LPG: The fuel of the new Generation
LPG Gaining Popularity
Liquefied Petroleum Gas is fast gaining popularity in industries for a wide variety of uses.
- For industries today, quality, costs, efficiency, environment, heat controlability, among others, are major concerns when it comes to choosing the right fuel.
- LPG addresses all these - making it the ideal fuel choice for a host of industrial applications.
- LPG is a pure, clean energy source which provides even and controllable heat. This makes it the ideal heat and power source for a wide range of industrial uses.
- Since LPG is almost free from sulphur, it can be used in sensitive situations such as chemical processes, etc.
- LPG is also used for space and process heating to power industrial ovens, kilns, furnaces, machinary and in food processing units.
HP Gas
HP Gas is a Propane / Butane mixture liquefied under normal ambient temperature and moderate pressures. It is a safe, clean burning, reliable, high calrofic value fuel. In addition to it use as a domestic fuel, it is also widely used in industries, where there is a requirement of low sulphur content fuel and fine temperature controls. HP Gas conforms to IS:4576-1999 specifications.
The Chemical composition of propane is C3H8 and butane, C4H10.
Properties of LPG
- LPG is twice as heavy as air and half as heavy as water.
- LPG is colourless and odourless; hence an odorent is used to detect leaks.
- LPG can be compressed at a ratio of 1:250, which enables it to be marked in portable containers in liquid form.
- LPG is safe fuel and ignities only within the specified LPG- Air ratio of 2% to 9%.
- A high calorific value of 11,900 Kcal/Kg results in high efficiency heat output.
Advantage of LPG Compared to other fuels
- Clean Burning
- No soot, burners have a longer life - so maintenance is low
- No spillage as it vaporises at atmospheric temperature and pressure.
- Effects of corrosion are greatly reduced
- Instantly controllable flame temperature
- Avoids scaling and decarborising of parts
- Environmentally friendly fuel, with minimal sulphur content and sulphur- free emissions
- Very high efficiency with direct firing system
- Instant heat for faster warm-up and cool-down
- Free form peak time premium rates, unlike electricity. One rate round the clock
- Can be used for a variety of applications
Specifications of LPG as per IS 4576 -1999
No. |
Characteristics |
Requirement for Commercial |
Description |
|
|
Butane - Propane Mixture |
85 |
1 |
Vapour Pressure at 40O C in KPa gauge Max (Note 1) |
1050 (Note 2) |
D1267 |
2 |
Volatility: Evaporation Temp in OC for 95% by Vol. at 760mm Hg pressure max. |
2.0 |
D1837 |
3 |
Total volatile Sulphur ppm Max. |
150 |
D2784
D3246 |
4 |
Copper Strip corrosion at 38 O C for 1 hour |
Not worse than No. 1 |
D1838 |
5 |
Hydrogen Sulphide |
Pass |
D2420 (Note 3) |
6 |
Free water content |
None |
Visual |
Comparison with other fuels
Fuel |
KCal / Kg(At room temperature) |
Heat transfer efficiency |
LPG |
11900 |
85% |
SKO |
11100 |
50% |
Light Diesel Oil (LDO) |
10700 |
60% |
Furnace Oil (FO) |
10280 |
55% |
Natural Gas (CNG) |
Pass |
65% |
Coal |
None |
15% |
Firewood |
4400 |
15% to 20% |
Electricity |
860/Kw |
65% |