About LPG

LPG : The fuel of the new Generation

LPG Gaining Popularity HP Gas Properties of LPG Advantage of LPG Compared to other fuels Specifications of LPG as per IS 4576 -1999 Comparison with other fuels

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. CharacteristicsRequirement for

Commercial Description

Butane - Propane Mixture

85

1Vapour Pressure at 40O C in KPa gauge Max (Note 1)

1050 (Note 2) D1267

2Volatility: Evaporation Temp in OC for 95% by Vol. at 760mm Hg pressure max.

2.0 D1837

3 Total volatile Sulphur ppm Max. 150D2784D3246

4 Copper Strip corrosion at 38 O C for 1 hourNot 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%

Generally, CNG is cheaper per mile than gasoline, and I believe LPG is as well. If you are deciding between the two, the big question is which is more available in your area. In my area, every house has a natural gas line installed, and LPG can be purchased at most hardware stores, and even some gas stations and grocery stores. If you opt for CNG, I have seen a few companies selling a pump and tank system that connects to the gas line in your house and compresses the natural gas to usable pressures for CNG vehicles. If you travel a lot, LPG may be a batter option because it is more commercially available (for filling up on the road), but it will be a bit more expensive. If you live in the country and have a propane tank instead of a gas line, the choice becomes much simpler, because you can fuel the car from that. With either fuel, you will see a bit of a power decline compared to gasoline. If the engine is "optimized" for the fuel (mainly just raising the compression ratio, because both LPG and CNG have much higher octane ratings than gasoline), you can expect the LPG vehicle to generate up to 90% of the power of gasoline. If the engine is not optimized, look for up to 80%. CNG will be slightly lower. If you want to convert the vehicle yourself, LPG is a safer option, because of the pressures involved (LPG is stored at a few hundred PSI, CNG is stored at a few thousand). Another benefit of both fuels is that because they are cleaner and less caustic than gasoline, the engine will generally last twice as long. As for other gasoline alternatives, electric cars are starting to come into their own. Several companies are making cars that can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge, but the costs are still high due mainly to the types of batteries used. "Home-built" electric cars, (and conversions) have range problems because they generally use lead-acid batteries, which are heavy and don't hold a lot of charge. Alcohol burns very clean, just like CNG and LPG, but is generally less available and is more caustic so engine parts will wear out faster than gasoline. Fuel cells are not yet a viable option, mainly because of the problems storing enough hydrogen to give a decent range, and hydrogen burning engines have the same trouble. Two other alternatives that are showing promise are vegetable oil and bio-diesel (they are related, but not the same). The biggest difference is that for either of these you would need to start with a diesel car instead of a gasoline car. Contrary to what some people want to believe, all of the innovations and technological advances of gasoline engines, such as computer controls and fuel injection, and even catalytic converters, do not make them nearly as clean as most alternative fuels, like LPG and CNG. There is plenty of information available if you are serious about using an alternative fuel vehicle. Make sure you do plenty of research before starting a conversion.

Accessories

Aluminium handleChap (Valve Protection Cap)Cooker RingCopper Sealing WasherCylinder Guard

Domestic LPG   Overview

HP GAS. The HPCL brand of  Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, is a mixture of hydrocarbons which are gaseous at normal temperature, but can be liquified at moderate pressure, and can be stored in cylinders as a liquid under pressure, and is drawn out and used as gas.

Quality

LPG is a colourless gas. LPG is not poisonous. However, at the time of production, mercaptan (a chemical compound) is added to it so as to give the now familiar foul smell for easy detection of gas in the air. Even very small quantities of gas can be detected by this smell.

Safety

Since LPG is almost twice the weight of air it tends to settle down at floor level, particularly in depressions. Hence, care has to be taken in placing the gas installations in the house. Also the fact that 1 cc. of liquid LPG multiplies into about 270 cc. of gaseous LPG helps it spread very rapidly in the atmosphere. Hence, if a gas cylinder leaks, it should be immediately  removed to an open area.

Here is some information certainly useful within at least the Indian subcontinent. Are we aware that there is an expiry date for LPG cylinders that are used in India to supply gas used in our household for cooking?

In a typical LPG cylinder, look in the inside surface of one of the three stems at the top for an alpha-numeric inscription (see figure). The alphabet code signifies the quarter of the year (A – first quarter ending in March; B – second quarter ending June; C – third quarter ending Sept; D – fourth quarter ending Dec) and the number following it represents the year.

For instance, in the example shown above with the number D06, the LPG cylinder life expires by Dec of 2006 (The picture is one of our empty cylinders. Hope they don’t return it to our house again!

The second example with D13 allows the cylinder to be in use until Dec 2013.

Hence the codes ABCD followed by the year only indicates the period before which the vessel or the cylinder has to be tested & inspected to ensure safety. It means if a customer gets a cylinder in June 2006 with marking as B06, it does not indicate that the physical life of the cylinder has expired. It only means that this cylinder is due for Stautory testing by end June 2006.

The LPG inside will never misbehave in its physical or chemical properties (as in the case of a pill or a dairy product)

It is further clarified that, during service, every empty LPG cylinder when it comes from the Distributor to the Bottling Plant for filling, is checked for its condition including the marked date for Statutory Testing due. Cylinders due for testing are segregated and sent for testing.

Every cylinder after its filling with LPG is checked for correctness of its weight and soundness, before despatch to the Distributors. Every care is taken to ensure that cylinders which are safe for use are only sent to our Distributors for further distribution.

LPG is a flammable gas which has the potential to create a hazard. Therefore it is important that the properties and safe handling of LPG are understood and applied in the domestic and commercial/industrial situations.

LPG is stored under pressure. The gas will leak from any joint or connection which is not sealed properly.

LPG is heavier than air. Any significant leak will move downwards and stay on the ground. It will accumulate in any low-lying area such as depressions in the ground, drains or pits.

Since LPG is stored in two phases, liquid and gaseous, there is potential for either a liquid leak or a gas leak.

If the leak is a gas leak it may not be seen (because LPG is colourless), except where the leak is of sufficient size to be seen shimmering in the air.

When a liquid leak occurs, the gas release will be seen as a patch of ice around the area of the leak, or as a jet of white liquid. This white appearance is due to the cooling effect created by the rapid expansion of the LPG liquid into a gas. The condensing atmospheric moisture makes the leak visible.

In concentrated amounts and in uncontrolled conditions, LPG has the potential to create a fire or an explosion.

Prevention of Explosion

Be aware that LPG is a gas easily spread in the room. Never smoke while handling LPG. When you smell gas, do not light a fire in any form. Immediately disconnect the hose between

LPG and stoves, and take it to the open space. Wait until the room was completely clean of the smell of gas before lighting a fire.

When the fire is not lit, when you try to turn on the stove, do not let the knop fixed in position on, immediately turn off. Sometimes the gas flow with a very slow speed, but enough to fill the room with the gas after some time.

Do not try, in whatever form, repair of LPG cylinders. For example, if the rubber safety becomes loose, do not hold back with another rubber. Do not take the risk, immediate exchange with another cylinder.

Finally, when you buy, consider the cylinder quality carefully. Do not hesitate to trade with others if you find defects, it is your right as a customer.

HPCL

HPCL is a Fortune 500 company, with an annual turnover of  Rs. 1,08,599 Crores and sales/income from operations of Rs 1,14,889 Crores (US$ 25,306 Millions) during FY 2009-10, having about 20% Marketing share in India and a strong market infrastructure.

HPCL operates 2 major refineries producing a wide variety of petroleum fuels & specialties, one in Mumbai (West Coast) of 6.5 Million Metric Tonnes Per Annum (MMTPA) capacity and the other in Vishakapatnam, (East Coast) with a capacity of 8.3 MMTPA. HPCL holds an equity stake of 16.95% in Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited, a state-of-the-art refinery at Mangalore with a capacity of 9 MMTPA. In addition, HPCL is constructing a refinery at Bhatinda, in the state of Punjab, as a Joint venture with     Mittal Energy Investments Pte. Ltd.

HPCL also owns and operates the largest Lube Refinery in the country producing Lube Base Oils of international standards, with a capacity of 335 TMT. This Lube Refinery accounts for over 40% of the India's total Lube Base Oil production.  HPCL's vast marketing network consists of 13 Zonal offices in major cities and 101 Regional Offices facilitated by a Supply & Distribution infrastructure comprising Terminals, Pipeline networks, Aviation Service Stations, LPG Bottling Plants, Inland Relay Depots & Retail Outlets, Lube and LPG Distributorships. HPCL, over the years, has moved from strength to strength on all fronts. The refining capacity steadily increased from 5.5 MMTPA in 1984/85 to 14.8 MMTPA presently. On the financial front, the turnover grew from Rs. 2687 Crores in 1984-85 to an impressive Rs 1,16,428 Crores in FY 2008-09.

Major Ongoing Projects   In order to strengthen core processes and modernize, HPCL has developed ambitious plans for expansion and diversification in the areas of increasing energy demand, technological upgradation and environment management. HPCL has proposed capital expenditure (including

equity investments in Joint Ventures) of Rs. 11487 Crores during the eleventh plan. Currently, several projects are in progress in different parts of India. Here is a brief introduction to these projects.  

New FCCU at Mumbai Refinery: Lube Oil Base Stock (LOBS) Up gradation project at Mumbai Refinery: Diesel Hydro Treating (DHT) at Mumbai & Visakhapatnam refineries: SPM Project at Visakh Refinery: Resitement of Visakh Terminal: Guru   Gobind Singh Refinery Products Evacuation Project: Ennore Terminal Project:

HP Gas, the HPCL brand of LPG, is what keeps the fire burning in millions of Indian homes.   Bottled at 43 LPG Bottling Plants throughout the country with a total capacity of over 2500 thousand metric tonnes per annum (TMTPA).

Modern LPG was first launched by Union Carbide as "PYROFAX" brand in the year 1920. LPG marketing started in india in fifties by Burmah Shell & Stanvac in towns around the Refineries. The marketing of LPG was entrusted to private concessionaires of Esso & Caltex such as erstwhile Kosan Gas, DGPL & JK Gas. HPCL commenced marketing of LPG under the brand name "HP GAS" in 1979 with takeover of these concessionaires and merger with HPCL with a customer holding of 7.8 lakhs. The demand was sluggish till 1970-sales 174 TMT.

Today Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has become the single most popular household fuel. Since it was introduced in 1955, LPG consumption has gone up tremendously. HP Gas today has over 21 million domestic LPG consumers catered through a network of over 2200 distributors. HP Gas, the HPCL brand of LPG, is what keeps the fire burning in millions of indian homes. Bottled at 44 LPG Bottling Plants throughout the country with a total capacity of nearly 2500 thousand metric tons per annum, HP Gas reaches you after through checking at every stage right from bottling to distribution. That is what makes HP Gas synonymous with Safety.