Figure 1. An LPG cylinder.
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Liquefied petroleum gas or LPG is a type of hydrocarbon gas that is obtained by refining crude oil or processing natural gas. This gas is composed of either propane and butane by themselves or as a mixture of the two.[2] In addition to its use as a fuel for cooking and heating, LPG is also important for use in manufacturing applications, as a fuel for cars, and it can be used to power cogeneration plants.[3]
Production
Liquefied petroleum gas is produced during the refining process of crude oil or extracted during the processing of natural gas. The gases produced in this process are mainly propane and butane with small amounts of other gases. These gases are liquefied through pressurization to make them easier to transport and store.[2]
To liquefy the fuel, gases are stored in sturdy tanks and held at high pressures—about 20 times atmospheric pressure. These tanks have additional safety features because of this extreme pressurization, mainly a built-in shutoff valve to seal the tank if there are leaks and an extra-sturdy design.[4] Since LPG generally has no odour, small amounts of ethanethiol (a foul smelling mercaptan, a type of odorant) are added to help people smell dangerous gas leaks.
Use
LPG has a high caloric value, meaning that it is a good energy source as it provides a high level of heat. It is also a valuable fuel as it has almost no sulfur content, which results in cleaner burning.[5] About half of the LPG used is consumed for heating and cooking and essentially is used in place of natural gas. The remaining 50% of LPG is split more or less equally between use in cars and industrial uses. Overall, LPG provides less than 2% of the total energy people use but it is still a major alternative to gasoline.[5]
When used, LPG is generally delivered by trucks in a large tank and placed outside a home or other building. In addition, reusable gas canisters are available for powering stoves, heaters, and barbecues. Small canisters of LPG are also available for portable hair styling tools.[5]
Two major disadvantages of the use of LPG are safety and cost. The high pressure needed to store LPG results in occasional tank bursts if canisters are not stored properly and maintained. In addition, LPG is highly flammable. However, suppliers take many safety precautions to ensure that LPG is as safe as ordinary natural gas supply. The cost of LPG is several times higher than ordinary natural gas, but LPG might prove to be a good option if access to natural gas is not available.[5]
Use as a Vehicle Fuel
[6]Figure 2. A vehicle's LPG tank.
Liquefied petroleum gas can be used as an alternative fuel to power internal combustion engines as it is more cleanly burning than gasoline and can produce lower amounts of some harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide.[7] An estimated 6 million European vehicles run on LPG and there are around 17,500 gasoline stations in Europe supplying this fuel.[5]
One of the major benefits of using LPG as an alternative fuel is that it is usually less expensive than gasoline.[4] Additionally, the careful design and safety features of the tanks make them slightly safer to use than gasoline simply because they have a shut-off valve. This minimizes the risk of an LPG fire if used as a vehicle fuel.[4] LPG can also be used as a fuel without taking away from vehicle performance.[7] The use of LPG also helps with the issue of importing fuels for use from other countries as 90% of LPG used in the US comes from domestic sources.[7]
However, the availability of vehicles that are LPG-fueled is limited. Some existing vehicles can be converted to use this LPG with installations, but involves installing a separate fuel system as the liquid is stored in highly pressurized fuel tanks.[7] In addition, it is harder to find places to refill LPG as it is not as widely used as gasoline or diesel, and fewer miles can be traveled on a single tank of LPG.[7]
For Further Reading
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References
From heating hoes to powering vehicles, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is one of the most versatile non-renewable sources of energy on the market. Its name references both "liquid" and "gas" which can be somewhat confusing, when determining its structure. So, which is correct?
Technically, the answer is both. The resource is extracted from crude oil and natural gas, which is referenced in its name. At normal ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure LPG exists as a gas, though it can be liquified when exposed to lower temperatures of when exposed to moderate pressure. Generally, converting gas into liquid occurs during the natural gas processing and oil refining stages. This adaptability means LPG can be easily condensed, transported and stored, making it an attractive and versatile energy source.
A useful "by-product"
As LPG is produced during the processing and refining stages of oil and gas, it's technically classed as a by-product. It's usually collected when lighter compounds are dissolved in crude oil and distil to form gas, as well as when heavy hydrocarbons are "cracked" to create smaller, more useful fuels.
Propane, butane and other hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons containing three or four carbon atoms are the main composition of LPG, with normal components being propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). Depending on where the LPG was sourced and how it was produced, small concentrations of other hydrocarbons could also be present.
In most situations, LPG is pressurised and stored in liquid form in steel tanks, containers and cylinders. Depending on the use, containers can range from small BBQ tanks used in everyday households to large commercial tanks. The level of pressure applied depends on the type of LPG being stored, generally commercial propane or butane, as well as the external temperature.
A short history of LPG
The concept of liquified petroleum gas was first introduced in 1912 by American scientist, Dr. Walter Snelling. He discovered that it was possible to convert gases into liquids and store them under moderate pressure. His findings led to the invention of the first LPG cook stove in 1912 and a LPG -fuelled automobile in 1913. By 1920 LPG was being sold commercially.
Research into LPG didn't end with Dr. Walter Snelling, with experts such as Mr Karl Robertson, Dr Michael Hahn and Dr Dorit Wilke pioneering new breakthroughs. Introducing the latest coulometric Karl Fischer titration, 'A new analytical procedure for water content in LPG' explains how the new ASTM procedure allows scientists to test ppm water in the laboratory and directly at the sample point.
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