| Liquefied Petroleum Gas, commonly known as LPG, is | | | | causes ignition and suffocation hazards if not properly |
| generally used as a fuel in heating appliances, in | | | | dealt with - and hence the odourant. |
| vehicles, as well as a refrigerant and an aerosol | | | | So why use LPG at all? LPG is the lowest carbon |
| propellant. It has rapidly replaced CFC's or | | | | emitting fuel available. It is not dangerous to the |
| Chlorofluorocarbons to reduce the damage to the | | | | health of the users, as it burns cleanly leaving no soot |
| ozone layer. LPG is essentially a mixture of Butane | | | | and minute quantities of sulphur emissions. It does |
| and Propane, and the most commonly marketed ratio | | | | not pose any water or ground pollution hazards |
| is 40:60. This ratio varies from season to season, as | | | | either. This, plus the fact that huge quantities of LPG |
| in winter more Propane is used and in summer more | | | | could be stored in bulk tanks and stored underground |
| Butane is used. A powerful odourant called Ethanethiol | | | | or underwater if required, tends to make it the |
| is added in minor amounts to LPG to help in easy | | | | number one cooking fuel in some countries. It is also |
| detection of any leakage. | | | | referred to as auto gas when it is used in |
| LPG is primarily derived from fossil fuels. The | | | | automobiles, or to fuel internal combustion engines. It |
| maximum amount of LPG is extracted during the | | | | is also used as an alternative fuel for sparking ignition |
| refinement of crude oil and the next most common | | | | engines. It is non corrosive, non toxic and does not |
| source is oil and gas streams, as and when they | | | | contain any lead additives. It also has a very high |
| emerge from the earth. LPG evaporates at normal | | | | octane rating (108 RON). It has a specific calorific |
| room temperature and pressure. To prevent this, | | | | value of 46.1 MJ/kg, which is better than both petrol |
| LPG is supplied in pressurised cylinders and steel | | | | and diesel. |
| bottles. These bottles are never filled completely so | | | | LPG constituents Propane and Isobutane, at high |
| as to accommodate thermal expansion. Normally, | | | | purity, are used to make hydrocarbon refrigerants. |
| they are filled to 80- 85 % of their capacity. The | | | | This is done because hydrocarbons tend to be more |
| ratio of the liquefied gas to vaporised gas also varies | | | | efficient and are generally cheaper as they are |
| depending upon the pressure, temperature and | | | | byproducts of fuel production. Millions of households |
| composition. It is typically around 1:250. | | | | worldwide use LPG as cooking fuel, and in some |
| Vapour pressure for a substance is the pressure at | | | | countries like Brazil the government also gives special |
| which it becomes liquid and it varies depending upon | | | | discounts on LPG prices to people below the poverty |
| composition, pressure and temperature. LPG is | | | | line. LPG is definitely worth a try, especially when the |
| heavier than air and if leaked tends to flow along the | | | | entire world seems to be concerned about carbon |
| floor and settles in low spots like basements. This | | | | footprints and green living. |