Introduction to LPG

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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
WHAT I S CALOR GAS?
Calor Gas is Liquefied Petroleum Gas [LPG]. LPG is a by product
of the process of separating petrol from crude oil.
It is also found in its natural state under the sea or ground.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
WHAT I S CALOR GAS?
Calor Gas is supplied in
two main forms, butane
and propane.
Amongst the significant
differences between the
two is that butane has a
higher boiling point and
is stored at a lower
pressure than propane.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG I S STORED AS A LI QUI D
UNDER PRESSURE
At room temperature,
the storage pressure for
butane is 25psi [1.72bar],
around the same as a car
tyre.
25 psi 25 psi
1.72 bar 1.72 bar
For propane, it is 100psi
[6.89bar], similar to that
of a lorry tyre.
100 psi 100 psi
6.89 bar 6.89 bar
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG BOI LS AT A LOW TEMPERATURE
Boiling
point
- 2
o
C,
28
o
F.
Butane can be affected
by cold weather.
Boiling
point
- 42
o
C,
- 44
o
F.
However, propane is not
adversely affected by cold
conditions in the U.K.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG, I N I TS NATURAL STATE,
I S COLOURLESS & ODOURLESS.
If you could see into
an LPG container,
the contents would
look like water and
air in a jar. A strong
stenching agent is
added to aid with
leak detection.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG WI LL EXPAND OVER
200 TI MES WHEN VAPOURI SED
A small amount of liquid will produce quite a large amount of flammable gas;
1 volume of Propane liquid = 274 volumes of Propane gas
1 volume of Butane liquid = 233 volumes of Butane gas
1 Volume
of Liquid
Average of
250 Volumes
of Vapour
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG VAPOUR I S HEAVI ER THAN AI R
Butane and
Propane both
have a specific
gravity greater
than air:
Air = 1.0
Propane = 1.5
Butane = 2.0
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG LI QUI D I S LI GHTER THAN WATER
Butane and
Propane both
have a specific
gravity lower
than water:
Water = 1.0
Propane = 0.575
Butane = 0.512
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LI MI TS OF FLAMMABI LI TY
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Fuel
Lower Limit Upper Limit
Ignition
Temperature - C
Expansion Ratio -
Liquid to Vapour
Petrol
1.6 7.6 400 1-200
Butane
1.9 8.5 410 - 550 1-233
Propane
2.0 10.9 460 - 580 1-274
Methane
5.0 15.0 700 1-640
Acetylene
2.0 85.0 300 1-375
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Petrol
Butane
Propane
Methane
Acetylene
Below Flammable Range Flammable Mixture Above Flammable Range
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG AS A LI QUI D HAS A HI GH
RATE OF EXPANSI ON
Cylinders and tanks are never completely filled with liquid.
This is to allow the liquid to expand and contract due to differing air
temperatures, along with a corresponding rise or drop in pressure, but
does not affect the weight of the contents in the vessel.
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87% maximum fill
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG I S VERY SEARCHI NG
LPG, having a low
viscosity, flows with
ease and will
penetrate any break
in an installation.
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Care has to be taken
in use of jointing
compounds and
testing pipework for
soundness.
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG HAS A LOW VI SCOSI TY
LPG, like other oil products, has a viscosity rating. A low viscosity
means the product flows easily.
LPG flows very easily, just like water, petrol, paraffin and others,
and should be prevented from escaping in water courses, drains etc.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG MAY BE USED AT HI GH
OR LOW PRESSURE
11.2 w.g.
28 mbar
(butane)
14.8 w.g.
37 mbar
(propane)
Low pressure
installations
normally
work at:
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It is important to supply gas appliances
with the correct gas pressure.
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG MAY BE USED AT HI GH
OR LOW PRESSURE
up to
10 psi
0.7 bar
(butane)
up to
30 psi
2.1 bar
(propane)
High pressure
installations
normally
work at:
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If a low pressure appliance is supplied with gas
from a high pressure regulator, the appliance
may be receiving up to 60 times its normal
operating pressure.
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG HAS A HI GHER CALORI FI C
VALUE THAN NATURAL GAS
The calorific value of a fuel is described as "The amount of heat
released when a known quantity of fuel is burned".
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Natural Gas = 1,000 Btu/ft
3
- 38 MJ/m
3
Propane = 2,500 Btu/ft
3
- 95 MJ/m
3
Butane = 3,200 Btu/ft
3
- 121.5 MJ/m
3
Natural Gas Natural Gas Propane Propane Butane Butane
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
LPG HAS A HI GH GAS/AI R RATI O
LPG vapour requires a higher ratio of air to gas for correct combustion.
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Air/Fuel mix Natural Gas = 9.6 to 1
Propane = 23.0 to 1
Butane = 30.0 to 1
1
30
1
23
1
9.6
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Butane
Propane
Natural Gas
PVZ/12-99/V2.1
THE PRODUCTS OF GOOD
COMBUSTI ON ARE HARMLESS
When burnt correctly, the products
of good combustion are:
H
2
O - Water Vapour
CO
2
- Carbon Dioxide
It is important to ensure an adequate
supply of air for combustion and that
means for removing the products of
combustion are available at all times.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
Anatomy of a Cylinder
An LPG cylinder is a pressure
vessel made from 2 to 3mm
mild steel plate and of welded
construction.
The surface of a cylinder in
direct contact with the
Liquefied Petroleum Gas is
known as the wetted area.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
How a Cylinder Works
A Full cylinder is not full of
liquid, space is left for
expansion of the liquid and a
supply of compressed vapour in
the space above the liquid level.
The percentage fill varies with
the size of cylinder, but
normally has a maximum fill of
80 to 87%.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
How a Cylinder Works
When the valve is opened, gas is
pushed out of the vessel by the
pressure and, as a result, the
pressure above the liquid is
reduced.
The liquid takes in heat from
the cylinder and the outside
atmosphere and begins to boil,
giving off vapour.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
How a Cylinder Works
As the conversion of liquid to
gas continues, the liquid level
slowly falls.
When the valve is closed again
the pressure inside will rebuild
up to the vapour pressure of the
liquid, irrespective of how
much liquid is left in the
container.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
Bulk Storage Vessels
A bulk tank works in the same
way as a cylinder.
The main visible difference is
that, on a cylinder, a regulator
is usually screwed straight into
the cylinder valve then
connected by a short length of
suitable hose to the appliance
or gas supply line.
On a bulk storage vessel, the
tank valve and regulators are
connected by rigid pipework to
the supply line and, in normal
use, contains propane.
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PVZ/12-99/V2.1
Introduction to LPG
Presentation by;
Peter V. Zunda,
Health & Safety Advisor (Training),
Calor Gas Limited,
Athena Drive,
Tachbrook Park,
Warwick,
CV34 6RL.
phone: 01926-330088
fax: 01926-318612
e-mail: pvzunda@calorgas.co.uk
Calor Gas Limited has made every effort to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate. Its content should be used as guidance
material and not as a replacement of current regulations or existing standards.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic,
magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from Calor Gas Limited.
PVZ/12-99/V2.1