What is Propane: Definition and 45 Discussions

Propane () is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula C3H8. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as a fuel in domestic and industrial applications and in low-emissions public transportation. Discovered in 1857 by the French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, it became commercially available in the US by 1911. Propane is one of a group of liquefied petroleum gases (LP gases). The others include butane, propylene, butadiene, butylene, isobutylene, and mixtures thereof. Propane has a lower energy density but burns more cleanly than gasoline and coal.
Propane gas has become a popular choice for barbecues and portable stoves because its low boiling point makes it vaporize as soon as it is released from its pressurized container. Propane powers buses, forklifts, taxis, outboard boat motors, and ice resurfacing machines and is used for heat and cooking in recreational vehicles and campers.

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  1. martijn_tholen

    Propane/Oxygen - from Cylinder to Oxy/Fuel cutting torch

    For one of our projects we are at present using quite large amounts of gas & oxygen. What I was trying to figure out was how to calculate the total available amount of gas in a cylinder (be that either Propane/Oxygen or Propylene (Propene)) and then to determine whether or not -given a certain...
  2. S

    Mix of Propane and Butane

    If I have a LPG-cylinder that contains a mix of 50 % Propane and 50 % Butane, and I use half of the content. Will the mix still be 50/50 between Propane/Butane? Or will one of the gasses be used faster than the other?
  3. Jehannum

    Why operating pressure is different for propane and butane

    It's desirable that propane and butane be interchangeable as fuels in gas-burning appliances. However, butane has a higher calorific value. If used at the same pressure as propane it would give a higher heat output. My guess was that the reason propane is set to a higher pressure is to offset...
  4. K

    How does an LPG tank gauge work?

    Hi I have read that the propane gas tank gauges that rely on pressure are useless because as you use the tank part of the liquid propane turns to gas raising the pressure again inside the tank. What id like to know is then how do these gauges work? And also I would like more detail on how...
  5. T

    What is the limit of liquid propane in a tank?

    The Propane industry mandates that a tank not be filled more than 80%. The question I have is this: how do I calculate the limit of liquid propane in a standard 3800 liter tank given a 30 degree rise in temperature (from 273 K to 303 K) such that it will not rupture the tank? For example, can I...
  6. G

    Chemical/Paint Make Your Own Refillable Aerosol Spray Can

    Hello. I want to make a own refillable aerosol spray can, but I don’t know really how to do it. I’ve seen quite a few videos/tutorials on youtube where people attach a bicycle valve with epoxy to a spray can and use compressed air to pressurize it. But I want the gas to be...
  7. DaveC426913

    Understanding Propane Heater Behavior: Causes and Solutions

    I've asked a related question before, but this is new. I have one of these propane heaters: As months go by, it has an increasing habit of spazzing out. It will frequently do this in a strong gust. But with even a little wind, and more often when it is set on low, it will spontaneously and...
  8. MickeyBlue

    Relationship between HHV and LHV of gaseous propane

    Homework Statement The Higher Heating Value (HHV) of gaseous propane is given as 2220.0 kJ/mol. What is the value of the Lower Heating Value (LHV) of gaseous propane? Data for water (all in kJ/mol): H(g, 25 deg. C) = 45.85 ; H(g, 100 deg. C) = 48.17 ; H(l, 25 deg. C) = 1.886 ; H(l, 100 deg. C)...
  9. S

    I What is the formula for gas propane conversion?

    Is this answer is proper? Propane is a natural component of natural gas and is removed during the refining process. Most gas appliances can be converted from one fuel to the other by changing the burners on a stove or changing or adjusting a gas regulator located inside the appliance according...
  10. Kirmandarren

    Propane phase change in a container

    If I had a container containing 10 bara of nitrogen, and pumped in liquid propane at room temperature would the propane boil? If I carried out the same experiment but this time at 5 bara, what would be the temperature of the material once the propane had completed its phase change i.e would it...
  11. C

    Calculating Choked Flow of Propane Through a Valve

    Hi, Homework Statement I have the following question in my course work. What I do not understand is why it provides the relative density of natural gas?! Calculate the equivalent choked flow of propane through a particular valve if the choked flow of natural gas through it is 10 litres s–1...
  12. bpcaddy

    Venting a Propane Fridge in a Truck Campershell

    Just throwing some ideas togethor if anyone ones to comment! Setup: Propane fridge by truck campershell window Problem: Needs to vent Drive on the road at 70 mph without blowing out Not let propane into the cabin Solution: Several completely flat cookie baking pans with holes size of a pencil...
  13. R

    Finding mass of propane in 2 sealed containers.

    Homework Statement A 1 m3 rigid tank has propane at 100 kPa and 300 K. The tank is connected to another 0.5 m3rigid tank which has propane at 250 kPa and 400 K by a ball valve. The valve is opened and both tanks come to a uniform state at 325 K. Calculate the mass of propane before and after...
  14. C

    Pressure Testing (furnace installation leak)

    Chasing a ghost perhaps but in the process of pressure testing a simple propane furnace installation I installed a water Column pressure gauge. Over a period of 11 hours the pressure gauge reading will go from 10" WC to 0" WC. In the course of trying to understand this I installed a manometer...
  15. M

    I Question about converting propane vapor volume to liquid gallons

    Hello, I work for a propane company where i unload propane rail cars. I am trying to figure out how much propane is being shipped back to the refinery after I off load the rail car. We are experiencing a large amount of shink and the accountant want to get to the bottom of it. With propane...
  16. P

    Non flammable, off the shelf propane like gas question?

    I'm trying to compress a gas at max 300 psi. I'm making an air tank that will move a small turbine to make electricity. The problem, as I found out, is that 1L at 300 psi is not that much air and I need it to run for about a minute. When I fill my tank with air from a compressor, i run out of...
  17. P

    I need some kind of propellant gas for an experiment

    For the past year or so, I've been experimenting with Isobutane. I used to get it in relatively cheap canisters of r600a from amazon.com and AliExpress, and that worked fine. Now, however, AliExpress has NO purchase options for r600a, and amazon.com will not ship it to the US, even though they...
  18. skepticwulf

    A gaseous mixture contains ethane and propane problem

    Homework Statement A 9.780-g gaseous mixture contains ethane (C2H6) and propane (C3H8). Complete combustion to form carbon dioxide and water requires 1.120 mole of oxygen gas. Calculate the mass percent of ethane in the original mixture. Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution 7/2 mol O2...
  19. DaveC426913

    Redirecting lost heat from propane heater

    I've got a propane heater out of my deck that I use on cold days to enjoy a fine stogie and a port. It loses a lot of heat straight up. I'd like to redirect that heat back to me. (But safety first, I know.) I've been thinking of a simple curved sheet of aluminum suspended above it, but I'm...
  20. G

    MHB Calculating Volume of Ellipsoidal Propane Tanks

    I have a project I am working on that requires me to calculate the overall volume of propane tanks and the volume at a set distance from the bottom of the tank. The tanks come in two major configurations, ellipsoid ends with elliptical tank or hemispherical ends with cylindrical tank. I think...
  21. M

    How do I transfer propane between two similar sized cylinders?

    Hi, I made a metal cylinder that is the SAME size as my 400g propane cylinder (picture: https://2ecffd01e1ab3e9383f0-07db7b9624bbdf022e3b5395236d5cf8.ssl.cf4.rackcdn.com/Product-800x800/7a66c8cb-d697-4680-9321-fcb73ede75c9.jpg). I want to transfer ALL (or almost all) of the propane from the...
  22. V

    Amount of Propane Required to Melt 1L Aluminum

    I started off yesterday learning about specific heats, and measuring my ice cubes to figure out the correct number to cool my tea to a proper drinking temperature. Now today I was curious how much propane would be required to melt 1L of Aluminum since I'm also interested in casting Aluminum...
  23. O

    Propane Combustion (btu/ft^3) how fast it'll move a piston

    I hope I can make this understandable. I'm working on a design to utilize combustion of propane to cycle a piston. I'll attach a gif to make it more simple to understand. When the cylinder is filled with an ideal 4% of propane (green) it'll combust (turns yellow) to push back the cylinder...
  24. G

    Finding the air cavity resonance of a propane tank for a drum.

    I am going to build a drum out of a propane tank. I think it will be handy to find the resonant frequency of the tank and choose the tuning accordingly so not to pick frequencies that are extremely damped. I have a cavity resonance formula found on hyper physics I am not going to build a...
  25. Y

    Comparing propane jet burner with normal burner.

    I am looking at some propane jet burner. They rated higher BTU than the regular burner. What is the difference between them and the advantage and disadvantage? Thanks
  26. K

    Propane: Liquid to Gas - Volume Change & Diffuse Velocity

    H!, I was wondering, if 1 ml of liquid propane (120 psi @ 70°F) is released into the atmosphere assume 14.696 psi (constant temperature), what will be the change in volume of what used to be 1 ml of liquid propane when changed to gas? From what i heard, the ratio for most gases expanded from...
  27. Y

    Is there an expiration date on propane?

    I am stumped! I have three different big burners for cooking. I have a very old tank of propane...like 20 years old. It still has propane as I can feel it's heavy than the empty tank and when I shake it, I can hear liquid inside. But I connect to the burners...two new and one old. They are...
  28. L

    Liquid propane equilibration between tanks.

    If I have two equal size tanks (150 gallon for example) one with 40% liquid propane the other with a minimal amount of propane gas, when the tanks are connected would the liquid propane equilibrate, yielding 20% in each tank or would just the gas pressure equilibrate between the head space of...
  29. B

    Inexpensive Electronic Propane Regulator

    First off, I'm not sure If the best place to post this would be in the ME or EE section. I'm basically looking for an inexpensive electronically controlled regulator. I want to hook it up to a standard propane tank that you would see on a grill and be able to control the output flow in...
  30. P

    Increasing torque via propane injection

    Hi all, My problem is a question from my coursework. The question is; We are to inject propane gas into the diesel engine of the Vauxhall Omega on a dyno run. Calculate how much gas is required to give the engine 60nm more torque? obviously i can appreciate some people may not want to...
  31. A

    When propane gas is bubbled into bromine water, no colour changes, why?

    hi, i need to know why, when propane gas is bubbled into bromine water, no colour changes occurs? if you could tell me i will be very grateful thanks!
  32. A

    Propane in a Container finding pressure and energy

    Homework Statement An aluminum bottle weighs 10 kg when empty and has an internal volume of 20 liters. It is filled with 5 kg of propane (C3H8) at 24 °C. The aluminum bottle is rated for a maximum pressure of 35 bar at which point a relief valve is opened. a) What are the initial...
  33. E

    Calculate the mass of propane that has been used

    Homework Statement A cylinder 1.00 m tall with an inside diameter of 0.120 m is used to hold propane gas (molar mass: 44.1 g.mol-1) for use in a barbeque. It is initially filled with a gas until the gauge pressure is 1.30 x 10^7 Pa and the temperature is 22.0⁰C. The temperature of the gas...
  34. R

    Calculating CO2 Released in Propane BBQ Reaction

    I've changed the numbers a bit so things work out a little easier Homework Statement The combustion of propane in a BBQ follows the balanced chemical reaction: C3H8 + 5 O2 ---> 3 CO2 + 4 H2O As this reaction occurs, approximatley 3000J of heat is released. If a roast takes approx...
  35. G

    Flywheel Generator - Split from Propane Solar Collector/Generator Thread

    I have been working on a holistic system involving flywheel-generators and http://www.lightoftheworld.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1591481%3ABlogPost%3A2884" as the power source. With all of the recent publicity given methane as a potential source of energy I figured that this was the way to go...
  36. DaveC426913

    What would happen if propane was well-mixed with air?

    Here in Toronto we were rocked by a giant propane blast. It was so big that some thought it was nuclear dawn; it had both the characteristic mushroom cloud and a visible, expanding shockwave. Seeing the shockwave was awesome. Despite being located in a residential area (:bugeye:), the only...
  37. B

    Expansion coefficient of liquid Propane ?

    Hi Does anyone have a figure for this. I've trolled the net for nearly 2 hours now with no success. Any help or guidance much appreciated. Bitman
  38. mtworkowski@o

    Exploring the Propane Grill Pop: Causes and Energy Explanation

    When a propane grill is shut off there is an audible pop and a burst of flame before it goes off. What is this and why does it happen. Also, is there more energy in this. It sounds and looks like there is.
  39. S

    Free-radical bromination of propane in the presence of chlorine

    When the free-radical bromination of propane is carried out in the presence of chlorine, the bromination selectivity (ratio of 1-bromopropane to 2-bromopropane) is much lower than it is when chlorine is omitted from the reaction (In other words, chlorine changes the observed ratio of...
  40. RonL

    Propane driven Generator system

    Not wanting to be guilty of thread hi-jacking I'll start a new one. This design is in the start of assembly stage, but i will not engage it until i have a few more answers, but i do have all equipment, except for plumbing and fittings, and pressure release valves. The thread by HashsBack...
  41. K

    Understanding Chemical Equations: A Guide for Beginners

    Hey everyone, I was wondering if someone could help explain to me how you get these chemical equations? Propane: C3H8 + 5O2 --> 3CO2 + 4H2O + energy (heat) Corrosion (rust): 4Fe + 3O2 --> 2FeO3 How does 4 molecules of iron and 3 molecules of oxygen form 2 molecules of iron...
  42. J

    Storing Natural Gas from Well in Propane Tank?

    Hi experts! As you will see I am NOT one but I have a rather unique problem in search of a solution. I have a natural gas well that runs 11psi but has little volume because it is only 412 feet deep. Rather than pay thousands to drill to approx 850 feet to improve volume, I thought it...
  43. N

    Superheated vapor tables for propane

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone knew a site where I could find the superheated vapor tables for propane. It's not in my thermodynamics book and I spent some time searching online and couldn't find it there either. I really need it to find the specific volume (ft^3/lbm) for T = 80 F and P = 125...
  44. N

    Propane Tank Problem: Will Any Propane Vent at 125 psi?

    I've been having some trouble with the following Question. { A rigid tank contains 90% by volume propane at -40 F. The tank is then heated to 80 F. A pressure relief valve in the tank is set at 125 psi. Will any propane be vented. If yes, how much? Tables for propane at...
  45. Arctic Fox

    Propane to Plutonium Conversions?

    LOL! There are Thermoelectric Generators that work on gasoline and/or propane that seem to work quite well on those fuels. How hard would it be to convert these to operate from the heat of radioactive fuels? (provided that the fuels were available) Thick lead shielding, I suppose, would...
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