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What is liquified petroleum gas? (mixture of butane and propane) Do you know that there is an expiry date for LPG cylinders? What is LPG or LP Gas? Why is it called Liquefied Petroleum Gas? Where does LPG come from? What is LPG used for? What are the advantages of LPG? What are the properties of LPG? Is there any difference between LP Gas supplied from different companies? Why does the price of LP Gas change during the year? Sometimes I see condensate or ice forming on the outside surface of the LPG cylinder. What causes this? How can I tell how much LPG is left in the cylinder? Sometimes the flame on the appliance is not at a constant height and varies. Why does this happen? How do I know that my supplier is providing me with the correct weight of LPG? Where should I store my LP Gas cylinder? How should I select my LPG supplier? What are the benefits of LPG over other heating fuels? When should cylinders be grouped together for supply? At what stage should LPG users consider moving from cylinder supply to a bulk tank? What are vaporisers, and how are they used? v Are there any hazards in using LPG? How can I use LPG safely? What is LPG or LP Gas? Where does LPG come from? What is commercial Propane & Butane? How is LPG seen & felt? What is LPG used for? Why are Butane and Propane used in combination? What are the advantages of LPG? Most of us do not know this. I come to know today from the gas stockiest, because here one accident occurred. Do you know that there is an expiry date (physical life) for LPG cylinders? Expired Cylinders are not safe for use and may cause accidents. In this regard, please be cautious at the time of accepting any LPG cylinder from the vendor. Here is how we can check the expiry of LPG cylinders: On one of three side stems of the cylinder, the expiry date is coded alpha numerically as follows A or B or C or D and some two digit number following this e.g. D06. The alphabets stand for quarters of the year. 1. A for March (First Quarter) 2. B for June (Second Quarter) 3. C for Sept (Third Quarter) 4. D for December (Fourth Quarter) The digits stand for the year till it is valid. Hence D06 would mean December Quarter of 2006. Share this message with everyone you know. Your kind cooperation will save life of many people and create awareness among the public. Please do not accept the cylinder if the date has already expired. What is LPG or LP Gas? LPG or LP Gas is Liquefied Petroleum Gas. This is a general description of Propane (chemical formula C3H8) and Butane (chemical formula C4H10), either stored separately or together as a mix. or What is LPG or LP Gas? LPG or LP Gas is the abbreviation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. This group of products includes saturated Hydrocarbons - Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C4H10), which can be stored/transported separately or as a mixture. They exist as gases at normal room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Why is it called Liquefied Petroleum Gas? This is because these gases liquefy under moderate pressure. They liquefy at moderate pressures, readily vaporizing upon release of pressure. It is this property that permits transportation of and storage of LP Gas in concentrated liquid form. Where does LPG come from? LPG comes from two sources. It can be obtained from the refining of crude oil. When produced this way it is generally in pressurized form. LPG is also extracted from natural gas or crude oil streams coming from underground reservoirs. 60% of LPG in the world today is produced this way whereas 40% of LPG is extracted from refining of crude oil. Why is it called Liquefied Petroleum Gas? This is because these gases can be liquefied at normal temperature by application of a moderate pressure increase, or at normal pressure by application of cooling using refrigeration. Where does LPG come from? LPG comes from two sources. It occurs naturally in oil and gas fields and is separated from the other components during the extraction process from the oil or gas field. LPG is also one of the by-products of the oil refining process. What is LPG used for? LPG is used as a fuel for domestic, industrial, horticultural, agricultural, cooking, heating and drying processes. LPG can be used as an automotive fuel or as a propellant for aerosols, in addition to other specialist applications. LPG can also be used to provide lighting through the use of pressure lanterns. What are the advantages of LPG? The advantages of LPG are as follows: * Because of it's relatively few components, it is easy to achieve the correct fuel to air mix ratio that allows the complete combustion of the product. This gives LPG it's clean burning characteristics. * Both Propane and Butane are easily liquefied and stored in pressure containers. These properties make the fuel highly portable, and hence, can be easily transported in cylinders or tanks to end-users. * LPG is a good substitute for petrol in spark ignition engines. Its clean burning properties, in a properly tuned engine, give reduced exhaust emissions, and extended lubricant and spark plug life. * As a replacement for aerosol propellants and refrigerants, LPG provides alternatives to fluorocarbons which are known to cause deterioration of the earth's ozone layer. * The clean burning properties and portability of LPG provide a substitute for indigenous fuels such as wood, coal, and other organic matter. This provides a solution to de-forestation and the reduction of particulate matter in the atmosphere (haze), caused by burning the indigenous fuels. What are the Properties of LPG? LPG is: * Colourless. * Odourless. (It's normal to odorise LPG by adding an odorant prior to supply to the user, to aid the detection of any leaks). * Flammable. * Heavier than air. * Approximately half the weight of water. * Non toxic but can cause asphyxiation. * LPG expands upon release and 1 litre of liquid will form approximately 250 litres of vapour. Property Units Propane Butane General Product 50/50 Propane & Butane Relative density of liquid at 15OC 0.508 0.573 Minimum 0.508 Maximum 0.573 Typical 0.545 Relative density of vapour. Air = 1 1.58 2.06 1.73 Vapour Pressure at: -10C 0C 10C 20C 30C KPa (gauge) 256 388 552 757 1004 4 40 95 172 266 185 292 424 593 796 Flammability Limits at 15oC and 101.325 kPa in air Lower limit Upper Limit %v/v 2.2 9.5 1.9 8.5 1.9 8.5 2.1 9.2 Heat Value MJ/kg 50.3 49.6 49.95 top Is there any difference between LP Gas supplied from different __________? Yes, depending on the source of supply, the quality of the LP Gas will vary. Users should seek an LP Gas supplier who will provide LP Gas which meets the local or country LP Gas specification. Why does the price of LP Gas change during the year? LP Gas is a commodity which varies in price, depending on the supply conditions. The demand and supply availability of LP Gas causes this price change. It is normal that the price of LP Gas should rise during the winter as the increased demand reduces product availability, and that LP Gas prices should ease during the summer. Sometimes I see condensate or ice forming on the outside surface of the LPG cylinder. What causes this? This is called 'sweating', and is caused by the process of LPG changing from its liquid state to a vapour state. LPG in a stable state consists of both liquid and vapour. When vapour is drawn from the cylinder the vapour pressure in the cylinder is reduced and alters this stability between the vapour pressure and the pressure required maintaining the LPG as a liquid. In this condition, the liquid LPG boils releasing vapour which stabilises the pressure within the cylinder. In order for LPG to boil, it must draw in heat through the cylinder wall. As this happens the wall of the cylinder is cooled and moisture in the air condenses on the wall of the cylinder. In extreme cases, the cylinder may have ice forming on the surface of the cylinder. Interestingly, the top edge of the sweating or ice, reveals the level of the LPG remaining in the cylinder. How can I tell how much LPG is left in the cylinder? There are a number of ways to check this: * Firstly, a cylinder can be weighed to check how much product is left in the cylinder. The weight of the LPG remaining in the cylinder is total weight of the cylinder plus the LPG, less the empty weight or tare weight, of the cylinder. (The regulator and any other fittings should be removed prior to weighing the cylinder). * Secondly, some cylinders have gauges which show the amount of LPG contained within the cylinder. * Thirdly, liquid crystal gauges, which stick to the outer surface of the LPG cylinder are available, and these show the level of the liquid LPG within the cylinder by indicating a colour change at the interface between the liquid and vapour levels caused by the temperature variation. * Fourthly, if the cylinder is being used, then it may be possible to see the level of the LPG in the cylinder by observing the level of the sweating on the cylinder wall. * Lastly, it is possible to see the level of the LPG liquid within a cylinder by pouring boiling water down the side of the LPG cylinder. The liquid level is revealed where a condensate or frost line occurs. Sometimes the flame on the appliance is not at a constant height and varies. Why does this happen? This can be caused by several reasons: * The cylinder is low on LPG and will need refilling soon. * The draw-off rate is greater than the cylinder can deliver. * The regulator is wrongly sized for your application. In all cases you should contact your supplier for a refill, or inform your supplier about the application requirements. How do I know that my supplier is providing me with the correct weight of LPG? Always ensure that the cylinder has the company seal fitted and has not been tampered with. You can weigh the cylinder and verify that you have purchased the amount that the cylinder contains. The total weight, less the weight of the cylinder, known as the Tare Weight, is the amount of LPG that you have purchased. Note that generally the tare weight (TW), is stamped onto the valve protection ring or painted onto the cylinder. Where should I store my LP Gas cylinder? Your LP Gas cylinder should be stored in a location which is well ventilated and accessible so that it is easy to change. Remember that the hose connection to the appliance should not be excessively long as this will make the hose prone to damage. In addition the LP Gas cylinder should not be in direct sunlight or located close to any direct heat source such as an open fire. Always ensure that the LP Gas cylinder is stored in an upright position. How should I select my LPG supplier? Of course you will want the best price, but you should select your LPG provider on the basis of someone who will provide the services that you require. * Cylinder delivered at the time it was promised. * Cylinders well maintained and the valve sealed, assuring that the quantity of LPG that you were charged for is in the cylinder. * The provider should be knowledgeable to assist you with any LPG supply or appliance problems both during business hours and outside normal business hours. * The provider should also be aware of your usage and be proactive in providing a replacement cylinder. What are the benefits of LPG over other heating fuels? When should cylinders be grouped together for supply? At what stage should LPG users consider moving from cylinder supply to a bulk tank? What are vaporisers, and how are they used? What are the benefits of LPG over other heating fuels? LPG has several advantages, such as: * Its clean burning attributes allow it to be used for direct firing of furnaces, and ovens in situations where the products of combustion can effect the quality of the product. For example, crop process drying, food baking, ceramics manufacture. * Gas burning equipment requires less maintenance than oil burners. * There is no ash generated from LPG as with wood and coal. * It is available in a variety of package sizes from small cylinders to bulk quantities delivered direct to the customer. When should cylinders be grouped together for supply? Cylinders should be grouped together when the demand from the application is greater than one cylinder alone can supply or when security of supply is a factor. In these cases it is normal to bank cylinders into two groups. Each group being capable of meeting the supply demand from the process. The two groups of cylinders are linked together via an automatic changeover regulator which will maintain the system to the required pressure and swap supply to the heating process from one group of cylinders to the other group, when the first group of cylinder are empty. At what stage should LPG users consider moving from cylinder supply to a bulk tank? This depends very much on the application, the available space, and the supply logistics. In general, it becomes more economic to supply LPG in bulk when the off-take is consistent, and it is clearly cheaper to transport LPG in bulk quantities than in cylinders. In some cases while it would be cheaper to supply the customer's requirement in bulk, the lack of space to store LPG in bulk becomes a factor and supply via cylinders is maintained. v What are vaporisers, and how are they used? Vaporisers are heat exchangers, which are used to heat the liquid LPG and convert it to a gas. This is the reason that in many situations the off-take is larger than the natural supply rate of a tank or cylinder. Vaporisers are installed to meet the gas demand by the process. Vaporisers can use the heat provided by hot water, electricity or even LPG from the supply Are there any hazards in using LPG? LPG is a flammable gas which has the potential to create a hazard. Therefore it is important that the properties and safe handling of LPG are understood and applied in the domestic and commercial/industrial situations. * LPG is stored under pressure. The gas will leak from any joint or connection which is not sealed properly. * LPG is heavier than air. Any significant leak will move downwards and stay on the ground. It will accumulate in any low-lying area such as depressions in the ground, drains or pits. * Since LPG is stored in two phases liquid and gaseous there is potential for either a liquid leak or a gas leak. 1. If the leak is a gas leak it may not be seen (because LPG is colourless), except where the leak is of sufficient size to be seen shimmering in the air. 2. When a liquid leak occurs, the gas release will be seen as a patch of ice around the area of the leak, or as a jet of white liquid. This white appearance is due to the cooling effect created by the rapid expansion of the LPG liquid into a gas. The condensing atmospheric moisture makes the leak visible. 3. In concentrated amounts and in uncontrolled conditions, LPG has the potential to create a fire or an explosion. How can I use LPG safely? You can use LPG safely if you apply simple safety rules. * Choose a LPG supplier who can provide you with well-maintained LPG cylinders, and after-sales support. * Always close the cylinder or tanks valves after use. * Use a child safe regulator on the LPG cylinder for domestic use. * Ensure that your LPG supplier provides a supply of LPG that is odorised to allow you to smell any leaking LPG. * Always use LPG appliances, and other gas equipment that is approved for use, and meets all local safety standards. * Check for gas leaks on a regular basis. * Never check for gas leaks using a lit match. Always use a solution of soapy water and look for bubbles coming from around valves and pipe joints. These bubbles indicate a gas leak. * Replace the LPG cylinder hose on a regular basis, and replace any damaged or worn hose with a new hose. * Stand the cylinder upright and make sure that any hose connection between the cylinder and the appliance does not come into contact with or near the gas burner. * If you find smell or find a gas leak: 1. Turn off the gas supply valve from the cylinder of tank. 2. If possible turn off the appliance. 3. Turn off or remove any other source of ignition. 4. Ventilate the room by opening doors and windows. 5. Inform your gas supplier immediately. 6. Leave the house or apartment, and advise your neighbours. 7. If you think that there is a danger of a fire, call the Fire Service. What is ______ Propane & Butane? Ideally products referred to as "propane" and "butane" consist very largely of these saturated hydrocarbons; but during the process of extraction/production certain allowable unsaturated hydrocarbons like ethylene, propylene, butylenes etc. may be included in the mixture along with pure propane and butane. The presence of these in moderate amounts would not affect LPG in terms of combustion but may affect other properties slightly (such as corrosiveness or gum formation). How is LPG seen & felt? * It is colorless and cannot be seen * It is odorless. Hence LPG is odorized by adding an odorant prior to supply to the user, to aid the detection of any leaks. * It is slightly heavier than air and hence if there is a leak it flows to lower lying areas. * In liquid form, its density is half that of water and hence it floats initially before it is vaporized. * It is non-toxic but can cause asphyxiation in very high concentrations in air. LPG expands upon release and 1 liter of liquid will form approximately 250 liters of vapor What is LPG used for? LPG is used as a fuel for domestic (cooking), industrial, horticultural, agricultural, heating and drying processes. LPG can be used as an automotive fuel or as a propellant for aerosols, in addition to other specialist applications. LPG can also be used to provide lighting through the use of pressure lanterns. Why are Butane and Propane used in combination? While butane and propane are different chemical compounds, their properties are similar enough to be useful in mixtures. Butane and Propane are both saturated hydrocarbons. They do not react with other. Butane is less volatile and boils at 0.6 deg C. Propane is more volatile and boils at - 42 deg C. Both products are liquids at atmospheric pressure when cooled to temperatures lower than their boiling points. Vaporization is rapid at temperatures above the boiling points. The calorific (heat) values of both are almost equal. Both are thus mixed together to attain the vapor pressure that is required by the end user and depending on the ambient conditions. If the ambient temperature is very low propane is preferred to achieve higher vapor pressure at the given temperature. What are the advantages of LPG? The advantages of LPG are as follows * Because of its relatively fewer components, it is easy to achieve the correct fuel to air mix ratio that allows the complete combustion of the product. This gives LPG its clean burning characteristics. * Both Propane and Butane are easily liquefied and stored in pressure containers. These properties make the fuel highly portable, and hence, can be easily transported in cylinders or tanks to end-users. * LPG is a good substitute for petrol in spark ignition engines. Its clean burning properties, in a properly tuned engine, give reduced exhaust emissions, extended lubricant and spark plug life. * As a replacement for aerosol propellants and refrigerants, LPG provides alternatives to fluorocarbons, which are known to cause deterioration of the earth's ozone layer. The clean burning properties and portability of LPG provide a substitute for traditional fuels such as wood, coal, and other organic matter. This provides a solution to de-forestation and the reduction of particulate matter in the atmosphere (haze), caused by burning the traditional fuels. What are LPG properties? Property Units Propane Commercial Butane Mixture 50% each Specific gravity of Liquid at 15 deg C (Water=1) 0.504 0.582 0.543 Specific gravity of Vapor at 15 deg C(Air=1) 1.5 2.01 1.75 Vapor pressure at 38 deg C Kg/sq.cm 13.8 2.6 8.0 Boiling point at atm pressure Deg C - 42 9 + 9 to - 42 Ignition temperature in air Deg C 495-605 480-535 480-605 Latent Heat of Vaporization Btu/lb 184 167 175 1.What is the best way to store and transport LPG cylinders? The transport of hazardous substances such as LPG in quantity is controlled by the Road Traffic Ordinance and OHSAct (Vessels under Pressure) However for a consumer, moving small quantities; the cylinders must be stored and transported in an upright position. 2.How do I know that my gas cylinder is still safe to use? Never use damaged or corroded cylinders this can lead to leaks and fires. Check cylinders for the date stamp. Cylinders manufactured before 1969 are no longer in use and must be withdrawn. If you see damage or rust, dont use the cylinder take it to the supplier 3.Why is my cylinder not filled to the top? Liquid LPG expands on temperature variances. With LPG you need 20% of the space on top of the liquid for expansion. (Your bottle of milk is not filled to the top for the same reason) LPGas can only be filled to 80% of the water capacity 4.What does the stampings on a cylinder mean? The stampings on a cylinder are information about the cylinder manufacturer, the owner of the cylinder, the TARE mass, the water capacity (WC) and other technical information 5.Are there any differences between LPG and Natural gas? Yes. LPG is heavier than air and has higher energy content for the same volume of Natural gas. Also, LPG composition can vary more than Natural gas. 6.Why is it important to know that LPG is heavier than air? LPG in gas form (vapour) flows like water and will accumulate in low lying areas. An unnecessary spark can cause an explosion or a fire (LPG is heavier than air and Natural gas is lighter than air) 7.Does the chemical composition of LPG change, and does this create safety or efficiency problems for me? The composition of LPG can change, but appliances are generally tested with gases representing a range of compositions that they can be exposed to. The SA Energy Council monitors this quality to ensure the chemical composition does not go beyond acceptable safety limits. 8.How important is supply pressure for ensuring efficient use? Supply pressure is important both for safety and efficient use. The supply pressure is critical in design of combustion systems and low pressure could lead to incomplete combustion, and hazard 9.Why are gas cylinder refills measured by weight? Gas refills are measured by weight, as this is the most practical and cost effective way of measuring energy content for LPG in liquid form. Different cylinders having different water capacities must be filled by weight with a very simple method on a scale. An example - the empty weight of the steel of a 19 kg cylinder equals ± 19.6 kg, the scale is then set on [19.6 + 19 = 38.6] 38.6 kg. 10.What are the biggest dangers when using LPG appliances? A key difficulty with LPG leakage is that it cannot disperse easily (as it is heavier than air) and tends to collect and move on the surface. In addition, many portable LPG appliances are connected directly to a cylinder. Heat transmission (generally by reflection) from the appliances to the cylinder can lead to increased pressure and explosion (especially In the case of LPG canisters) 11.What maintenance does an LPG appliance need to keep it safe? It is important that you ensure LPG appliances are complete and not defective. Missing or damaged parts can lead to carbon monoxide emissions that are highly dangerous. If in doubt, have it checked out by a registered LPG installer or contact the: LPG Association at 011 886-9708 12.Are there any special safety precautions I should take, when using an LPG appliance? In addition to above points: Make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions Never use the valve on the cylinder to adjust flame size or the amount of heat, use the controls provided Never attempt to check for leakage with a naked flame. Do not try to force any fittings or connections. Some LPG appliances operate at high pressure directly from the cylinders, and many others must be connected through a regulator never connect a low pressure appliance directly to a cylinder Always use and store LPG cylinders in an upright position. Use competent registered LPGas installers to adjust or repair your LPG appliances 13.What about portable Gas appliances? Portable gas heaters such as LPG cabinet heaters and other unflued space heaters need special care: Test your connections cabinet heaters: After securely connecting a new or refilled cylinder, apply soapy water to the cylinder connections and turn off the cylinder. If bubbles appear, you have a leak. Close the valve and call an LPG service agent. Safe space: Always keep your heater at least one meter away from anything that could catch fire. Put a safety guard around your heater if you have young children in your home or if there is a lot of traffic. Fresh Air: Keep a window open when you use your unflued heater, to help remove heater emissions (combustion products) and to keep the air fresh and reduce condensation. Never use unflued heaters in bedrooms or bathrooms. Use your nose: If you smell gas fumes turn off your heater and cylinder immediately. Call an appliance service agent or gas installer to have the appliance checked. Get a check-up: Before winter every year, get your heater checked and serviced by a service agent to ensure that it is in a safe condition for winter NOTE: Gas appliances designed for outdoor use should never be used indoors. This includes patio heaters, barbecues and camping cookers. 14.Where does Liquefied Petroleum Gas come from? In the process of making petrol from crude oil, one of the by-products is a mixture of petroleum gases. The mixture is made up mainly of two gases called Propane and Butane 15.Why should the Petroleum Gas be liquefied? By the liquefying action about 270 volumes of Petroleum Gas are reduced into one volume of liquid this makes storage and transportation much easier 16.Does LPG burn? Like the other fuels diesel, paraffin and coal LPG also burns when is lit by a source of ignition such as open flame, spark or a red hot surface 17.Does LPG burn easier than the other fuels? LPG burns much easier than other fuels mainly because, even at room temperature when the pressure is released by opening the cylinder valve the liquid LPG immediately changes into gas (Vapour). This is the reverse process to liquefying one volume of liquid forming about 270 volumes of gas 18.Does LPGas need air to burn? Like all open fires air must be present for the flame to burn effectively. So the LPG then mixes with air to form the big volume of flammable mixture. In fact the LPG liquid is so economical that one volume of liquid makes about 10 000 volumes of flammable mixture 19.What happens to LPG in a cylinder when it gets hot? Because LPG liquid can expand (get bigger) greatly when the temperature rises it is important to have space in the cylinder for the LPG to expand into (Remember the 80 %?) 20.Can a cylinder be overfilled? Cylinders should only be filled to 80 % of the cylinder capacity. This allows for expansion into the 20 % space 21.Why are there two arrows on the LPG cylinders? The two arrows on each cylinder tell you that the cylinder must be transported and used in an upright position 22.Can you see LPGas? LPG is like clear water it is colourless and it also flows like water. Like water, LPGas will flow to the lowest point, asit is heavier than air 23.Is it dangerous for LPGas leaking from a cylinder to flow down into drains? Just like water, the leaking LPGas will look for the lowest point and will for instance flow down a drain, or collect in a hollow in the ground, or in the basement of a building 24.Why does LPG stink? In order to assist in detecting LPG leaks a smelly chemical has been added to the LPG. The stencher or odorant stinks like rotten eggs. 25.Do cracks, cuts and dents affect the safety of the cylinder? Any damage to the cylinder may be serious enough to weaken the cylinder shell and so allow gas to escape which is very dangerous 26.If we are short of storage space may I store the cylinders with other flammables like oil, paraffin, coal and wood? LPG must never be stored with other flammable substances It is also advisable NOT to store with other flammable gases Here are further guidelines. |