Date:         Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:52:46 -0500
Reply-To:     Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject:      Water content of propane exhaust (as Re: ...its alright ...if you
              wanna get down .... propane ... (apologies to eric c.))
Comments: To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <ccd73a10801152229x3a81028ci6402fc77dc61dcab@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Hi Roger,

I did the chemistry on that last year, as I was interested in just
how much water was produced.

C3H8 + (5)O2 --> (3)CO2 + (4)H2O

According to my calculations, a 1lb bottle of propane produces 76 ml
of water (less than three ounces), with the remaining byproducts
emitted as CO2 gas. See this page for details:
http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/chemistry/
chapter7section3.rhtml

A human being exhales 2-4 cups of water per day, depending on the
relative humidity. Divide that by 3 (8 hrs sleeping in the westy) and
you still get a LOT more water from a human than you do from a
propane heater.

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com

On 16-Jan-08, at 1:29 AM, Roger Whittaker wrote:

> if you have a propane heater that you wish to use during the night
> remember that propane heaters produce lots of water as a byproduct of
> combustion
> this will make the underneath of foam cushions where you sleep
> damp ...
> also make sure you have enough ventilation ...