Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Hi Brent. Hundreds of dollars. I think Carl spent 300 for a small bottle and I believe Ron McClellan spent 800 for a lager bottle. They are made of the highest grade aluminum. The $800 plus Ron spent covered the tank and a special valve and regulator designed specifically for small molecule gases. They are compressed into the tank at about 3,000 psi. Many of these engines including the large slide valve Otto engines run on very low final pressure that is measured in miliounces, ounces, or inches of water.

To get his tank filled, he brings it to the local industrial gas supplier. They in turn, ship the bottle to a facility that can handle custom gas blends. They inspect the tank and valve, then blend and fill. They charge Ron $200-300 for a fill up. This is not a cheap fuel supply...!!

Propane liquifies at low pressures making it ideal for outdoor grills, home cooking and heat. Because of this it is cost effective.

Methane mixes well with hydrogen and will not liquify until over 4,600 psi is applied (vs 100 psi for propane)

Carbon monoxide will not liquify under any pressure to my knowledge. Like carbon dioxide, it can be solid as in dry ice below -109 F (-80 C) but will sublimate and exist as a gas at any pressure with temperature above minus 109 F.

Gil