How Much Methanol Do I Need And Why

How Much Methanol Do I Need And Why

Written by Marty Hammersley

With the cold weather approaching, one common question often asked is how much methanol do I need to add to the tank in the winter? When the sun is out during the day it will warm up the regulators. Then, around 4:00 or 5:00 pm the sun starts going down and it gets colder. Many times condensations will occur in the regulator and have a tendency to freeze. Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, can be used to reduce the moisture in the gas which will reduce the chance of freezing. Below is a chart on how much to add to different cylinders.

Keep in mind that methanol is very flammable. Also, the vapors are toxic and can be absorbed through the skin. Safety should be taken when adding Methanol. Wear protective gloves that are rated for methanol, eyewear, and an apron in case of splashbacks.

There are several methods to inject the methanol into a propane cylinder. The most common is with the use of a methanol injector. It's a piston style hand pump that can inject 1 pint of methanol at a time. You can inject thru the service valve (POL) or you can adapt the injector to go thru the AMCE.

Make sure you test each load that comes into your plant to make sure that there is no water present. This will help reduce the amount of freeze-up at your location. Each service truck should be equipped with a Methanol injector with an approved methanol container.

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Marty Hammersley

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More blogs like this one

• Waterbath Vaporizers, Corrosion, and Antifreeze - by Rick Gladding
• 5 Signs You Need a New Regulator On a Propane System - by Bobby Fisher
• 6 Steps To Purging a Tank With Methanol - by Rick Feiler
• Which Regulator Should I Use - Frank Erickson
• Do I Need a 1st Stage Regulator For Every Tank or Just One

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