When a motorist installs gas equipment on his vehicle, he quite often forgets that gasoline is still there. If the gas starts to “go bad”, the motorist needs to check how the car works in the same conditions, but on gasoline. In most cases, if a vehicle does not run on gasoline for a long period, it faces many problems, which are often hidden in the injectors or.
Quite often, drivers who operate a car on gas encounter special problems that usually do not arise on gasoline. Very often there is a problem of freezing of the gas reducer. When this device freezes, it turns white and is completely covered with frost. Almost immediately, a strong smell of gas begins to emanate from the gearbox. Most motorists immediately sound the alarm that the gearbox has started leaking gas, and head straight to the gas workers, which is not entirely correct, since this kind of malfunction is repaired by mechanics.
1. Reasons for freezing of the gas reducer
Initially, it is necessary to determine the root cause of why it freezes. In the modern automotive world, there are several reasons for this problem. The most common mistake is the car owner forgetting to fill the car's cooling system with coolant. In addition, air pockets may periodically occur in the coolant system. Quite often there are problems that are directly related to a clogged manifold pipe, as a result of which the cooling liquid is sent directly to the gearbox. Another common cause could be a broken pump.
2. What to do to prevent the gas reducer from freezing
It is important to first say what needs to be done if a motorist has already encountered problems of this kind with freezing of the gas reducer. First of all, it is necessary to check, according to the cause, whether there is coolant in the system. This problem is the most common. If this fluid is missing, it will need to be added. The easiest way to deal with the air lock will be to simply remove the hose from the manifold and wait for the coolant to flow further.
Besides, The motorist should also check the pipes on the gearbox. If these parts are cold, you will need to remove the hose from the gearbox and check for coolant leakage. If nothing flows out of it when you remove the hose, you can try to start the vehicle and sharply press the gas pedal several times. If during this procedure the liquid flows, but very weakly, then the problem may lie in a malfunction of the thermostat or pump. In addition, it is necessary to clean the outlet openings of the manifold.
Few motorists know that the gas reducer device can freeze very badly if the gasket directly under the engine head is even slightly burnt, since it is this element that can gradually release gases into the cooling liquid. This is determined quite simply: bubbles will begin to come out, the internal combustion engine will heat up excessively, boil, and the stove will warm up the car very little.
In order to avoid the possible above problems, the motorist will need very little. First, you need to monitor the coolant level, change it and top it up periodically. In addition, it is necessary to regularly check the car manifold and gearbox for the possibility of clogging or clogging, since these reasons can also cause a lot of harm to both the gas reducer and the entire car.
3. Other malfunctions of the gas reducer
A fairly common problem is that the car is very difficult to start using gas. There are several reasons for electronic type gearboxes: incorrect and inaccurate adjustment, a problem with a malfunction of the gearbox, a malfunction of the electric release valve, malfunctions and problems with the electronics unit, the starter device has become unusable, the internal combustion engine is severely worn out. For a vacuum-type gearbox, you should also add a lack of vacuum in the intake manifold device due to wear of the piston group, suction, or starter malfunction. In addition, for vacuum-type gearboxes, in order to start with improved parameters, it is necessary to install a forced gas supply electromagnet.
Quite often there are poor acceleration dynamics, failures when climbing uphill and accelerating. This kind of malfunction occurs as a result of incorrect settings of the dispenser or the gearbox itself, or a malfunction of the entire unit. The filter in the gas device of the solenoid valve may also be clogged. Quite often it happens that the high-speed valve device of the flow line also operates in an abnormal mode. There are also problems when an excessively low temperature is triggered for a given gas composition. The same problem affects the gearbox itself, which may have a very low temperature for normal and stable operation.
The most common problem for motorists is increased gas consumption. Such a malfunction is a consequence of the same incorrect settings of the dispenser or gearbox, or a gearbox malfunction. Interruptions occur in the ignition system due to a malfunction of the car’s spark plugs. There may also be very low engine compression, popping sounds in the intake manifold. And, of course, the problem may lie in low-quality fuel. In the case when several spark plugs fail, the consumption will be crazy, and the power will be lost several times, as a result of which it is necessary to constantly monitor such problems.
Another common problem for many motorists is the smell of gas in the driver’s cabin. This is the most dangerous problem, since the lives of all passengers and the driver of the vehicle directly depend on it. If such a problem is detected, the motorist must immediately turn off the supply and filling valves and continue further on only gasoline. You should not delay your trip to a special car service. Sometimes this kind of problem is not related to a gas leak, but is the result of careless removal of gas condensate directly from the reducer. It is important to note that the smell of gas is very light and almost invisible. That is why some craftsmen add a certain concentrate to this liquid in order to quickly identify it in the event of a breakdown.
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This is always a test for a motorist, and for owners of HBO, winter often turns into one big problem. Quite often in winter, a problem arises with cars equipped with gas cylinder equipment when gas cylinder freezes, thereby causing certain inconvenience to motorists. In this article I will try to answer the question: " Why does a gas cylinder freeze?", you will find out why this happens and how to deal with this trouble.
Why is this happening?
The gas in the cylinder, as you know, is in a liquid state, under high pressure, and the gas itself occurs in such a way that the cylinder is filled to approximately 80% of its volume. This is necessary so that if the gas expands when heated (when the ambient temperature rises), the cylinder does not rupture. During operation, the vapor phase of the gas rises and is used first. As gas is consumed, the liquid phase gradually turns into a vapor state, this process is accompanied by the loss of “fast” molecules, which have stronger kinetic energy. These molecules are consumed and the liquid gradually loses its energy and cools down. In this case, the rate of cooling of the liquid directly depends on the rate of evaporation, as well as the remaining liquid in the cylinder. When a critically low temperature is reached, evaporation deteriorates and the gas supply stops. In winter, when the air temperature drops, this process becomes more complicated and the freezing of the gas cylinder accelerates.
The second reason why the cylinder freezes is the poor quality of gas fuel. Often the solution to the problem of freezing lies in the low-quality gas with which we refuel. In winter, gas stations should only be filled with the “winter” version of propane-butane, in which propane should predominate, for the reason that this gas evaporates perfectly even at sub-zero temperatures. However, the cost of propane is higher than butane, so gas workers often deliberately save “summer” fuel.
The gas cylinder freezes over - what to do?
- There are several ways to solve this problem. Option one is to provide heating for the cylinder, option two is to reduce fuel consumption. In the second case, it is not meant to reduce fuel consumption in general for the engine, but to reduce it by limiting its use. Now in more detail...
Heating a gas cylinder involves increasing the temperature around the tank. This could be moving the cylinder into the car. A higher ambient temperature (in the cabin) will allow you to move back the threshold at which the HBO cylinder freezes.
- The second option is to insulate the location of the cylinder. In this case, there is a risk of creating even worse conditions under which the cylinder will be even more susceptible to freezing. Why? The fact is that cooling occurs from inside the cylinder; in the end you will get a refrigerator or thermos that will generate cold and keep it in the walls of the insulation.
- The third option is to increase the number of cylinders. If you connect several cylinders to the system, the instantaneous gas consumption of each cylinder will decrease three times, therefore, this will not allow you to avoid critically low temperatures. This option is not suitable for those who have minimal space in the trunk.
- Another way to “defeat” the freezing of a gas cylinder is to install heating. This method is radical and little studied, so before you begin to implement it, you need to study everything thoroughly.
It is important to remember that failure to comply with safety regulations and the introduction of homemade modifications to the gas system is fraught with dire consequences!
There are craftsmen on the Internet who claim that get rid of frost on the balloon This is possible by installing electrically heated mirrors (large) under the bottom of the cylinder. Others say that seat heating kits, which are equipped with a thermostat and temperature sensors, are suitable for heating. But again, I repeat, such heating of the cylinder is just someone’s idea, which has no scientific basis and is not recommended for use by any LPG manufacturer. That's why Be careful, everything you do is at your own peril and risk .
Summing up
If the cylinder freezes over and you regularly experience inconvenience, in this regard, I recommend turning to professionals, I think they will find the true reason why this is happening and will be able to recommend you some original solution to your problem.
That's all I have, thanks for your attention! I will be glad to hear your options for solving the problem when a gas cylinder freezes up on a car with LPG. Take care of yourself, bye!
There may not be gas - in cold weather
Can natural gas freeze and why?
Do you mean at natural winter temperatures?
And it’s not so much the freezing of gas that interests you, but its supply to consumers?
"Natural gas consists of hydrocarbon gases - 80-100% methane and hydrocarbon homologues of methane:
ethane (C2H6), propane, butane (C4H10),
and from non-hydrocarbon substances:
water (in the form of steam), hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), helium (He)."
What gas is supplied to residential buildings and boiler houses?
How low pressure natural gas freezes
Low pressure natural gas - after hydraulic fracturing, a gas distribution point (regulatory substations) - is a gas with pressure for consumers, the pressure is about 130 mm water column, the maximum pressure rate is 300 mm water column.
In low-pressure pipelines, gas freezing is unlikely (freezing of the butane component); rather, these are ordinary ice plugs. Natural gas contains water, natural gas from scammers contains a lot of water. The point is not so much in the “dilution” of the gas, but in the absence of the hassle and expense of drying the gas.
Gas flows through curved pipes, with shut-off valves and other “irregularities”. Although the flow and pressure are small, the gas flow is still non-uniform - somewhere warmer, somewhere colder. And the process of water condensation occurs, like fogging and freezing of windows. The lower the temperature and higher the humidity, the thicker the ice crust. And at one unfortunate moment the ice walls converge - the gas pipeline is blocked with ice.
To prevent the accumulation of condensate water, condensate collectors are installed. Condensate in the form of water-liquid is understandable, but how do gas workers “fight” ice in the gas pipeline? Very simple: melt it.
The risk of ice blockage increases when there is not enough gas. An unstable and weak flow (“it goes out, then it goes out”) acts like the absence of wind - the laundry does not dry!
If a gas cylinder (propane-butane) freezes up
Owners of household gas cylinders sometimes find themselves in an unpleasant situation. Part of the cylinder (from the bottom to the level of the liquid phase) becomes covered with frost and after some time the gas stops flowing from the cylinder. As a result, the device that is powered from this gas cylinder (heating boiler, fireplace, etc.) stops working.
What is the reason for this phenomenon and how to deal with it?
The gas in the cylinder is in a liquid state, under pressure. The tank is not filled to capacity, but only 80%. 1/5 of the cylinder is left free for safety reasons, allowing the gas inside the cylinder to expand and not rupture the cylinder if it is heated, for example from exposure to direct sunlight or from any other heat source. When gas is consumed, a gas phase comes out of the cylinder, which is located in the upper part of the cylinder. As the gas in the cylinder is consumed, it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state.
Vaporization can occur in the form of boiling or as evaporation from the surface of the liquid.
When boiling and evaporating, the liquid leaves faster molecules with greater speed.
There are molecules in a liquid that have sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the adhesion forces between themselves and do work to leave the liquid. In this case, the liquid loses some of its energy (cools).
With decreasing temperature, the rate of evaporation of a liquid decreases, since the average kinetic energy of its molecules decreases, and consequently, the number of such molecules whose kinetic energy is sufficient for evaporation decreases.
And vice versa, with increasing temperature, the rate of evaporation of a liquid increases, since the average kinetic energy of its molecules increases, and consequently, the number of such molecules whose kinetic energy is sufficient for evaporation also increases.
As the liquid evaporates, the temperature decreases.
The faster the evaporation process occurs, the lower the temperature of the remaining liquid phase in the cylinder becomes.
The lower the temperature of the liquid phase becomes, the worse the evaporation occurs. And at a certain moment, when a critical temperature is reached (this depends on the percentage of propane and butane in the mixture filled into the cylinder), evaporation decreases very much, until it stops completely, and the gas stops flowing from the cylinder into the main line.
In our case, the evaporation rate depends on the gas consumption per unit time. That is, the more gas our device consumes, the faster and more strongly the temperature of the liquid component in the cylinder will decrease.
How to avoid this unpleasant phenomenon in this case?
There are two main options:
1. heat the cylinders
2. reduce gas consumption from the cylinder per unit of time.
The essence of the first option is that the cylinders must be kept warm. There are many ways and options, it’s up to you to decide which one to choose.
(just don’t wrap the cylinders with heat-insulating material, as you will make it even worse by creating the effect of a thermos for the cylinder, because cooling occurs from the inside of the cylinder)
To implement the second option, you need to increase the number of cylinders from which gas will be consumed SIMULTANEOUSLY.
That is, if you connect three cylinders at the same time, the instantaneous gas consumption from each cylinder will decrease three times. If you connect five cylinders, the instantaneous gas consumption from each cylinder will decrease five times.
In order to simultaneously connect several cylinders, we offer ramps for 2-3-4 cylinders.
The ramps are equipped with a pressure gauge indicating the pressure in the cylinders and a safety valve that releases excess pressure in the event of strong heating of the cylinder (for example, in the event of a fire). The cylinders are connected to the ramp with a special flexible connection.
