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LP Gas Facts
Basic information about LP Gases. Some information about LP gas and Cold weather as related to Recreational Vehicle size containers. Also information about purging and moisture. Some of the rules concerning LP containers and their inspection requirements.
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| Properties of LP-Gases* |
| Properties |
Propane |
Butane |
| Pounds per gallon |
4.24 |
4.81 |
| Specific gravity of gas |
1.53 |
2.00 |
| Specific gravity of liquid |
0.51 |
0.58 |
| Cu. ft. gas per gallon liquid |
36.38 |
31.2 |
| Cu. ft. gas per pound |
8.66 |
6.50 |
| BTU per gallon |
91,502 |
102,032 |
| BTU per pound |
21,548 |
21,221 |
Boiling point in degrees F
at 14.7 psia |
-44o |
32o |
| Vapor pressure at 0oF |
31 |
0 |
| Vapor pressure at 70oF |
127 |
17 |
| Vapor pressure at 100o F |
196 |
37 |
| Vapor pressure at 105o F |
210 |
41 |
Specific Gravity of Vapor
(Air = 1) |
1.50 |
2.01 |
| Ignition Temperature in Air, oF |
920-1120 |
900-1000 |
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Average LP-gas capacities (PROPANE)
(allowing 20% for vapor space)
| Nominal Size |
Actual Capacity
in gal |
Lbs. of gas |
BTU's |
| 10# cylinder (2.5 gal) |
2.5 gal. |
11 |
237,028 |
| 20# cylinder (5 gal) |
4.8 gal. |
20 |
430,960 |
| 30# cylinder (7 gal) |
7.2 gal. |
30 |
646,440 |
| 40# cylinder (10 gal) |
9.2 gal. |
40 |
861,920 |
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Working pressure
11" Water Column = 6 1/4 ozs. per sq. in. pressure
To estimate how long your LP gas supply will last, simply total the BTU demand of all your gas appliances and the BTU capacity of your containers at 80% full. Divide container BTU capacity by total appliance demand.
*Source NFPA Pamphlet #58-1995
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| Some more info on LP gas. Of particular interest to winter (cold weather) campers are the charts below regarding the available BTU's from a container of LP gas in an hour. Total the possible BTU's from your gas appliances and compare to the gas available. It may explain the mysterious winter time heating problems. This is also why your LP fueled generators don't work very well in cold weather. |
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65 LB. UNDERMOUNTED LP-GAS TANK
BTU AVAILABLE AT: |
| % FULL |
+200 |
00 |
-50 |
-100 |
-150 |
| 60% |
95,600 |
47,800 |
36,000 |
23,900 |
12,100 |
| 50% |
86,000 |
43,000 |
32,350 |
21,500 |
11,750 |
| 40% |
77,000 |
38,500 |
29,250 |
19,625 |
9,625 |
| 30% |
68,000 |
34,000 |
35,500 |
17,000 |
8,500 |
| 20% |
58,000 |
29,000 |
21,750 |
14,500 |
7,250 |
| 10% |
43,200 |
21,600 |
16,200 |
10,800 |
5,400 |
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| 30 LB. Cylinder - BTU AVAILABLE AT |
| % FULL |
+200 |
00 |
-50 |
-100 |
-150 |
| 60% |
50,400 |
25,200 |
17850 |
11,900 |
5,950 |
| 50% |
45,360 |
22,680 |
17,010 |
11,340 |
5,670 |
| 40% |
40,320 |
20,160 |
15,960 |
10,640 |
5,320 |
| 30% |
35,280 |
17,640 |
14,630 |
10,220 |
4,410 |
| 20% |
30,240 |
15,120 |
11,340 |
7,560 |
3,780 |
| 10% |
22,680 |
11,340 |
8,505 |
5,670 |
2,835 |
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| 20 LB. cylinder - BTU AVAILABLE AT |
| % FULL |
+200 |
00 |
-50 |
-100 |
-150 |
| 60% |
36,000 |
18,000 |
12,750 |
8,500 |
4,250 |
| 50% |
32,400 |
16,200 |
12,150 |
8,100 |
4,050 |
| 40% |
28,800 |
14,400 |
11,400 |
7,600 |
3,800 |
| 30% |
25,200 |
12,600 |
10,450 |
7,300 |
3,150 |
| 20% |
21,600 |
10,800 |
8,100 |
5,400 |
2,700 |
| 10% |
16,200 |
8,100 |
6,075 |
4,050 |
2,025 |
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