Alright, I know the best way to know how much gas left in a tank is to weigh it, and I know the best way to be prepared for gas exhaustion is a spare tank - no disagreement on either.
However ... curious minds ....
From basic physics, I remember that the pressure in a closed space is dependent on temperature, not fluid mass (assuming a gas/liquid mix). Raise the temperature and the partial pressure of the fluid goes up and more liquid turns to gas and the pressure of the tank goes up. Likewise, if you cool the tank far enough, the partial pressure will drop and gas will go back into liquid.
So why does a pressure gauge on the tank side of the regulator work? Obviously if you draw the gas out at a high rate there will be some cooling and the pressure would go down. But during normal smoking the flow is very low and this shouldn't be a factor.
Sorry to put this question on the smoking forum, but every time I use my smoker I am puzzled as to how the gauge is giving me a volume indication - my gut tells me it shouldn't work!
John
However ... curious minds ....
From basic physics, I remember that the pressure in a closed space is dependent on temperature, not fluid mass (assuming a gas/liquid mix). Raise the temperature and the partial pressure of the fluid goes up and more liquid turns to gas and the pressure of the tank goes up. Likewise, if you cool the tank far enough, the partial pressure will drop and gas will go back into liquid.
So why does a pressure gauge on the tank side of the regulator work? Obviously if you draw the gas out at a high rate there will be some cooling and the pressure would go down. But during normal smoking the flow is very low and this shouldn't be a factor.
Sorry to put this question on the smoking forum, but every time I use my smoker I am puzzled as to how the gauge is giving me a volume indication - my gut tells me it shouldn't work!
John