LIQUIFIED
PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES
&
CHARACTERISTICS
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
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MIXTURE OF HYDROCARBONS
• COMMERCIAL PROPANE
• COMMERCIAL BUTANE
MARKETED IN INDIA AS PER
• BIS 4576 : 1978
TEST METHODS
STORAGE
• PRESSURE VESSEL
• REFRIGERATED VESSEL
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
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TYPICAL COMPOSITION
• MAINLY C3 & C4
• MINOR TRACES OF C2 & C5
DEPENDS ON SOURCE
• REFINERY
• FRACTIONATORS
SR GRADE
• APPROX. NIL UNSATURATED
HYDROCARBONS
• NIL IMPURITIES
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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COLOUR
• LIQUID PHASE
• VAPOUR PHASE
ODOUR
• FAINT SMELL
• STENCHING
DENSITY / SPECIFIC GRAVITY
• VAPOUR PHASE
• 1.5 - 2.0 TIMES HEAVY
• SETTLES AT LOWER LEVELS
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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DENSITY / SP. GRAVITY
• LIQUID PHASE
• 0.525 TO 0.58 AT 15 DEGREE
CENTIGRADE
VAPOUR PRESSURE
• TWO PHASE EQUILIBRIUM
• 16.87 KGF / SQ. CM. AT 65 DEG. CENT.
• 120 PSI AT 100 DEGREE FOREN.
VOLATILITY
• RAPID EVAPORATION - 1: 250
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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COEFFICIENT OF VOL. EXPANSION
• 0.00237 PER DEGREE CENTIGRADE RISE
• 15-20 KGF / SQ.CM RISE IN PRESSURE
PER DEG RISE IN TEMP.
• FILLING RATIO / ULLAGE
FLAMMIBILITY
• LEL: 1.5 % ( ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
LIKE GMS , EXPLOSIMETER ETC. )
• HEL : 9%
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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COMBUSTION
• INCREASES VOL. OF PRODUCT AS 50
TIMES AIR IS REQUIRED AND 3-4 TIMES
OF OWN VOL. CO2 IS GENERATED APART
FROM HEAT
• RESULTS IN ASPHYXIATION , REQUIRE
VENTILATION
• C. V. : 10900 KCAL / KG.
• FLAME TEMP WITH AIR - 2000 DEG. CENT.
 WITH OXYGEN - 2800 DEG. CENT.
IGNITION TEMP.
• AUTO IGNITION TEMP. - 410 - 580 DEG.
CENT.
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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BOILING POINT
• TEMP. AT WHICH VAP. PR. EQUALS ATM. PR.
• (-) 2 TO (-) 42 DEG. CENT.
MELTING OR FREEZING POINT
• TEMP. AT WHICH SOLIDIFICATION OCCURS
• VERY LOW I.E. LESS THAN (-) 47 DEG. CENT.
VISCOSITY
• VERY LOW IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER
PETRO. PRODUCTS - 0.3 CS
• REQUIRES HIGH ITEGRITY OF STORAGE &
HANDLING SYSTEM
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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SOLUBILITY
• LESS SOLUBILITY IN WATER
• SOLUBLE IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS &
ALCOHAL
TOXICITY
• HIGH RELEASES DISPLACES OXYGEN
• RESULTS IN SUFFOCATION
• ACTS AS ANAESTHETIC
CAUSTIC RESIDUE
• USED FOR TREATING HYDROGEN
SULPHIDE
• IF REMAINS RESULTS IN CORROSION
• CAUSTIC PRESENCE SHOULD BE
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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EFFECT OF WATER
• CORROSION
• PARTIAL CLOSING OF VALVES
EFFECT OF AIR
• POSSIBILITY OF FORMING EXPLOSIVE
MIXTURE
• AUTO IGNITION
• PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN DURING
COMMISSIONING
• RETARDS FILLING
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS
PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS
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HEALTH HAZARD
• NON TOXIC
• ASPHYXIATION DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN
• NARCOTIC EFFECT IF INHALED IN LARGE
QTY
FIRE HAZARD
• PRODUCT DISCHARGE
• STATIC ELECTRICITY
• PYROPHORIC IRON
• BLEVE
• UNCONFINED VAPOUR CLOUD EXPLOSION
INDUSTRIAL LPG APPLICATIONS
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AGRICULTURE: GRAIN DRYING, WEED
KILLING, TEA/COFFEE/TOBACCO CURING
AUTOMOBILIES: HEAT TREATMENT & PAINT
BAKING
CERAMIC : CALCINATION, GLOST FIRING,
OF SSTONEWARE & PORCELAIN
CHEMICALS / DRUGS: HEATING, DRYING,
FEED STOCK IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY
ELECTRICAL : BULBS / TUBELIGHTS,
FILAMENT ANNEALING
INDUSTRIAL LPG APPLICATIONS
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ENGINEERING: METAL MELTING, FORGING,
ANNEALING, STRESS RELIEVING, PAINT
BAKING, HEAT TREATMENT
FOOD : BAKING, BOILING, FRYING, DRYING
GLASS : MELTING, HOLDING, BLOWING,
POLISHING, STRESS RELIEVING
METALLURGICAL : ANNEALING, BILLET
HEATING, MELING, DESCALING, STRESS
RELIEVING, MOULD / CUPOLA/ LADLE PREHEATING
INDUSTRIAL LPG APPLICATIONS
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METAL WORKING : CUTTING, HOLD
PIERCING, WELDING
PACKAGING : SOLDERING
TEXTILE : DRYING, SINGING,
CALENDERING, STENTERING, PRINT
DRYING, DYEING, VELVET
PROCESSING
MISC. AEROCOL - AS PROPELLANT,
BITUMENT MELTING, OIL CLEANING
LPG INSTALLATION PLANNING
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STEP I : DECIDE WHETHER LPG IS
RIGHT FUEL
FACTOR :
ECONOMICS
AVAILABILITY
APPLICATION SUITABLITY
STEP II : DECIDE WHETHER PACKED OR
BULK
FACTOR :
CONSUMPTION
AVAILABILITY
ECONOMICS APPLICATION
SUITABILITY
LPG INSTALLATION PLANNING
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STEP III : SIZE OF INSTALLATION
FACTORS:
PEAK HOURLY RATE OF
CONSUMPTION
DAILY / MONTHLY
CONSUMPTION
DISTANCE FROM SUPPY
POINT
CYLINDER ROOM / BULK
STORAGE
LPG INSTALLATION PLANNING
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STEP IV : PIPE LINE SIZE / ROUTE
FACTORS : FLOW RATE
PRESSURE DROPS
BRANCHES / POINTS OF
CONSUMPTION
EASE OF REPAIRS /
TROUBLE SHOOTING
LPG INSTALLATION PLANNING
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STEP V : CHOOSING PRESSURE
REGULATORS
FACTORS:
PRESSURE NEEDED FOR
BURNERS
RATE OF CONSUMPTION
DISTANCE FROM
INSTALLATION TO
CONSUMING POINT’