User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox

LPG, a somewhat similar substances

(CC) Photo: Jeffrey Simpson
Fig. 2: LPG cylinders.

Liquefied petroleum gas or LPG is a somewhat similar substance consisting of either propane or butane or mixtures of propane and butane with possibly some traces of propylene and butylenes. Those gaseous compounds are usually by-products recovered in petroleum refineries and easily liquified at a temperature of about 20 °C and pressures ranging from 2 atmospheres (for pure propane) to 8 atmospheres (for pure butane).

LPG is also referred to as LP gas or, in some countries, as autogas. It is widely sold in small, pressurized steel cylinders such as shown in Fig.2 and it is used for:

• residential heating and cooking in rural areas where natural gas is not available
• other commercial and residential heating appliances
• fuel for barbecue grills, heating and cooking in motor homes, and camping cookers.
• a refrigerant for small air-conditioners
• for small, soldering and welding torches
• a fuel for automobiles designed to use LPG