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Pipe Size for Propane / Natural Gas
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Caulki...@work.com
Nov 17, 2013, 10:42:02 AM11/17/13
to
When it comes to natural gas, it appears that some of the pipes become
quite large. Most single family medium sized homes seem to use a 1"
main, and then it breaks down to 3/4" and 1/2". (Black steel pipe).
Yet, when it comes to propane, I dont think I've ever seen a pipe larger
than 3/4" being used. In fact, most of the time I see a 1/2" or 5/8"
(copper flex pipe).
This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size. Then
too, the pipe coming to my house from my 500 gal. propane tank is only
1/4" ID (3/8" OD). But that's the high pressure line. From there it
goes to a regulator which lowers the pressure. After the regulator I
have one 1/2" ID copper pipe that feeds both the furnace and cooking
range.
Anyhow, I'm asking this because of the trailer house I'm setting up, had
natural gas before I bought it. The pipes are black steel, and there
were two propane devices in use. Furnace and Water heater. They had a
1" main that immediately was reduced to 3/4" where it entered the
skirting. That 3/4" pipe split to two 1/2" pipes, for each device. In
other words 1/2" to the furnace and 1/2" to the W H.
I'm going to connect propane, change the same furnace to an LP orfice,
and remove the water heater (change it to an electric W H). But, I want
to add a propane cooking range. The cook range is about 12 feet past
the furnace, so the easiest solution is to just put a Tee in the furnace
pipe, and add my 12 feet of pipe, plus an elbow. riser, and shutoff
valve. But if I need a 3/4" main over to the furnace, in order to have
enough capacity, I will have to change about 35 more feet of pipe and
all the fittings.
Since my house has pretty much the same devices in use (furnace
and W H), running fine on 1/2" ID copper, I'm assuming the 1/2" black
steel pipe should suffice.
I am aware that pipe length matters, as well as the BTU's.
In my case, the pipe lengths will be about the same, maybe just a little
longer for the trailer house. The square footage of the trailer is
slightly less than my house, so the furnace BTU's should be similar, and
4 burner plus over cooking ranges I would assume all use about the same
amounts of gas.
I did find a pipe size chart online.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/propane-gas-pipe-sizing-d_827.html
But they are using terms such as:
# One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour
# 1 CFH ? 2.54 MBH
Quite honestly this is way too complicated and confusing for me to
understand.
This is NOT going to be inspected, so please dont suggest asking an
inspector. I just want to make sure I have the necessary capacity
pipes, because I hate having to do things twice. I did check the code
though as far as pipe materials, and both copper and black steel are
approved, along with stainless steel flex tubing.
quite large. Most single family medium sized homes seem to use a 1"
main, and then it breaks down to 3/4" and 1/2". (Black steel pipe).
Yet, when it comes to propane, I dont think I've ever seen a pipe larger
than 3/4" being used. In fact, most of the time I see a 1/2" or 5/8"
(copper flex pipe).
This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size. Then
too, the pipe coming to my house from my 500 gal. propane tank is only
1/4" ID (3/8" OD). But that's the high pressure line. From there it
goes to a regulator which lowers the pressure. After the regulator I
have one 1/2" ID copper pipe that feeds both the furnace and cooking
range.
Anyhow, I'm asking this because of the trailer house I'm setting up, had
natural gas before I bought it. The pipes are black steel, and there
were two propane devices in use. Furnace and Water heater. They had a
1" main that immediately was reduced to 3/4" where it entered the
skirting. That 3/4" pipe split to two 1/2" pipes, for each device. In
other words 1/2" to the furnace and 1/2" to the W H.
I'm going to connect propane, change the same furnace to an LP orfice,
and remove the water heater (change it to an electric W H). But, I want
to add a propane cooking range. The cook range is about 12 feet past
the furnace, so the easiest solution is to just put a Tee in the furnace
pipe, and add my 12 feet of pipe, plus an elbow. riser, and shutoff
valve. But if I need a 3/4" main over to the furnace, in order to have
enough capacity, I will have to change about 35 more feet of pipe and
all the fittings.
Since my house has pretty much the same devices in use (furnace
and W H), running fine on 1/2" ID copper, I'm assuming the 1/2" black
steel pipe should suffice.
I am aware that pipe length matters, as well as the BTU's.
In my case, the pipe lengths will be about the same, maybe just a little
longer for the trailer house. The square footage of the trailer is
slightly less than my house, so the furnace BTU's should be similar, and
4 burner plus over cooking ranges I would assume all use about the same
amounts of gas.
I did find a pipe size chart online.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/propane-gas-pipe-sizing-d_827.html
But they are using terms such as:
# One MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour
# 1 CFH ? 2.54 MBH
Quite honestly this is way too complicated and confusing for me to
understand.
This is NOT going to be inspected, so please dont suggest asking an
inspector. I just want to make sure I have the necessary capacity
pipes, because I hate having to do things twice. I did check the code
though as far as pipe materials, and both copper and black steel are
approved, along with stainless steel flex tubing.
EXT
Nov 17, 2013, 12:36:44 PM11/17/13
to
<Caulki...@work.com> wrote in message
news:9smh8993aa493pdj9...@4ax.com...
apples, they are both gases or both apples but with different
characteristics.
Natural gas has a higher BTU rating per volume but runs at much lower PSI
than propane, therefore the larger diameter pipes. Propane has a lower BTU
per volume and operates at a higher pressure than natural gas and can use
smaller pipes. If you are converting a trailer from natural gas to propane,
you can still use the larger pipes as they will be over capacity and should
have enough capacity to add your cook range.
Harold W.
Nov 26, 2013, 1:17:37 PM11/26/13
to
Caulking-Gunn scrit:
> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
Isn't propane a gas when it's in the pipe?
> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
Ed Pawlowski
Nov 26, 2013, 9:19:24 PM11/26/13
to
Dean Hoffman
Nov 26, 2013, 9:28:44 PM11/26/13
to
power units, for example, have vaporizers mounted on them. The propane
remains liquid in the tubing between the tank and the vaporizer.
Nightcrawler®
Nov 26, 2013, 11:00:43 PM11/26/13
to
"Harold W." <har...@Iamnot.invalid> wrote in message news:pan.2013.11...@Iamnot.invalid...
> Caulking-Gunn scrit:
>
>> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
>
> Isn't propane a gas when it's in the pipe?
>
Nope. That's why it is called LPG. Liquefied petroleum gas. Atomized
>
>> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
>
> Isn't propane a gas when it's in the pipe?
>
at the burner control valve via a small orifice.
Stormin Mormon
Nov 27, 2013, 5:22:17 AM11/27/13
to
On 11/26/2013 11:00 PM, Nightcrawler® wrote:
>
>>
>>> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
>>
>> Isn't propane a gas when it's in the pipe?
>>
>
> Nope. That's why it is called LPG. Liquefied petroleum gas. Atomized
> at the burner control valve via a small orifice.
What kind of device might this be? The residential
>
>>
>>> This tells me that propane must not need as large of pipe size.
>>
>> Isn't propane a gas when it's in the pipe?
>>
>
> Nope. That's why it is called LPG. Liquefied petroleum gas. Atomized
> at the burner control valve via a small orifice.
heating I've serviced, the liquid is in the tank.
The regulator at top reduces pressure of the vapor,
which goes through the lines into the structure.
Same deal with gas grill outdoors. The regulator
is at top of the tank, and handle vapor only.
--
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
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