butane vs propane

smeaks

smeaks

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 Aug 2003
Messages
729
Location
tyneside
Visit site
My intention is to winter sail this year and of course need to ensure my tea consumption is not impeded by jack frost. So i have puchased a propane regulator and a bottle of propane and plan to fit the same in the gas locker this weekend. Will the cooker work ok? or will it need adjusting? I remember doing this some years ago in a caravan without having to adjust the cooker.
 
It\'ll work OK...

Yes, it'll work OK with propane without adjustment. Seem to remember that propane has less heat output than butane, so might take a bit longer to make your cup of tea.
 
Re: It\'ll work OK...

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, it'll work OK with propane without adjustment. Seem to remember that propane has less heat output than butane, so might take a bit longer to make your cup of tea.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not so, Propane has a higher calorific value, that's why they use it in brazing torches, it also if I remember correctly has a higher pressure in the can if you see what I mean?
 
Re: It\'ll work OK...

You are quite right, at usual ambient temperature butane will evaporate and give a pressure of 25 psi, whereas propane will give you 125psi. At temperatures below freezing the butane will not evaporate, while the propane will. So you should be able to enjoy you tea, keep sipping.
 
In your T-plan, don't forget that the boiling point of water is influnced quite dramatically by the air pressure.

The mean winter air pressure in the southern UK is 1013 mbar, and the mean summer air pressure is 1017 mbar. This means your winter kettle will take 2.7 seconds longer to boil a litre of water from 20 degrees C.

You have been warmed, sorry, warned.
 
Not that simple, Smiffy...

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yes, it'll work OK with propane without adjustment. Seem to remember that propane has less heat output than butane, so might take a bit longer to make your cup of tea.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not so, Propane has a higher calorific value, that's why they use it in brazing torches, it also if I remember correctly has a higher pressure in the can if you see what I mean?

[/ QUOTE ]Propane does have a marginally higher calorific value than butane, but it's much less dense so it produces less heat for a given volume than butane. In a boat appliance designed for butane, the volume of propane used (even with a propane regulator) may not be enough to offset this - that's why I said it has "less heat output". You can check the figures on the BOC website.
 
My Plastimo Neptune 2000 cooker recommends that you turn the jets upside down when you change over but I never did and haven’t noticed the difference.
 
Always used whatever is available ..Spainish French Portugese UK ...propane and butane.. only had to change reguator to suit. No differnce to cooker.
 
in this same way the lower pressure will mean the kettle boils at a lower temperature ie 99.5. In the same way higer pressure allows superheat to be applied in the pressure cooker..... therefore the T will be enhanced by the use of this "just off the boil" temperature..... must dig out those enthrapy tables from college...
 
[ QUOTE ]
enthrapy tables

[/ QUOTE ] Long long time since you lokked at your Enthalpy tables then
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top