Section 5 - LPG266 - 154562
Section 5 - LPG266 - 154562
Section 5 - LPG266 - 154562
5
Afrox Product Reference Manual | Liquefied Petroleum Gas 2
LPG 3
Handigas 7
6 kg Handi Cooker 8
Forklift (Autogas) 9
Propane (C3H8) 9
Propane Bulk 11
3 Liquefied Petroleum Gas | Afrox Product Reference Manual Back to Contents
LPG
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Afrox is the leading supplier of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) In a like manner, four carbon atoms bonded to 10 hydrogen
in sub-Saharan Africa and pioneered the LPG industry in South atoms forms butane:
Africa under the brand name Handigas in the early 1950s, H H H H
which is still the leading brand name in LPG today. Withmore
H C C C C H
than 2,5-million LPG cylinders and the largest bulk LPG storage
and distribution infrastructure on the sub-continent, Afrox is H H H H
uniquely positioned to meet the energy demands of industrial, Molecule of butane (C4H10)
commercial, agricultural and domestic applications, across a There are two possible configurations for the butane molecule.
broad-based market sector. The above arrangement consists of a straight C-chain and is
Highly qualified in-house engineering expertise enables called normal butane or n-butane. If the C-chain is branched,
Afrox to offer end-to-end gas solutions from industrial and it is called iso-butane. Such a rearrangement of the atoms is
commercial space heating to large furnaces and curing known as isomerisation and has no significant effect on the fuel
ovens. From small boutique hotels to the largest casino resort properties.
complexes in Africa, from industrial catering to most fast food Hydrocarbons with single carbon bonds are known as saturated
and restaurant franchise chains in the biggest shopping malls, hydrocarbons while those with double or triple bonds are
Handigas is the gas chosen by chefs and project engineers unsaturated hydrocarbons. Examples of saturated hydrocarbons
alike. are methane (CH2), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane
Handigas is a clean burning fuel that provides all energy users (C4H10). Unsaturated hydrocarbons include ethylene (C2H4),
with a safe, efficient and economical alternative for a diverse propylene (C3H6), butylene (C4H8) and acetylene (C2H2).
range of applications and is available through our extensive Physical Properties of LPG
Afrox network of Gas & Gear sales centres and Handigas
agents, which means that no matter where you are, Handigas The properties of LPG mixtures can usually be calculated from
is there. the properties of the individual constituents (propane, butane,
etc.) provided the proportions of the constituents are known.
Definition of LPG Following is a description of the most important physical
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is the term applied to those properties of LPG mixtures.
hydrocarbons which are vapours at room temperature and 1. Density
can be liquefied by compressing them slightly. When LPG
is liquefied, its volume decreases considerably so that it The density of LPG is defined as its mass per unit volume (kg/l)
5 requires much less storage space. The liquid is transported in
relatively light pressure cylinders and the customer converts
at a given temperature. LPG liquid has a density of about 0,54
kg/l at 15C and is therefore lighter than water. It varies slightly
it to gas by opening the valve on the cylinder which causes with LPG composition and every batch of LPG produced at a
the liquid to vaporise as a result of a drop in cylinder pressure. refinery will have a specified density at a given temperature.
LPG is composed of a mixture of mainly propane and butane LPG liquid is fairly light - about half the weight of water. To
(approximate ratio 60:40 by mass) but may contain some convert litres of LPG to kilograms, simply multiply the number of
propylene and butylene as well as traces of ethane, ethylene, litres by the density.
pentane and butadiene. It is colourless and odourless, but
LPG vapour has a density of about 1,9 times that of air and is
commercial LPG is usually stenched with a substance called
therefore heavier than air. This is important when considering
ethyl mercaptan to give it a characteristic odour.
ventilation requirements and has an influence on the design
The Chemistry of LPG of burners and certain meters for measuring vapour flow.
Buildings used for storing LPG cylinders must have adequate
Atoms of hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) combine to form floor level ventilation; in the event of a leak, the vapour being
hydrocarbon molecules which can be made up of different heavier than air will flow along the ground to the lowest level
numbers of hydrogen and carbon atoms, hence the term and remain there for a considerable period of time, and can be
hydrocarbon. an explosion hazard.
A molecule containing three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen 2. Calorific Value (CV)
atoms is called propane:
All substances which burn generate energy in the form of heat,
which varies in quantity with the nature of the substance. The
H H H total amount of heat liberated by burning a substance is known
as its Calorific Value or CV. It is usually expressed in megajoules
Molecule of propane (C3H8) H C C C H per kg (MJ/kg). For LPG, it is 49,6 MJ/kg.
H H H
Back to Section 5 Afrox Product Reference Manual | Liquefied Petroleum Gas 4
3. Thermal rate of expansion (expansion and 5. Table of the properties of propane, butane and a
This table clearly shows the high pressures that can develop
due to an increase in temperature, particularly in the case of
pure propane.
5 Liquefied Petroleum Gas | Afrox Product Reference Manual Back to Contents
6. Stench additive the cylinder (cylinder pressure). If the temperature falls, some
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Capacity (kg) Water Tare Mass (kg) Height incl. Diameter (mm)
Capacity (l) Valve (mm)
LPG Propane
48,0 45,0 113,4 45,0 1 288 375
19,0 18,0 45,4 21,0 890 295
14,0 n/a 34,0 17,5 720 295
9,0 8,0 22,7 13,3 545 295
6,0 9,45 370 295
Afrox currently supplies Handigas and propane in five and the gas supplied from the cylinder will be reduced and
different sized cylinders as shown above. However, propane in could even stop altogether. This may occur in the following
8 kg and 18 kg size cylinders has to be specially requested. situations:
5
When LPG is drawn from a cylinder at a fairly high rate, the Cylinder is located in a cold area with no warmth from
liquid content will cool down noticeably. The cylinder becomes the sun
cold, cooling down the surrounding air as heat is withdrawn
from it. Ideally, the rate of heat transfer must be sufficient to Cylinder is nearly empty, resulting in less heat absorption
allow the liquid to keep boiling and so maintain an adequate and more rapid cooling
gas pressure. If the liquid cools to below 0C, condensation Cylinder is too small for application and cannot absorb
in the form of dew or frost may form on the outside of the sufficient heat from the air temperature to maintain
cylinder adjacent to the liquid. When this happens, preferential draw-off rate.
propane vaporisation occurs, resulting in an accumulation of
liquid butane that will not vaporise at such low temperatures. Experience has shown that the various size LPG cylinders are
capable of continuous gas delivery at maximum draw-off rates
When the transfer of heat to the liquid is insufficient and the as given in the following table.
gas becomes very cold, the rate of evaporation will slow down
Cylinder Size (kg) Max. Draw-Off Rate (kg/hr) Rate of Energy Supply
(MJ/hr) (kW)
48,0 1,0 48 13,3
19,0 0,5 24 6,6
14,0 0,4 16 4,4
9,0 0,25 10 2,8
6,0 0,15 7 1,9
Back to Section 5 Afrox Product Reference Manual | Liquefied Petroleum Gas 6
Bulk Handigas
When significant quantities of Handigas or propane are
required, a bulk storage/supply facility is recommended.
Storage tanks for LPG are pressure vessels designed and
manufactured in accordance with international standards
and comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act
requirements for pressure vessels and equipment.
The majority of storage tanks used by Afrox are of the
horizontal (bullet) type. However, in cases where the storage
area is limited, vertical tanks may be used. The Afrox range of
5
tanks includes the following:
Horizontal: 2,25 m, 4,5 m, 9 m, 22,5 m, 45 m, 70 m
and 90 m. Larger tanks are available on special order
and can be viewed at some Afrox branches.
Vertical: 4,5 m, 9 m, 22,5 m, 45 m and 70 m.
7 Liquefied Petroleum Gas | Afrox Product Reference Manual Back to Contents
Handigas
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Gas Purity
Propane >60%
Butane <40%
Other Hydrocarbons <2%
Applications
General light and heavy industrial sector Agricultural sector
5 Used for oxy-LPG or oxy-propane cutting and brazing. Can Heating of chicken brooders and greenhouses
be used as an alternative fuel gas to acetylene for steel
cutting applications when high cutting speed and efficiencies Crop drying
are not required Organic flame weeding
Oxy-fuel equipment is widely used with LPG for preheating Pest control
Glass and plastic industry heating and finishing applications General heating
Shrink wrap applications Many process and packaging processes.
Space heating for small and large work areas
Commercial, domestic and leisure sectors
Firing of many types of oven and furnace heating and curing
processes Most cooking applications, for both hob and oven uses
Firing granular material drying ovens General space heating for both indoors and outdoors
Ink and paint solvent drying Large central and small direct water heating applications in
hotels and lodges
Water proofing application
Laundry heating and drying
Heating of road surfacing bitumen
Outdoor aesthetic lighting effects
Large volume fluid tank heating
Outdoor catering and special events
Dual-fuel (Autogas) for cars and light delivery vehicles
Home cooking, heating and lighting
Fuel for forklift trucks
Patio braaing, heating and lighting
Propane is used for carburising atmospheres in the heat
treatment of steels. Camping cooking, heating and lighting.
Back to Section 5 Afrox Product Reference Manual | Liquefied Petroleum Gas 8
Cylinder Size Gas Content (kg) Pressure kPa @ 20C Valve Outlet Connection Item Number
Cylinder colours:
- Gas withdrawal - Dark Admiralty Grey, with Handigas branding
- Liquid withdrawal (wet) - Dark Admiralty Grey, with Handigas
branding and vertical yellow strip on length of cylinder.
Most cylinders are available at all Afrox outlets.
Please check with your local Afrox branch or call 0860 020202.
MSDS available from www.afrox.com.
Cylinder colours:
- Gas withdrawal - Dark Admiralty Grey, with Handigas branding.
Available at all Afrox outlets.
Please check with your local Afrox branch or call 0860 020202.
MSDS available from www.afrox.com.
*Note: Privately owned cylinder
Forklift (Autogas)
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Gas Purity
Propane >60%
Butane <40%
Other Hydrocarbons <2%
Propane (C3H8)
5
Gas Purity
Propane >98%
Other Hydrocarbons <2%
Cylinder colours:
- Gas withdrawal - Dark Admiralty Grey, with propane branding
- Liquid withdrawal (wet) - Dark Admiralty Grey, with propane
branding and vertical yellow strip on length of cylinder.
Handigas Bulk
5
Gas Purity
Propane >60%
Butane <40%
Other Hydrocarbons <2%
Propane Bulk
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Gas Purity
Propane >98%
Other Hydrocarbons <2%