LPG is a clean burning fuel that is naturally derived from crude oil. LPG is made of propane or butane or a combination of both. It is the most used gas for cooking and heating for residential and commercial use. The gas manufacturer companies make it available to consumers by filling it in cylinders. The gas is first compressed under pressure due to which it liquefies and it becomes possible to fill it in cylinders.
Filling and supplying it in cylinders is convenient for the gas companies as well as for the distributors and consumers. Let us explore more about the use and working of LPG cylinders.
For transportation and distribution
LPG is basically a gas that needs to be transported to homes for residential use. It can only be done through pipelines and cylinders. However, it is quite expensive and labor intensive to create a network of pipelines. That is why LPG companies prefer filling it in cylinders for supplying to end consumers through a distribution network. The volume of LPG in gaseous form is 270 times that of the volume of the same amount of gas in liquid form. That is why it is converted to liquid form under pressure and then filled in the gas cylinders for transportation and distribution.
LPG is stored in Cylinders
LPG is compressed under low pressure to make it store in the steel or aluminum cylinders. It is stored as a liquid in cylinders of various sizes and supplied to industries depending on their requirements. The small sizes of cylinders are supplied for residential use and large bottles are offered for commercial use.
Use of Regulator.
A gas cylinder produces a pressure which is generally higher than the pressure required for the working pressure. Depending on the type of gas, there are specific gas regulators used to reduce cylinder pressure to the required working pressure.
The only petroleum gas is pressurized in liquid form and reverts back to gas when you release some pressure. The pressure in the gas cylinder is too high and too irregular because temperature fluctuations affect the pressure.
A gas cylinder produces LPG by storing the gas in it under pressure. To reduce the high pressure to the required safe level, the gas is made to pass through a regulator to lower the pressure for gas appliances. LPG is unique in that it grows under medium pressure compared to high pressure gas cylinders.
How is Liquid Gas used?
When you turn on the regulator installed on the top of the cylinder, the gas present on the top level of the cylinder starts converting into vapours. The gas boils inside the cylinder as it absorbs heat from the external environment through the cylinder walls. That is why the pressure of the gas on burners is slow in winters as the cold weather slows down the rate of evaporation inside the cylinder.
Placement of the cylinder
Since the gas inside the cylinder rises up after converting into vapours, it needs to pass through the regulator to reach the burners where it burns and provide heat, the cylinder is required to be kept in a vertical position. Moreover, users should place the cylinder in a ventilated environment, so that the gas can escape easily in the event of leakage.
Pressure Relief Valve
Every gas cylinder comes with a pressure relief valve, which is a LPG safety valve. It’s actually a propane safety valve in a valve. The pressure relief valve is integrated into the main gas cylinder valve. If the gas pressure in the cylinder rises as a result of a fire or other heat source, the pressure relief valve will release some of the gas to relieve the pressure. The purpose of this device is to prevent pressure build up beyond the safe limit, so there is no risk of explosion.
Check the cylinder on delivery
When a person delivers the gas cylinder to your home, you should check the safety valve and rubber ring inside the main valve. If the rubber ring is damaged, the gas is likely to leak and create an unsafe environment in your home. Ask the delivery person to open the seal and perform the soap water test. You can also do the soap water test yourself and in case of bubbles rising in the valve, there is a leakage. You should immediately ask the delivery person to replace the cylinder.
Final Words
The working of a gas cylinder is simple, and it has nothing to do with the users. It is good to know how LPG cylinders work, but all you need is to take care of the proper handling and safety of the cylinder. Place the gas bottle in a ventilated area and keep it in a horizontal position. Also, keep the gas pipe and equipment well maintained for safety and proper working.