Gas pressure regulator question

[Gitane]

I noticed that my butane gas pressure for the cooker has suddenly dropped, which means that it takes forever to boil the kettle.

I can’t see any blockage at the cooker or at the tank end of the gas line.

Could it be my gas pressure regulator? Does a gas regulator ever go wrong or does it wear out and need replacing after a certain time?

What else could be causing this problem?

 

[RichardS]

Lower ambient temperature? Propane or a mixture might be better.

Richard

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Most likely is due to cold weather. Butane flow will slow down and eventually will stop gassing-off and it will stop flowing altogether. I use propane for the winter and butane for the rest of the year.

 

[vyv_cox]

Tip hot water over the regulator and bottle top to test.

 

[Momac]

I have known butane to stop working altogether in freezing weather. Thankfully the next week or so is looking relatively mild.
I did once or twice have a new refill fail to deliver but gave the cylinder a good shake to stir up the liquid fuel. That immediately solved the problem

 

[Graham376]

Tip hot water over the regulator and bottle top to test.

This is of course the correct standard reply but it always reminds me of the old Burl Ives song "there's a hole in the bucket dear Liza"

 

[Refueler]

Butane LPG is for +ve winter temps.

Propane LPG is for -ve winter temps.

Butane / Propane blends are for those temporate climes.

You can buy regulators for Butane / Propane use ...

 

[superheat6k]

The partial pressure of Butane falls to close to atmospheric at ~0oC, whereas Propane still has around 2 bar pressure at this cooler temperature. The boiling of the liquid in the cylinder cools the liquid down and with it reduces the effective pressure. This is essentially a basic refrigeration process, indeed both Butane and Propane are used as refrigerants.

Changing to a Propane regulator is simple and you get more energy from the Propane too, and it burns more cleanly. No adjustments required to the any appliances normally.

 

[VicS]

The partial pressure of Butane falls to close to atmospheric at ~0oC, whereas Propane still has around 2 bar pressure at this cooler temperature. The boiling of the liquid in the cylinder cools the liquid down and with it reduces the effective pressure. This is essentially a basic refrigeration process, indeed both Butane and Propane are used as refrigerants.

Changing to a Propane regulator is simple and you get more energy from the Propane too, and it burns more cleanly. No adjustments required to the any appliances normally.

Fitting a 30mb dual fuel regulator ( eg an "Annexe M" marine regulator) will allow either propane or butane ( including Camping Gaz ) to be used by using the appropriate bottle adapter if the cooker is suitable for both gases.

Propane can then be used in temperatures close to, or below, 0C,, butane at higher temperatures if desired and Camping Gaz where that is more readily available

 

[Refueler]

We have 'dual' regulators out here in Baltics - but I noted one important aspect when I brought my UK boat out here with its typical gas bottle system .... the thread was reversed on the system out here !

 

[KevinT1]

And if temperature isn’t the cause, then to answer the OP’s other question - yes Regulators can and do fail.

( We had a well known Marine make produce a very weak flow at around 1 year old - and that was in the summer )