LPG Through the Ages!

LPG Through the Ages!

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This blog we will be exploring how LPG was first discovered and how is progressed throughout the years.

What is LPG?

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a hydrocarbon gas that exists in a liquefied form. LPG is a colourless, low carbon and highly efficient fuel.

There are two main types of LPG Gas, Propane (C3H8) and Butane (C&#;H&#;&#;) and can be used in several ways &#; BBQ, Heating and many more.

LPG boils at a low temperature and to avoid it evaporating due to its low boiling point, it is typically stored in pressurised steel vessels such as gas bottles.

How LPG was First Discovered!

In America, the mixture of Propane and Butane was first mentioned as early as . An American Chemist, Walter O. Snelling, was researching the properties of Propane, so he separated gaseous fractions from liquid ones, discovering the existence of Propane. In , Walter O. Snelling started his first domestic propane installation, then in , he patented producing propane on an industrial scale. Later in , the patent was bough by Frank Philips, the founder of the ConocoPhilips oil company. The consumption of LPG did not grow considerably.

Practical use of LPG dates to , when the fuel was utilised for brazing lamps and metal cutting blowtorches, however commercial production did not begin until the &#;s, when LPG sales topped 223 thousand gallons in the US and 3 years following the figures grew to 400 thousand gallons.

In , LPG was first used as a motor fuel and the first LPG refrigerator was made. By , the level of fuel sales was as much as 10 million gallons in the US.

LPG was used for cooking and water heating during the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, in . The LPG industry was growing stronger by the year, managing to produce and sell 56 million gallons in .

The demand for LPG was further boosted by the popularity of airships, regularly traveling between Europe and the US.

LPG first appeared in Europe when it was imported from the USA and introduces in France in mid-&#;s.

LPG During the Second World War

As we all know, there was shortages during both World Wars, however in the Second World War there was a shortage of Petrol, to our surprise, LPG was first used as a motor fuel.

The Zeppelin series airships were propelled by engines fuelled with the so called Blau Gas, which is very much like Butane &#; one of LPG&#;S ingredients. Using this fuel and roughly the same mass as air was very convenient for airships as it did not alter a Zeppelin&#;s overall weight, unlike liquid fuels. Unfortunately, when the Hindenburg was in a disaster in , the Zeppelin era ended abruptly.

Luckily, the LPG era did not end with this disaster, it bloomed as there were large numbers of gas bottled left in airfields where airships operated from. This led to the gas bottles being bought by entrepreneur Ernesto Igel to the idea of promoting the gas as an excellent cooking fuel. This is how the Brazilian company later known as Ultragaz came to be. The company had three distribution trucks and 166 customers by .

In the , the Italian company Liquigas started filling bottles with LPG in a facility near Venice. The politics and current events seemed a little hectic in during LPG&#;S inaugural year. World War II impacted supplies and demands worldwide. These needs influenced the propane and fuel industries, as those industries needed to produce the fuels to aid with increased business.

LPG After the World War

When the Second World War was over and industrial productions rose again, LPG sales in the USA topped 1 billon gallons.

The first liquefied gas tanker was built and enter service in . In , the public transport operator from Chicago, ordered LPG powered buses and 270 taxis were converted in Milwaukee in the same year.

By , Ultragaz, the Brazilian company who promoted the gas bottles for cooking fuel, had over 70 thousand customers and is one of the biggest LPG operators in the world to this day.

In , LPG sales reached 7 billion gallons and in Chevrolet introduced 4 new LPG powered engines for commercial vehicles. The initial international export contracts were not made until the &#;s. The amount of exported LPG was still low in the &#;s, with 1 million tons being shipped outside the US. Export had grown to 17 million tons in 20 years and by the year , the amount reached 48 million tons.

In , LPG is used on almost everything, standard cars are getting converted into LPG Cars. During the difficult time with Covid-19, we have been at home a lot more then usual, so you may have bought a BBQ, Patio Heater or even world with LPG. It is every where we go, you&#;ll find them in the backs of pub/bars, restaurants, catering vans and many more.

Propane is much newer than other popular fuels in existence. Gasoline was first harnessed as a fuel source with the invention of the automobile in . Natural gas was first used to light houses and streets as early as . Homeowners didn&#;t start using propane, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) until the s. Even as a new energy source, it quickly took off as a favorite fuel for everything from blowtorches to stoves. Learn how propane was discovered and how it has been used through the decades in both homes and industrial settings.

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Table of Contents

The History of Propane 

Who Discovered Propane?

Although several individuals are credited with discovering propane, one notable figure is the French chemist Pierre-Eugene-Marcellin Berthelot. In the s and &#;60s, Berthelot synthesized propane in his lab along with other organic compounds like methane, acetylene, and benzene. However, he did not initially recognize its potential as a fuel source.

Propane Develops

In , industrial chemist Dr. Edmund Ronalds discovered propane as a naturally occurring substance while dissolving Pennsylvania crude oil. It wasn&#;t until years later that explosives expert and chemist Walter Snelling confirmed propane as a volatile substance in crude oil in . He discovered it while investigating the vapors leaking from a Ford Model T gasoline tank. He filled a glass container with the gasoline, and the cork popped out, indicating a volatile vapor inside.

Snelling soon discovered propane&#;s potential as a fuel source and began marketing LPG in . The year also marked the first person to switch their home to propane fuel. Its primary use was as a fuel source for cutting metals. In , the first LPG-fueled pumpless blowtorch arrived. Propane fuel sales grew tremendously through the s as new applications came on the scene. In , the first gas-powered domestic cooking appliances went into development.

Propane & The Olympics

The Los Angeles Olympics powered all the cooking and water heating appliances in the Olympic Village using propane. The following year, an odorant was added to this naturally odorless substance. The rotten egg smell used to this day makes it easier to detect propane gas leaks. 

Propane In The Modern Day

Through the years, propane continued to gain popularity and climb in sales as homeowners began equipping their homes with LPG to fuel water heaters, clothes dryers and grills. The  Clean Air Act approved propane as an alternative clean fuel source. Two years later, the Energy Policy Act of  reconfirmed propane&#;s status as an alternative fuel source.

Today, the propane industry has matured. In , the U.S. propane market was worth an estimated $34.2 billion. 

Where Does Propane Come From?

Propane can be synthesized in a lab and extracted from crude oil and natural gas. Fuel manufacturers can extract it in two ways. One method involves separating it from crude oil at oil refineries using a distillation tower. As crude oil goes through the stabilization phase of refinement, the heavier hydrocarbons sink to the bottom. The lighter hydrocarbons, including propane and butane, rise to the top, where they&#;re easily removed.

Propane can also be extracted from refrigerated natural gas, alongside butane and ethane, at processing plants. When processing natural gas, it&#;s critical to remove propane, butane and ethane to prevent condensation in natural gas pipelines. 

Extracted propane is then given an odorant to make it easy to detect tank leaks. After being separated, gaseous propane must be liquified. For the substance to liquefy correctly, it must be separated from other chemicals like ethane and then pressurized at the correct temperature. Liquefied propane is stored in cylinders and tanks. When you use LPG, the liquid is released into the air and turns back into its gaseous state.

Uses of Propane

Since the first propane sale to a home in , scientists have discovered hundreds of propane fuel uses. It has many applications in and around the home and in many commercial settings:

Domestic Applications

If you&#;re considering propane for your home, you might be surprised just how many uses it has in residential settings. You can use propane to fuel many home appliances, including:

• Grills: One of the most popular propane applications is to power backyard grills and portable camp stoves. Propane grills are easier to start than charcoal grills, and they supply your burners with fuel through a small tank of LPG fuel. 
• Water heaters: Propane can fuel tankless water heaters and pool heaters. It&#;s often more economical than electricity.
• Generators: While permanent residential generators can use many fuel types, propane is one of the most popular.
• Furnaces: Propane is one option you could use to heat your home. It costs less than electricity and burns cleaner than oil.
• Cooking ranges: Most cooks prefer propane stoves over electric models. An adjustable open flame gives the most precision over the cooking temperature. 
• Clothes dryers: Propane clothes dryers are popular because they&#;re hotter and more efficient than electric models. They also create less static, which is better for your laundry.
• Fireplaces: Propane is an easy way to start an even-burning, mess-free fire in your living room fireplace. Since propane produces plenty of heat, it will also provide more comfort compared to a wood fire.

Industrial and Commercial Applications

While most people think about propane uses in their home, it has many uses across industries, such as:

• Agriculture: Propane powers much of the equipment used for crops and livestock. One of the most common applications is to power crop dryers for hay, tobacco, corn and shelled peanuts. Propane can also heat greenhouses and animal enclosures, and power irrigation pumps.
• Manufacturing and warehousing: Since propane is clean-burning and efficient, many warehouses and factories use it to power their forklifts. They also use the fuel for industrial generators. 
• Refrigeration: Propane is often used as a refrigerant gas for refrigerators.
• Hospitality: Most restaurants, hotels and other commercial kitchens rely on propane-fueled industrial cooking equipment. With better temperature control, chefs can achieve consistent quality when cooking meals in large quantities.
• Transportation: While you can find a few domestic cars that run on propane, propane power is more common in commercial fleets. Everything from school buses to police vehicles may run on propane.

What Are the Benefits of Propane?

Propane is very versatile around the house, which is a benefit itself. Besides the convenience of being able to run many appliances on one fuel tank, LPG offers advantages such as:

1. It&#;s Efficient

Most homeowners make the switch to propane because it&#;s a fuel-efficient way to heat your home or power your appliances. LPG provides more energy and heat than the same volume of natural gas. While an electric water heater takes an hour to heat up fully, a propane tank can heat up in as little as 20 minutes.

2. It Never Expires

While diesel and gasoline degrade over time, propane retains its potency no matter how long it&#;s stored. That means you can keep a large propane tank on your property without worrying about how fast you need to use it. You can fill your tank up in the spring or summer, and it will still be good by the time you need it to heat your home. 

While propane itself does not degrade, it&#;s important to note that the storage tank can expire because it must remain under pressure to keep the propane in its liquid state. A tank with a capacity of 100 gallons or less will expire after 12 years from its manufactured date. After that, it may be inspected and requalified. If it&#;s in good condition, it can last for another five years. Larger propane tanks for home or commercial use can last even longer. Through the tank&#;s entire useful life, the fuel inside will never expire.

3. It&#;s Clean

Most homeowners are happy to learn that propane is clean burning and an excellent way to preserve the environment. With a low carbon content, it produces minimal emissions and is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. It also won&#;t contaminate your groundwater or soil. 

4. It&#;s Reliable

While a power outage could leave you without heat, LPG-heated homes remain warm and toasty as long as the tank doesn&#;t get too low. You&#;ll also be able to use a propane stove, so you can continue cooking through a blackout. If you have a propane-powered generator, you can even power your whole home without worry.

Common Propane History FAQs

Where Was Propane Found?

Propane was synthesized in a lab by Pierre-Eugene-Marcellin Berthelot along with a few other organic compounds including benzene, acetylene, and methane.

When Was Propane Invented?

Although there were a variety of individuals credited with the discovery of propane, the most notable is Pierre-Eugene-Marcellin Berthelot in the s and &#;60s.

Does Propane Sink or Rise?

Propane gas is heavier than air making it sink.

Is Propane A Compound?

Propane is an organic compound and is made of two different elements, carbon and hydrogen.

Does Propane Burn Clean?

Propane is considered a clean-burning fuel and is one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels available. It produces lower levels of carbon dioxide and other emissions than other fossil fuel options.

Does Propane Gas Expire?

Unlike a variety of other fuel sources, propane fuel does not have an expiration date. Additionally, it can be stored for long periods of time without any changes to it&#;s level of potency.

Order Propane From Foster Fuels

Considering making the switch to propane? Learn more about the propane-powered home and what it can do for you. Once you&#;ve switched to propane, we&#;d be happy to serve as your trusted propane provider. 

We&#;re a local, family-owned business you can trust. As a company with over 100 years in the business, our knowledgeable team can answer all your questions about propane and other fuels. We also provide the option for auto-fill service, so you don&#;t have to remember when your tank needs a refill. Reach out to chat more about propane and whether it&#;s right for you, or order fuel delivery service today.

Are you interested in learning more about Lpg Regulator Factory? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!