Liquefied petroleum gas
It is increasingly used as an aerosol propellant[6] and a refrigerant,[7] replacing chlorofluorocarbons in an effort to reduce damage to the ozone layer.
LPG has a typical specific calorific value of 46.1 MJ/kg compared with 42.5 MJ/kg for fuel oil and 43.5 MJ/kg for premium grade petrol (gasoline).
Besides its use as an energy carrier, LPG is also a promising feedstock in the chemical industry for the synthesis of olefins such as ethylene and propylene.
LPG in its gaseous phase is still heavier than air, unlike natural gas, and thus will flow along floors and tend to settle in low spots, such as basements.
[18] LPG has a wide variety of uses in many different markets as an efficient fuel container in the agricultural, recreation, hospitality, industrial, construction, sailing and fishing sectors.
In India, nearly 28.5 million metric tons of LPG were consumed in the 2023-24 financial year in the domestic sector, mainly for cooking.
An increase in LPG prices has been a politically sensitive matter in India as it potentially affects the middle class voting pattern.
LPG is the most common cooking fuel in Brazilian urban areas, being used in virtually all households, with the exception of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, which have a natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
Since 2001, poor families receive a government grant ("Vale Gás") used exclusively for the acquisition of LPG.
LPG, as with other fossil fuels, can be combined with renewable power sources to provide greater reliability while still achieving some reduction in CO2 emissions.
[citation needed] When LPG is used to fuel internal combustion engines, it is often referred to as autogas or auto propane.
In some countries, there are additives in the liquid that extend engine life and the ratio of butane to propane is kept quite precise in fuel LPG.
[23] Its advantage is that it is non-toxic, non-corrosive and free of tetraethyllead or any additives, and has a high octane rating (102–108 RON depending on local specifications).
LPG has a lower energy density per liter than either petrol or fuel-oil, so the equivalent fuel consumption is higher.
LPG provides less upper cylinder lubrication than petrol or diesel, so LPG-fueled engines are more prone to valve wear if they are not suitably modified.
[24] LPG’s lowers emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter[25][26] align with stricter standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), making LPG a viable transition option as the maritime industry transitions towards net zero carbon emissions.
[27] LPG can be converted into alkylate which is a premium gasoline blending stock because it has exceptional anti-knock properties and gives clean burning.
He and several others in the car sustained minor burns to their face, ears, and hands, and several observers received lacerations from the burst glass of the front passenger window.
[37] 62% of LPG is extracted from natural gas while the rest is produced by petroleum refineries from crude oil.
In order to allow the use of the same burner controls and to provide for similar combustion characteristics, LPG can be mixed with air to produce a synthetic natural gas (SNG) that can be easily substituted.
This would eliminate the last mile LPG cylinders road transport which is a cause of traffic and safety hurdles in Indian cities.
LPG burns more cleanly than higher molecular weight hydrocarbons because it releases less particulate matter.
LPG containers have pressure relief valves, such that when subjected to exterior heating sources, they will vent LPGs to the atmosphere or a flare stack.
If a tank is subjected to a fire of sufficient duration and intensity, it can undergo a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE).
In general, tanks are designed so that the product will vent faster than pressure can build to dangerous levels.
The relief valve on the top is designed to vent off excess pressure in order to prevent the rupture of the container itself.
Given a fire of sufficient duration and intensity, the pressure being generated by the boiling and expanding gas can exceed the ability of the valve to vent the excess.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended exposure limit (REL) of 1000 ppm (1800 mg/m3) over an 8-hour workday.
