When a motorist installs on his vehicle gas equipment, he quite often forgets that gasoline has not gone away. If the gas starts to "jump", the motorist needs to check how the car works in the same conditions, but on gasoline. In most cases, if the vehicle does not run on gasoline for a long period, it encounters many problems that are often hidden in the injectors or.
Quite often, drivers who operate a car on gas are faced with special problems, which usually do not occur on gasoline. Very often there is a problem of freezing of the gas reducer. When this device freezes, it becomes white and 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 begun to pass gas, and go straight to the gas workers, which is not entirely correct, since locksmiths repair this kind of malfunction.
1. Causes of freezing of the gas reducer
Initially, it is necessary to determine the root cause of why it freezes. In modern automotive world There are several reasons for this problem. The most common mistake is the owner of a car who forgot 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 so that the gas reducer does not freeze
It is important to first say what needs to be done if a motorist has already encountered such problems 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 is the most common problem. In the absence of this fluid, it will be necessary to add it. The easiest way to deal with air lock, since it will be necessary to simply remove the hose from the manifold and wait for the moment when coolant will go further.
Besides, the motorist should also check the nozzles on the gearbox. If these parts are cold, you will need to remove the hose from the gearbox and check for coolant leakage. In the event that when removing the hose nothing will flow out of it, you can try to start the vehicle and sharply press the gas pedal several times. If during this procedure the liquid flowed, but very weakly, then the problem may lie in the malfunction of the thermostat or pump device. In addition, it is necessary to clean the collector outlets.
Few motorists know that the gas reducer device can freeze very badly if the gasket is even slightly burnt directly under the engine head, since it is this element that can gradually pass gases into the cooling liquid. This is determined quite simply: with bubbles starting to come out, the engine internal combustion heats up excessively, boils, and the stove will warm up the car very weakly.
In order to avoid possible the 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 automobile manifold and gearbox for the possibility of clogging or clogging, as these causes can also do a lot of harm, such as gas reducer as well as the whole car.
3. Other malfunctions of the gas reducer
A fairly common problem is that a car starts very poorly using gas. For gearboxes electronic type there are several reasons: incorrect and inaccurate adjustment, a problem with a malfunction of the gearbox, a malfunction of the permissive electric valve, malfunctions and problems with the electronics unit, the starter device has become unusable, the internal combustion engine has become very worn out. For a vacuum type gearbox, a lack of vacuum in the intake manifold device due to wear should also be added. piston group, suction, starter malfunctions. In addition, for vacuum-type gearboxes, in order to start with improved parameters, it is necessary to install an electromagnet for forced gas supply.
Quite often, there is also 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 assembly. The filter in the gas unit of the solenoid valve may also be clogged. Quite often, it happens that the flow line speed valve device also operates abnormally. There are also problems when an excessively low temperature is triggered for a given gas composition. The same problem affects the gearbox itself, which can have a very low temperature for normal and stable operation.
The most common problem for a motorist is increased gas consumption. Such a malfunction is the result of the same incorrect setting of the dispenser or gearbox, a gearbox malfunction. There are interruptions in the ignition system due to a malfunction of the car's candles. It may also be very low compression engine, pops in intake manifold. And, of course, the problem may lie in low-quality fuel. In the event that several candles have malfunctioned, the flow rate will be frantic, and power will be lost several times, as a result of which such problems must be constantly monitored.
Another common problem for many motorists is the smell of gas in the passenger compartment. This is the most dangerous problem, since the life of all passengers and the driver directly depends on it. vehicle. If such a problem is detected, the motorist is required to immediately close the supply and filling valves and continue the journey only on gasoline. You should not postpone a trip to a special car service. Sometimes this kind of problem is not related to gas leakage, 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 imperceptible. That is why some craftsmen add a certain concentrate to this liquid so that in the event of a breakdown, it can be quickly identified.
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Gas may not be - in the cold
Can natural gas freeze and why?
Do you mean at natural winter temperatures?
And you are not so much interested in freezing gas, but in supplying it to consumers?
"Natural gas consists of hydrocarbon gases - methane by 80-100% and hydrocarbon homologues of methane:
ethane (C2H6), propane, butane (C4H10),
and from non-hydrocarbon substances:
water (as steam), hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2), helium (He)."
What gas is supplied to residential buildings and boiler rooms
How low pressure natural gas freezes
Natural gas low pressure- after hydraulic fracturing, gas distribution point (regulatory substations) - this is gas with pressure for consumers, pressure is about 130 mm of water column, maximum rate pressure - 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 "diluting" the gas, but in the absence of the hassle and cost of drying the gas.
The gas goes through curved pipes, with shutoff valves and other "non-smoothness". Although the flow and pressure are small, the gas flow is still non-uniform - somewhere warmer, somewhere colder. And there is a process of water condensation, like fogging-freezing of windows. The lower the temperature and the higher the humidity, the thicker the ice crust. And at one beautiful moment, the walls of ice converge - the gas pipeline is clogged with ice.
To prevent the accumulation of water-condensate, condensate collectors are installed. Condensate in the form of water-liquid is understandable, but how do gas workers "fight" with ice in a gas pipeline? Very simple: melt.
The danger of ice blockage increases when there is not enough gas. An unstable and weak flow ("it will go out, then it will go out") acts like the absence of wind - the laundry does not dry!
Characteristics and properties of propane-butane technical mixture
Propane-butane technical mixture is mainly used as a fuel for cars. About 1% of unsaturated hydrocarbons is added to technical propane (С3Н8) and butane (С4Н10) to obtain a mixture.
Liquefied gas can be produced both from the condensate fraction of natural gas and from oil. Separation into fractions is carried out in special columns of the absorption-gas-fractionation plant.
Propane, like butane, is purified from sulfur compounds, water, alkali, and other elements. And depending on the receipt of the required grade of propane butane, the technical mixture is made in certain proportions of the components.
Propane butane technical mixture has the following properties:
- Mass fraction in %: propane 50±10, unsaturated carbons 6, carbons С4 and liquid residue at +40оС are absent;
- Saturated vapor pressure: at -20 °С: 0.07 MPa, at +45 °С: 1.6 MPa;
- Mass fraction of sulfur compounds and sulfur is not more than 0.01%, including hydrogen sulfide is not more than 0.003%.
Technical propane butane has octane number 100-110, and detonation does not occur during engine operation, however, the characteristics of these types differ in certain cases. Technical propane butane with an average octane rating of 105, outperforms any brand of gasoline. If the octane number is even higher, then this indicates a lesser danger of explosions of gas vapors than gasoline vapors.
Technical propane butane can be used in any climatic regions, at an ambient temperature of the tank not lower than -20°C. Specifications propane gas allows it to be used in those climatic regions in winter, where the temperature of the earth at the required depth of the installed tank does not fall below -20°C or -25°C.
In order to fully develop technical propane in the spring that meets the GOST standard, its temporary use is permissible up to -10 ° C. If the temperature is higher, then the pressure in the tank increases. In cold climates, the propane-butane mix must contain a high proportion of propane if the gas is intended for boiler or automotive fuel. Since in the liquid state propane remains at temperatures below -42 ° C, and butane only up to -0.5°C. The gas station receives propane butane technical mixture GOST 27578-87 of two grades - summer with a propane content of 50 ± 10%, and winter with a content of 90 ± 10%.
The density of the phase of the liquid state of the gas depends on the temperature conditions, the higher the temperature, the lower the density. If it is 15 ° C, and the atmospheric pressure is normal, then the liquid phase of butane is 0.58 kg / l of density, and propane - 0.51 kg / l. The propane phase of steam is 1.5 times heavier than air, and the butane phase is 2 times heavier. Gasoline begins to boil at a temperature that is higher environment, and technical propane butane gost evaporates at a pressure that corresponds to the temperature conditions of the environment. Therefore, in the tank, gasoline can be in a liquid state at atmospheric pressure, and propane-butane technical mixture in a container at a pressure corresponding to ambient temperature conditions.
Propane butane technical mix easily mixes up with air, evenly completely burns out. That is why soot does not form on heating elements and fireboxes. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has drawn up regulations requiring the installation of an auto device that limits the filling of the tank, where the propane-butane technical mixture should be, to 85% of its volume. This is due to the high coefficient of expansion by volume of the liquid phase. For butane it is 0.002, and for propane it is 0.003 per 1°C increase gas temperature. For example, this coefficient for butane is 10 times, and for propane 15 times higher than that of water.
This is always a test for a motorist, and for HBO owners, winter often turns into one big problem. Quite often in winter with a car with gas equipment trouble arises when gas cylinder freezes up, thereby causing certain inconvenience to motorists. In this article, I will try to answer the question: Why does a gas bottle freeze over?", you will learn 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 itself occurs in such a way that the balloon is filled to about 80% of its volume. This is necessary so that in the event of gas expansion during heating (when the ambient temperature rises), the balloon does not burst. During operation, the vapor phase of the gas rises and is used first. As the gas is consumed, the liquid phase gradually turns into a vapor state, this process is accompanied by the loss of "fast" molecules, which have a 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 is stopped. AT winter time 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 over is the poor quality of gas fuel. Often the solution to the problem of freezing lies in low-quality gas, which we refuel with. In winter, only the “winter” version of propane-butane should be filled at gas stations, in which propane should prevail, for the reason that this gas evaporates perfectly even at sub-zero temperature. However, the cost of propane is higher than that of butane, which is why gas workers often save frankly "summer" fuel on purpose.
The gas cylinder is frozen over - what to do?
- There are several ways to solve this problem. The first option is to provide cylinder heating, the second option is to reduce fuel consumption. In the second case, it is meant not to reduce fuel consumption in general for the engine, but to reduce it by limiting the use. Now in more detail...
Heating a gas cylinder involves raising the temperature around the tank. This may be moving the cylinder into the passenger compartment of the car. More heat environment (in the cabin) will allow you to move the threshold at which the HBO cylinder freezes over.
- The second option is to insulate the location of the cylinder. AT 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 the inside of the cylinder, as a result you will get such a refrigerator or a 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 by a factor of three, therefore, this will not allow you to avoid critically low temperatures. This option is not suitable for those who have a minimum of space in the trunk.
- Another way to "defeat" the freezing of a gas cylinder is to install heating. This method is cardinal and little studied, therefore, before proceeding with its implementation, it is necessary to study everything properly.
It is important to remember that non-compliance with safety regulations and the introduction homemade modifications into the gas system, fraught with sad consequences!
There are craftsmen on the net who claim that get rid of balloon frost possible by installing electrically heated mirrors ( big size) under the bottom of the tank. Others say that seat heating kits are suitable as heating, which are equipped with a thermal relay and temperature sensors. But again, I repeat, such cylinder heating is just someone's idea, which has no scientific basis and is not recommended for use by any HBO manufacturer. So be careful, everything you do - you do at your own peril and risk .
Summing up
If a the balloon freezes over and you regularly experience inconvenience, in this regard, I recommend contacting 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.
I have everything, thank you for your attention! I would be glad to hear your options for solving the problem when a gas cylinder freezes on a car with LPG. Take care of yourself for now!
