Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) - Uses, Composition and Facts

Oct 24
08:02

2011

Susan Wong

Susan Wong

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LPG or liquefied petroleum gas, is the generic name for propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10) gas. Both of them are a mixture of hydrocarbon gases that people use as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles. They can be transported/stored separately or as a mixture. These gases are called as liquefied petroleum gas because they liquefy under moderate pressure and readily vaporize upon release of pressure. The volume of LPG is 274 times smaller when in a liquid state.

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As an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant,Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) - Uses, Composition and Facts Articles LPG (or also called as LP gas) is increasingly replacing chlorofluorocarbons in order to reduce damage to the ozone layer. LPG is extracted from gas streams or oil as they emerge from the ground, it is also manufactured during the refining of crude oil. Since LPG evaporates at normal temperatures and pressures, they can be stored in steel tanks. The tanks are filled between 80 to 85% of their capacity to allow for thermal expansion of this liquid gas.

LPG is non-corrosive, free of lead but heavier than air. In fact, due to its safety, environmental and practical characteristics, LPG has been used to fuel the Olympic flame. LPG also produces less air pollutants than oil, diesel, coal or wood. It emits about 20% less CO2 than heating oil and about 50% less than coal. When compared to gasoline, LPG is normally less expensive and in United States, most LPG used (about 85%) comes from domestic sources.

Today, LPG is used as a fuel for domestic (cooking), horticultural, industrial, heating, agricultural and drying processes. It can also be used as a propellent for aerosols or as an automotive fuel. The portability and clean burning properties of LPG provide a substitute for traditional fuels like coal, wood and other organic matter. LPG can be up to five times more efficient when compared to traditional fuels. This also provides a solution to deforestation as well as the reduction of particulate matter in our atmosphere (haze), caused by burning those traditional fuels.