Liquefied Petroleum Gas (also called LPG, LP Gas, or autogas) is a mixture of Hydroarbon Gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles, and increasingly replacing Choroflorpcarbons as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant to reduce damage to the Ozone Layer .
Varieties of LPG bought and sold include mixes that are primarily Propane mixes that are primarily Butane and the more common, mixes including both Propane (60%) and Butane(40%), depending on the season in winter more propane, in summer more butane. and are usually also present in small concentration. A powerful odorant Ethanethiol is added so that leaks can be detected easily. The international standard is EN 589,
LPG is manufactured during the refining of Crude Oil or extracted from oil or streams as they emerge from the ground.
At normal temperatures and pressures, LPG will evaporate. Because of this, LPG is supplied in pressurised bottles.
Specification required for the LPG 50% Propane and 50% Butane mix:
|
A. BUTANE |
|
|
|
|
Typical |
Test Unit Design
|
Actual
|
ASTM Method
|
|
Ethane |
Mole% |
0.08 |
G.C. |
|
Propane |
Mole% |
0.95 Min 2 Max |
G.C. |
|
Total C4 |
Mole% |
97.5 Min 98.03 Max |
G.C. |
|
Total C3 |
Mole% |
0.75 Min 0.82 Max |
G.C. |
|
OF |
|
To be reported
|
D-2598 |
|
Cu. Corrosion 1 No. 1 |
|
A Max |
D-1838 |
|
Total Sulphur |
PPM |
30 Max |
Microcoulometry |
|
H2S |
PPM |
Nil |
D-2420 |
|
PSIG |
70 Max |
D-2598 | |
|
H2O Content |
PPM |
10 Max |
Shaw Dew Pt
|
|
Residue |
PPM |
0.05 Max |
D-2158 |
|
B. PROPANE |
|
|
|
|
Typical |
Test Unit Design
|
Actual |
ASTM Method ASTM |
|
Ethane |
Mole% |
0.47 Summer 0.4 Max
0.509 Winter |
G.C. |
|
Propane |
Mole% |
98.17 Summer 98 Min 98.17 Winter |
G.C. |
|
Butane |
Mole% |
1.353 Summer 1.4 Max
1.249 Winter Min |
G.C. |
|
Pentane & Heavier
|
Mole% |
0.01 Max |
G.C. |
|
OF |
|
To be reported
|
D-2598 |
|
Cu. Strip No. 1 |
|
A Max |
D-1838 |
|
Sulphur (Volatile)
|
PPM |
30 Max |
Microcoulometry |
|
H2S |
PPM |
5 Max |
D-2420 |
|
PSIG |
200 Max |
D-2598 | |
|
H2O Content |
PPM |
10 Max |
D-2713 |