{"id":9683,"date":"2025-10-10T08:15:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T06:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gok-blog.de\/2018\/01\/08\/what-withdrawal-volume-do-i-get-out-of-one-gas-cylinder\/"},"modified":"2026-10-12T14:04:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T12:04:00","slug":"what-withdrawal-volume-do-i-get-out-of-one-gas-cylinder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gok-blog.de\/en\/what-withdrawal-volume-do-i-get-out-of-one-gas-cylinder\/","title":{"rendered":"What withdrawal volume do I get out of one gas cylinder?"},"content":{"rendered":"

How much gas do I actually get from my cylinder\u2014and how long will it last under continuous operation? Many users\u2014whether campers, grillers or technicians\u2014underestimate how strongly the withdrawal rate of liquefied gas depends on external factors. Although every gas cylinder states a filling mass<\/strong>, that does not tell us how much energy per hour is actually available. What matters is not only the cylinder size, but also the withdrawal duration<\/strong>, the ambient temperature<\/strong> and, to a lesser extent, the cylinder\u2019s design or material.
\n<\/p>\n

In this article we show, using practical values, what withdrawal masses are realistic for 5\u202fkg, 11\u202fkg and 33\u202fkg cylinders, how the output changes during continuous operation, and why cylinders may ice up under high demand. It is ideal for anyone who wants to reliably plan for grilling, heating, cooling or commercial use.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Why is the withdrawal rate from gas cylinders limited?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether for grilling, heating or cooling\u2014many users are occasionally surprised that the gas appliance \u201cweakens\u201d even though the cylinder is not empty. The reason lies not in the content, but in the physical processes when transitioning from liquid to gas.
\nLiquefied gas, a mixture of propane and butane (or in cylinders and cartridges often in nearly pure form), is under pressure in liquid form in the cylinder. When the valve is opened, a portion of the gas evaporates\u2014this process absorbs heat from the surroundings. The higher the withdrawal rate, the faster the cylinder cools. That can lead to the evaporation slowing\u2014and the usable gas per hour dropping significantly.
\nThe gas type also plays a role: butane has a significantly higher boiling point than propane. While propane still evaporates even at \u201340\u202f\u00b0C, the limit for butane is already around 0\u202f\u00b0C. If the mixture is rich in butane, the withdrawal performance drops noticeably at low temperatures.
\nA typical warning signal: icing of gas cylinders. This shows that the demand exceeds the evaporation capacity\u2014especially with smaller cylinders, undersized cylinder installations or a cold environment.<\/p>\n

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If too much gas is withdrawn at once, vaporisation is often insufficient \u2013 this can cause the flame to become smaller or irregular.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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<\/span>What influences the withdrawal rate?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The actual withdrawal rate from a gas cylinder depends on several factors. Even with identical filling mass, the usable performance may differ significantly depending on the circumstances. For reliable planning\u2014whether for heating, grilling or workshop use\u2014it is worthwhile knowing these influencing factors:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cylinder size and design<\/strong>
    \nThe larger the volume of liquefied gas in the cylinder, the higher the evaporation capacity. A 33\u202fkg gas cylinder, for example, can deliver significantly more gas than a 5\u202fkg cylinder because it has a greater surface area for evaporation. The cylinder material and wall thickness also affect heat uptake from the surroundings. Differences exist between the evaporation performance of steel, aluminium and composite cylinders. Material properties and wall thickness have the greatest influence here. Steel has a higher thermal conductivity than aluminium or composite, which may lead to faster evaporation in steel cylinders\u2014though certain constructions of composite cylinders can also promote evaporation.<\/li>\n
  2. Ambient temperature<\/strong>
    \nLiquefied gas needs heat to evaporate. At low temperatures\u2014especially below 0\u202f\u00b0C\u2014the vapour pressure drops strongly. The gas evaporates more slowly, and the cylinder delivers lower output. Butane content in the mixture may further aggravate the problem, since butane no longer evaporates around 0\u202f\u00b0C.<\/li>\n
  3. Duration and mode of withdrawal<\/strong>
    \nWhile for short withdrawal\u2014e.g. grilling for a few minutes\u2014a high performance is often still available, the withdrawal rate drops significantly during extended use. The cylinder cools, and the evaporation process slows. The result: much lower usable energy per hour.<\/li>\n
  4. Consumer appliances<\/strong>
    \nThe connected appliance also influences the withdrawal performance. A heater rated at 12\u202fkW consumes much more gas than a small catalytic heater rated at 2.5\u202fkW. The higher the demand, the sooner the cylinder may reach its physical limits. Therefore, it is important to dimension the liquefied gas installation accordingly, so that icing and failure of the gas appliance can be avoided.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"The<\/a>
    The higher the appliance rating, the more gas is required \u2013 if the system is undersized, the gas cylinder may freeze. A patio heater with 12\u202fkW consumes significantly more gas than a small catalytic heater with 2.5\u202fkW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    <\/span>Withdrawal amounts at a glance: 5\u202fkg, 11\u202fkg and 33\u202fkg cylinders<\/span><\/h2>\n

    How much liquefied gas can actually be withdrawn depends\u2014as described\u2014strongly on external factors. Nevertheless, typical practical values can be given as orientation for various use cases.<\/p>\n

    <\/span>Withdrawal volume from a 5 kg gas cylinder<\/span><\/h3>\n

    From the smallest propane\u2011butane cylinder, surprisingly much energy can initially be withdrawn: in the short term it can deliver about 1.5\u202fkg of liquefied gas per hour, corresponding to a power of about 19\u202fkW. With increasing withdrawal duration, however, the performance drops significantly. During extended use, only about 0.2\u202fkg per hour is available\u2014this corresponds to about 2.6\u202fkW.<\/p>\n

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    <\/span>Withdrawal volume from a 11 kg gas cylinder<\/span><\/h3>\n

    From the 11\u202fkg cylinder\u2014which is more than twice as large\u2014one can withdraw a striking amount of energy in the short term: up to 2\u202fkg of liquefied gas per hour, corresponding to about 25\u202fkW. During longer or continuous withdrawal, however, this output declines continuously. For long-term use, one should expect a continuous output of about 4\u202fkW.<\/p>\n

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    <\/span>Withdrawal volume from a 33 kg gas cylinder<\/span><\/h3>\n

    With its nearly three to six times filling mass, the 33\u202fkg cylinder is the largest commonly available variant in Germany. For short withdrawal, one can expect up to 3\u202fkg per hour\u2014this corresponds to about 40\u202fkW. During extended, steady use, however, the cylinder still delivers a respectable continuous output of nearly 8\u202fkW.<\/p>\n

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    <\/span>Calculation example: how long does a cylinder last?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    A heater of 5\u202fkW consumes about 0.39\u202fkg of liquefied gas per hour. From this it follows:<\/p>\n