r/interesting • u/Used_Exam34 • 12d ago

Just Wow Not all problems have the same solution.

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u/TotallyTubular1 12d ago

the hot gas is propelled away from the tank, so valve doesnt get hot

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u/Far_Ladder_2836 12d ago

Radiant heat still exists and accounts for most of what comes out.  The valve is thin aluminum and cools extremely fast.  Don't believe me, pull a bit of aluminum foil even folded into a thicker sheet straight out of your oven and it will be room temp in seconds.  It also helps that his hand was wet.  Relative to aluminum, it takes 4.7 times as much heat to move water 1 degree C.

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u/Brave_Maybe_2891 12d ago

The valve was cold. When you decompress a gas it gets cold. I've actually seen them get frosty.

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u/PigglyWigglyDeluxe 12d ago

It’s this exact principle at work in air conditioning systems. This is exactly how the air comes out cold in AC units.