Can a propane tank ignite or explode from surrounding extreme heat, or is a spark or flame required?

Answer 1

Yes propane tanks can ignite under extreme heat. And propane fed fires are a ***** to get out. you can't use water b/c it will spread the fire. you have to use sand or dirt to put the fire out.

Answer 2

Small propane tanks without pressure relief valves may rupture (explode if you like) due to surrounding extreme heat. This heat would most likely only be caused by a fire so the ignition and burning of propane released is likely. Large propane tanks normally have relief valves although if the metal of the tank is exposed to extreme heat for a prolonged period in a vapour space region where the cooling effect of liquid propane boiling is not present the heat may weaken the metal and failure of the tank occur.

Answer 3

If it got hot enough, or enough energy was infused into sufficient atoms quickly enough to cause a violent reaction, yes i'd say it could explode. Sparks are best for this, since they're generally a small short-lived plasma filament caused by an electrical exchange, which is highly energetic. Enough so to start other atoms off in a rather nasty chain reaction.

But a more mundane heating (to beyond how much energy it can sustain internally before exploding), will do the trick too. Though I'd guess it would have to get pretty hot. Hotter than the average summer day. IE, there would have to be some kind of combustion going on around it to superheat the air in a relatively short period of time. Yeah? Or a large electrical discharge, but I guess that would be a spark, wouldn't it?

Answer 4

This question was asked and answered a week or so ago. The propane in a tank is mostly liquid; the space not occupied by liquid is filled with gaseous propane. Heat the tank sufficiently, and the liquid must evaporate, increasing the pressure substantially and the tank will explode. Usually the heat source will be a fire, so now you have gaseous propane released from the burst tank, in contact with fire, and now you have a mess.

Answer 5

Surrounding extreme heat would cause the internal relief valve to do its job...vent propane to relieve the interior pressure. If the tank/cylinder is inside, an exposure to a source of ignition can spell disaster.

If properly stored in an outside location, the relief valve will usually just vent until the pressure has receded & then re-close.

Answer 6

Extreame heat could ignite the gas

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

it can if it is hot enough, the pressure could force and explosion - would be a good one too