What is propane?
Liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, is the common trade name for propane and butane. Propane is a hydrocarbon, produced by refining crude oil. AGA's bottled LPG is always high-quality propane (C3H8), which means it can be used even in freezing temperatures (the boiling point is -42 ° C). Propane is pressurised in a liquid state in cylinders.
Propane cylinder pressure depends on the ambient temperature. The cylinder pressure is about 8 bars at room temperature. The volumetric efficiency of LPG cylinders is 80 per cent of the cylinder volume. A 'gas buffer' is left at the top of the cylinder, i.e. a space for the liquid to expand when the temperature rises.
Propane Properties
Propane is a flammable, colourless gas
Propane is 1.5 times heavier than air.
Propane is not poisonous, but it is suffocating in high concentrations.
Propane is naturally odourless, but for security reasons a scent has been added to it to warn of a possible leak.
The combustion of Propane does not produce soot when an adequate supply of combustion air is ensured.
Propane is energy-efficient. One kilogram of LPG produce 12.8 kWh of energy. In other words an 11 kg liquid gas cylinder may produces more than 140 kWh of energy.
