Propane Facts
Propane is a liquefied petroleum gas that comes out of both oil and gas wells. Propane does not occur naturally though. Raw crude oil or raw natural gas is refined to make different types of petroleum products, one of which is propane. Following it's refinement, propane is stored as a liquid under pressure until utilized, at which point it becomes a gas.
Propane Properties
C3H8 - The formula for propane is 3 Carbon molecules and 8 Hydrogen molecules.
Propane Boiling Point -44°F
Weight of 1 Gallon Liquid Propane* 4.24 Lbs
Specific Gravity of Propane Gas* 1.52
Specific Gravity of Liquid Propane* .51
BTU per Gallon of Propane Gas* 91,547
BTU per Lb. of Propane Gas 21,591
BTU per Cu Ft of Propane Gas* 2,516
*at 60 degrees F
Propane Properties Explained
Propane Boiling Point - Water boils at 212°F meaning that it becomes a gas at this temperature whereas water is still a liquid at 200°F. Propane is a liquid at -50°F and boils at -44°F. In other words, at 10 degrees below zero, propane is well past its boiling point. What does this mean to ordinary people like us? It means that propane is cold enough freeze your skin (and tissue underneath) to the point of severe damage.
Specific Gravity of Propane Gas - One cubic foot of propane weighs .1162 lbs. and one cubic foot of air weighs .07655. Dividing .1162 by .07655 equals 1.52. What does this mean? Propane is heavier than air and will seek the lowest space available.
Specific Gravity of Liquid Propane - One gallon of propane weighs 4.24 lbs. One gallon of water weighs 8.33 lbs. Dividing 4.24 by 8.33 equals .51. This means propane is less dense than water (lighter than water) and will not sink in water, so to speak.
BTU - As defined, a British Thermal Unit is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. It takes about 143 BTU, or .0016 gallons of propane, to melt one pound of ice (at 32°F). Most all installation requirements and decisions revolve around BTU ratings and demand.
Propane Combustion Characteristics
Lower Limit of Flammability 2.15
Upper Limit of Flammability 9.60
Flash Point -156°F
Ignition Temperature in Air 920-1020°F
Maximum Flame Temperature 3595°F
Octane Number Over 100
Propane, Flammability and Combustion Requirements
In order for propane to burn, ignite or go through combustion, the criteria listed above must be met. Below are explanations of propane gas combustion characteristics.
Propane Limits of Flammability - The lower and upper limits of flammability are the percentages of propane that must be present in an propane/air mixture. This means that between 2.15 and 9.6% of the total propane/air mixture must be propane in order for it to be combustible. If the mixture is 2% propane and 98% air, there will not be combustion. If the mixture 10% propane and 90% air, combustion will not occur. Any percentage of propane in a propane/air mixture between 2.15% and 9.6% will be sufficient for propane to burn. However, an improper air/gas mixture can produce Carbon Monoxide (CO) that is a deadly product of incomplete combustion.
Flash Point - The flash point is the minimum temperature at which propane will burn on its own after having been ignited. This number states that below -156°F, propane will stop burning on it's own. In other words, if the outside air temperature is -155°F, propane will burn on it's own. If the outside air temperature falls to -157°F, propane will no longer burn on it's own. However, if a source of continuous ignition is present, propane will burn below - 156°F.
Ignition Temperate in Air - This number states that propane will ignite if it reaches a temperature between 920-1020°F. If propane is heated up to a temperature between 920 and 1020°F, it will ignite without needing a spark or flame.
Maximum Flame Temperature - A propane flame will not burn hotter than 3595°F.
Propane Octane Number - Without presenting a chemistry lesson, the Octane number of propane being over 100 means that it is a very engine friendly fuel.
Propane Uses
Between residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural applications, the list of things propane can be used for is a long one … and one that’s actually still growing. Here are just a few of propane’s innumerable uses.
Space heating (boilers and furnaces)
Water heating (hot water heaters, pool heaters and spa heaters)
Cooking (grills, ovens and stovetops)
Refrigeration (gas absorption refrigerators)
Clothes drying
Grain drying
Power generation (standby, portable and mobile generators)
Engine fueling (on-road vehicles, landscaping and construction equipment)
Blowtorching
Soldering
Propane Benefits
Propane offers countless benefits, but above all it provides S.H.E.E.R. comfort and peace of mind.
Safe: Propane is a nontoxic, nonpoisonous fuel that doesn't contaminate groundwater or soil. Propane tanks can be safely buried underground at home sites in areas that are beyond the natural gas main.
High-performance: Propane can easily fuel any of the high-performance amenities today's homeowners are demanding, while also reducing energy costs and emissions and increasing comfort, compared with heating oil or electric appliances.
Efficient: Propane-powered appliances and other propane applications deliver homeowners better value and comfort compared with most other energy sources, while also reducing overall energy costs.
Environmentally friendly: Propane is an approved clean alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act of 1990. It is a low-carbon alternative fuel that produces significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than most other energy sources.
Reliable: Propane is a proven energy source homeowners can count on, even when the electrical grid is down.
Propane FAQ
What is propane?
An affordable, clean, American-made fuel, propane is a gas normally compressed and stored as a liquid. It is most commonly used for space and water heating, for cooking, and as a fuel for engines; however, its applications are rapidly growing due to new technology developments.
Propane is nontoxic, colorless, and virtually odorless; an identifying odor is added so it can be detected.
Propane is also sometimes known as liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG. When used as vehicle fuel, propane is known as propane autogas.
Where does propane come from?
Propane is primarily a byproduct of domestic natural gas processing, though some propane is produced from crude oil refinement. U.S. propane supplies are becoming increasingly abundant due in large part to increased supplies of natural gas.
As shale gas extraction has increased, the production of propane from crude oil refinement has dropped dramatically. In 2011, 69 percent of the total U.S. supply of propane came from natural gas liquids produced in the U.S. and Canada.
Much growth in propane supply is expected to come from the Marcellus shale play in the northeastern U.S. Industry observers estimate the Marcellus shale alone can supply more than 2 billion gallons of propane per year.
Because of the drastic increase in U.S. sources of propane, the U.S. produces more than enough propane to meet current demand and became a net exporter of propane in 2011.
Why propane?
Though historically associated with other crude oil products, such as a gasoline or diesel fuel, propane differs from these fuels in several critical ways:
Affordable. Propane prices have fallen relative to gasoline, diesel fuel, and home heating oil due to the growing supply.
Cleaner. Propane is a cleaner-burning, lower-carbon fuel than other petroleum-based products such as gasoline or diesel because it burns hotter and more efficiently.
Abundant and Domestic. In 2011, domestic propane production from natural gas plant liquids exceeded consumer demand for the first time. Propane is an abundant bridge fuel, making it a clean-burning alternative to gasoline and diesel that can address energy challenges while long-term renewable technologies are developed.
Who uses propane?
Propane is used in 48 million households as well as many businesses for water and space heating, indoor and outdoor cooking, clothes drying, and backup power. Additionally, many industries increasingly choose propane to cost effectively fuel vehicles and equipment while lowering emissions.
On-Road Vehicles. Propane autogas is an approved clean alternative fuel under the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the third most popular vehicle fuel worldwide behind gasoline and diesel. Propane is commonly used to fuel buses, light- and medium-duty trucks, vans, shuttles, taxicabs, and police and government vehicles.
Professional Landscape Equipment. More than 15 models of propane-powered commercial lawn mowers are available today from industry-leading brands.
Agricultural Equipment. More than 1.2 billion gallons of propane were sold for agricultural use in 2009. This includes propane that is used to run pumps and engines, heat buildings, and dry and process crops.
How is propane distributed?
With up to 56,000 miles of pipeline and nearly 6,000 retail dealer locations nationwide, propane is widely available and easily portable.1
For on-road use, there are more fueling stations in the U.S. for propane autogas vehicles than there are for vehicles of any other alternative fuel except electricity.2 Propane is the only alternative fuel with fueling stations in every state.
Service Area / Oil Delivery: Bantam, Bethlehem, Bristol, Burlington, Goshen, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Northfield, Plymouth, Terryville, Thomaston, Torrington, Watertown
Service Area Only: Avon, Barkhamsted, Canaan, Canton, Colebrook, Cornwall, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Kent, Lakeville, New MIlford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Plainville, Salisbury, Sharon, Simsbury, Southington, Washington, Warren, West Cornwall, Winchester, Wolcott
