Characteristics of LP Gas
Liquefied petroleum gas, also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, liquid petroleum gas or simply propane or butane, is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.
LP Gas is made up of two liquefiable hydrocarbon gases, commercial Propane and commercial Butane in the ratio of approximately 55% to 45%, however, this can vary to as much as 70% to 30% depending on the availability of the two primary gases.
Quick Facts:
- Butane is heavier than propane. In LPG cylinder, butane will be at bottom of cylinder and propane on top.
- Boiling point of Propane: -42oC.
- Boiling point of Butane: 0oC.
- Boiling point of LPG: ± -21oC.
- LPG is lighter than water, about half the mass of water per volume.
- 1.86 litre of LP Gas Liquid weighs 1.0kg.
- 1 litre of LP Gas Liquid weighs 0.54kg.
- 500 litre of LP Gas Vapour weighs approximitely 1kg when at STP. (Standard Temperatures & Pressures)
- LP Gas Vapour weighs almost twice as much as air.
- LP Gas has no smell. Strongly smelling Ethyl Mercaptan is normally added to it so that leaks can be detected by smell long before vapour concentration in air reaches flammable limits.
- LP Gas cylinders must NEVER be filled to 100% but only between 80% and 85% of their capacity to allow for thermal expansion of the contained liquid.