Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a natural hydrocarbon fuel made up of propane and butane. It has the special property of becoming liquid when under pressure, and reverting to gases at atmospheric pressure. This means it can be easily and conveniently stored as a liquid – a big advantage over natural gas, which will only turn to liquid at extremely low temperatures. What’s more, LPG is 250 times denser as a liquid than as a gas mix. So, a lot of fuel can be stored in a relatively small space, for use almost anywhere. Have a look at ‘About LPG’ on the LP Gas Association website www.lpga.co.uk for more information on LPG’s chemical make-up and safe handling.
About 60% of the world supply of LPG comes from the separation of natural gas products, and 40% is a by-product from the refining of crude oil. In the past, LPG has been considered as waste and flared off; now it is recognised as a major energy source. It is produced in vast quantities (the UK produced 6.8 million tonnes in 2003) and exported over 3 million tonnes. It is particularly abundant in the North Sea’s ‘wet’ crude oil and offers security of fuel supply for many years.
LPG has several applications: domestic or agricultural heating, when there is no natural gas pipeline nearby; chemical or refinery operations; and vehicle fuel, when it is often referred to as Autogas. If you want to find out more on LPG uses, information is available from the LP Gas Association - see www.lpga.co.uk
