Obviously, propane is very cold. Propane is in a liquid state when contained. When you open a vapor valve the propane boils and releases the vapor gas

we use to cook or heat our homes. Freezing of the container happens when the rate of vaopr being released is greater than the tank can provide. This is avoided by sizng the tank to the btu load being used.