Report Title

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Mr. Onel Israel Badro

Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering Department

College of Engineering
Salahuddin University-Erbil
Academic Year 2020-2021

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 Abstract

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) consists mainly of propane (C3H8) with

other hydrocarbons such as propylene, butane, and butylene, in various
mixtures. However, in general, this mixture is mainly propane. The
components of LPG are gases at normal temperatures and pressures.
Propane-powered vehicles reportedly have less carbon build-up compared
to gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.

LPG is a by product from two sources: natural gas processing and crude oil
refining. When natural gas is produced, it contains methane and other light
hydrocarbons that are separated in a gas processing plant. The natural gas
liquid components recovered during processing include ethane, propane,
and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons. Propane and butane, along
with other gases, are also produced during crude refining as a by product of
the processes that rearrange or break down molecular structure to obtain
more desirable petroleum compounds., LPG in many countries serve as an
important source of energy. LPG products are made up of a group of
flammable hydrocarbon gases that are liquefied through pressurization and
commonly used as fuel also, gases can all be compressed into liquid at
relatively low pressures.

Generally stored, as a liquid, in steel vessels ranging from small BBQ gas
bottles to larger gas cylinders and LPG storage tanks. The propane market
is a global market. Approximately 1.3 billion barrels of propane are
produced worldwide.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract 2

Table of Contents 3

Introduction 4

Uses of LPG 6
LPG Vaporization 7
LPG refining 9
Advantages & Disadvantages 10
Conclusion 11
Reference 12

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 Introduction

Liquefied petroleum gas, also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, liquid petroleum
gas or simply propane or butane, is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon
gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles. It is increasingly
used as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant, replacing chlorofluoro
carbons in an effort to reduce damage to the ozone layer. When specifically
used as a vehicle fuel it is often referred to as Auto gas.

Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily propane
C3H8, primarily butane C4H10 and, most commonly, mixes including both
propane and butane, depending on the season in winter more propane, in
summer more butane ln the United States, primarily only two grades of

(Fig.1)

LPG are sold, commercial propane. These specifications are published by

the Gas Processors Association GPA and the American Society of Testing
and Materials ASTM. Propane, butane blends are also listed in these
specifications.
The intonational standard is EN 589. In the United States LPG is prepared
by refining petroleum or wet natural gas, and is almost entirely derived

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from fossil fuel sources, being manufactured during the refining of
petroleum crude oil, or ex tracted from petroleum or natural gas streams as
they emerge from the ground.

Cooking gas is produced using the LPG gas manufacturing process that
occurs during natural gas processing and oil refining. That's because
cooking gas is LPG (propane) and not some different gas. Cooking gas can
also be produced using natural gas or piped gas.

There are a number of LPG gas chemical formulas. Starting with the lowest
carbon LPG chemical formula, the Ethane chemical formula
is C2H6. Propane chemical formula is C3H8. Butane and Isobutane both
have the same chemical formula, C4H10, as isobutane is an isomer of
butane. Pentane (n-pentane) chemical formula is C5H12, but is only a gas
over 36.1°C. Heavier hydrocarbons (pentanes plus) are liquids or waxy
solids.

How is LPG Stored?

LPG storage spheres
Horton Spheres LPG is stored in pressure vessels. As
such, it is almost always stored in its liquid form.
These can range from small camping cannisters to
BBQ gas bottles to larger gas cylinders and much
larger LPG tanks or bullets. LPG fuel storage depots
may consist of very large storage spheres, known as
Horton Spheres as in Fig.2. LPG can also be stored
underground in specially built or prepared caverns (Fig.2)

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 Uses of LPG

What is LPG Used For?

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is used in your home, including cooking,

heating, hot water, Auto gas, aerosol propellant, air conditioning refrigerant
and back-up generator applications. LPG used in your home is typically
supplied in 45kg LPG gas bottles.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas has hundreds, if not thousands, of

LPG uses including hot air balloons. Also, it is used in leisure
time activities including caravans, boats, recreational vehicles
and camping, and Business and industry use LPG fuel for a
multitude of processes including steam boilers, kilns, ovens
and LPG forklifts.

LPG products are also employed as a propellant, refrigerant,

(Fig.3)
vehicle fuel and petrochemical feedstock. Crop and produce drying,
heating greenhouses, hot water for dairies, irrigation pumps and heating
animal enclosures are just some of the agricultural applications for LPG,
and it has fuel for transport is also a big user of LPG (Autogas). Their
products can be either as propane or propane mixed with butane, to fuel
various vehicle types.

There are also many, many more LPG applications, including power
generation and the hospitality industry.

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 LPG Vaporization

Did you know that every time you turn on one of your gas appliances, the
LPG in your gas bottles starts to boil?
If you could see though the steel, you would also notice that it looks just
like water boiling. The big difference is that it happens at -42°C or -44°F.

Liquid LPG changing to gas vapor is called vaporization. To boil, the

liquid LPG draws heat from the steel walls of the gas bottle which, in turn,
get heat from the ambient air.

(Fig.4)
LPG liquid boils and turns back into gas vapor when you release some of
the pressure in the gas bottle by turning on your gas appliance. As with
water, the more heat that is applied, the more rapidly it boils, vaporising at
a faster rate. The vapor pressure in the bottle also increases with
temperature, as explained below. So, as the steel of the bottle draws heat
from the ambient

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air heat, cold weather will slow down the rate of vaporization. Also, it
makes the gas bottle feel colder than the ambient temperature.

The gas bottle gets even colder when you are actually using the gas. The
LPG gas vapor is held in the top of the bottle and the liquid LPG at the
bottom, as shown in the image above. Almost all of the uses for LPG
involve the use of the gas vapor, not the liquefied gas.

LPG is Heavier Than Air

In answer to the frequently asked question: Is LPG
heavier than air? the answer is yes.
For example:
If the density of air is equal to 1.00, the density of
propane is 1.53.
Butane is even heavier, at 2.00. Isobutane is heavier
still, at 2.07. On the other hand, natural gas - methane -
is lighter than air, at about 60% of the density of air.
(Fig.5)

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 LPG refining

LPG is refined and produced during natural gas processing and petroleum
refining. Propane does not occur naturally in isolation. LPG processing
involves separation and collection of the gas from its petroleum base.
Also, Liquefied Petroleum Gas is isolated from the hydrocarbon mixtures
by separation from natural gas or by the refining of crude oil. Both
processes begin by drilling oil wells.

The gas or oil mixture is piped out of the well

and into a gas trap, which separates the stream
into crude oil and "wet" gas, which contains
LPG and natural gas. The heavier crude oil sinks
to the bottom of the trap and is then pumped into
an oil storage tank for refining.

Crude oil undergoes a variety of refining

processes, including catalytic cracking, crude
distillation, and others. One of the refined
products is LPG.

The wet gas, off the top of the gas trap, is

processed to separate the gasoline (petrol) from the natural (Fig.6)

gas and LPG. Once refined, LPG products are stored as a liquid under
pressure in gas bottles cylinders or tanks. The LPG fuel also enters the
distribution network, where it eventually finds its way to end users,
including Home LPG and Commercial LPG users all around Australia and
the world. At the point of use it once again becomes a gas.

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 Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages
▪ LPG is cheaper than petrol (up to 50%).

▪ It produces less exhaust emissions than petrol.

▪ It is better for the engine and it can prolong engine life.

▪ In some vehicles, it can provide better performance.

▪ Has a higher octane rating than petrol (108 compared to 91).

Disadvantages
• It isn't highly available.

• It has a lower energy density than petrol.

• No new passenger cars come readily fitted with LPG (they have to be
converted).

• The gas tank takes up a considerable amount of space in the car boot.

• Liquid LPG (Autogas with 60% propane and 40% butane) has an energy
density of about 6.8MJ /L.

• LPG is not as available as petrol and diesel, but can be found at 45% of
service stations in Australia.

• Buming 100L of LPG emits about 160kg of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere.

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 CONCLUSION

To conclude with, LPG is highly inflammable and must therefore be stored

away from sources of ignition and in a well ventilated area, so that any leak
can disperse safely. Another reason why care should be taken during
storage is that LPG vapor is heavier than air, so any leakage will sink to the
ground and accumulate in low lying areas and may be difficult to disperse.
LPG expands rapidly when its temperature rises. So whenever a container
is filled, sufficient space is left to allow for such expansion. LPG will
cause natural rubber and some plastics to deteriorate. This is why only
hoses and other equipment specifically designed for LPG should be used.

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REFERENCES

[1] Natural Gas Processing Technology book by Prof. Dr. Hazim Aljewary.

[2] Natural Gas Processing (Technology and Engineering Design) book

2014.

[3] Natural Gas – Exports. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence

Agency. Retrieved 11 June 2015.

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