"Does LP in an RV tank ever cause the tank to explode when tank exposed to
extreme heat for a period of time?"

It probably depends on the failure mode:
- there is no oxygen inside the tank, so technically it cannot explode from
the inside.
- need help on this one, of course the pressure inside the tank would get
higher, simply because the propane that is in gaseous form would get hotter,
and thus increase in the internal pressure. But I doubt that would be enough
of a pressure increase to "explode" the metal tank.
- perhaps the metal could get hot enough so that a seam will fail.  That
could cause a quick release of the fluid which would appear like an
explosion.
- perhaps a rubber seal, or plastic, in the neck and valve would get soft,
or melt, and then release propane, but it seem that would result in
something more like a jet or blow torch rather than an explosion.
- if the main tank valve is open, and only the stove valves are blocking the
flow, the failure modes increase dramatically.
- if the tank is rusty, then could get very bad.
- don't know much about the overpressure release valves, maybe they have
non-metallic parts, maybe they are meant to fail in a fire?

The popping in the video was interesting, almost like the propane was
dripping out of the tank, or a little bit at a time was released.

Roland

On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 3:06 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 3:03 PM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Or does a tank like that not blow up even when
> > heated up with flames?
>
> Or more to the point:
>
> Does LP in an RV tank ever cause the tank to explode when tank exposed
> to extreme heat for a period of time?
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>