BASIC LPG
PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE
INDUCTION COURSE
CONTENTS
OBJECTIVES
LP-GAS/LPG
Definition
Origin of LPG product
Characteristics and properties
LPG Hazards and Emergency Information
Combustion
Summary
OBJECTIVES
1) To familiarize personnel on the basic
characteristics and properties of butane and
propane or mix.
2) To know the basic hazards involve in dealing
with LPG.
3) To be able to developed a basic fire prevention
and protection emergency plan for fires involving
lp-gas.
WHAT IS LPG?
LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GASES. (ALSO KNOWN AS LPG OR LP GAS)
GENERAL NAME GIVEN FOR PROPANE AND BUTANE AND MIXTURES
OF TWO.
BECOMING MORE WIDELY USED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD FOR
COOKING, HEATING AND LIGHTING, ETC.
ALSO USED IN INDUSTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE MANY APPLICATIONS
SUCH AS CERAMICS, FOAMS, FORKLIFTS, BOILERS, CASTINGS AND
MANY OTHERS.
ORIGIN OF LPG PRODUCT
LPG comes from two (2) sources.
It is naturally found in oil and gas fields
and is separated from the other
components during the extraction
process from the Oil and Gas Fields.
Another source is the by-products of the
oil refining process
LPG NATURAL STATE
IS ODOURLESS AND COLOURLESS
TO ENABLE DETECTION BY SMELL, A
STENCHING AGENT IS ADDED. KNOWN AS
ETHYL MERCAPTAN
The addition of Mercaptan is sufficiently strong enough
to readily detect a very small escape of gas. If 0.4% of
gas is present in air, you will be able to smell it.
LPG IS STORED AS A
LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE
Propane 7 bar ( 100 psi )
Butane 2 bar ( 30 psi )
LPG BOILING POINT
AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
L.P.G. BOILS AT LOW TEMPERATURE
Propane at - 42 0C
Butane at - 2 0C
GAS VAPORISATION
heat heat
GAS VAPOUR PRODUCED
BY HEAT (Natural by direct sunlight on tank surface)
or Artificial means using electric heaters in the form of Vaporiser (Feedback
System)
From surrounding ambient temperature
TRANSFORMATION FROM
LIQUID TO VAPOR
Valve Valve
Valve
Open Closed
Closed as pressure reduces
liquid boils
CYLINDER OFFTAKE
SELECT CORRECT NUMBER OF CYLINDERS REQUIRED
EXCESSIVE DRAW OFF WILL
RESULT IN POOR PERFORMANCE
IN VAPORISATION OF LIQUID,
FROSTING WILL OCCUR
LPG EXPANDS AND
CONTRACTS
AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
TANKS AND CYLINDERS
ARE NEVER FILLED COMPLETELY
TANKS ARE
CYLINDERS
CHARGED BY VOLUME
ARE CHARGED
AND FILLED TO 80% -
BY WEIGHT
87%
PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE
LPG LIQUID WILL EXPAND
OVER 200 TIMES WHEN VAPORISED
PROPANE FLAMMABILITY
1 VOLUME
OF LIQUID
L.E.L. Lower Explosive Limit U.E.L. Upper Explosive Limit
L.F.L. Lower Flammable Limit U.F.L. Upper Flammable Limit
Lower Flammable Limit. The concentration of a hydrocarbon gas in air is too low to support combustion.
Upper Flammable Limit. The concentration of a hydrocarbon gas in air is too high to support combustion.
BUTANE FLAMMABILITY
1 VOLUME
OF LIQUID
L.E.L. Lower Explosive Limit U.E.L. Upper Explosive Limit
L.F.L. Lower Flammable Limit U.F.L. Upper Flammable Limit
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OR
RELATIVE DENSITY
AIR = 1
PROPANE = 1.5
BUTANE = 2.0
LPG IS HEAVIER THAN AIR
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OR
RELATIVE DENSITY
LPG IS HEAVIER THAN AIR
LPG RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE WILL
FOLLOW GROUND CONTOURS COLLECTING AT
LOWEST LEVEL
HAZARDS OF LP-GAS
At very high concentrations when mixed with air, LPG vapor is anesthetic
and subsequently an asphyxiant by diluting or decreasing the available
Oxygen. This would cause a person to become suffocated.
LOW BOILING POINT
L P G CAN GIVE COLD BURNS IF LIQUID LPG MAKES
CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN
ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
COLD BURNS FIRST AID
Immerse affected area or flush copiously with tepid cold clean water.
DO NOT use hot water or apply any heat.
Loosen any clothing which may restrict blood circulation to the affected area.
Thaw out any frozen protective clothing and if not stuck into the skin, remove.
Cover affected area with clean, dry dressing and protective covering.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
LPG LEAKS
Since LPG is stored in two phases, liquid and gaseous,
there is potential for either a liquid leak or a gas leak.
If an LPG leak is a gas leak it may not be seen (because LPG
is colorless), except where the leak is of sufficient size to be
seen shimmering in the air. Smell of Ethyl Mercaptan will be
noticeable.
When a liquid LPG leak occurs, the release will be seen as a
patch of ice around the area of the leak, or as a jet of white
liquid. This white appearance is due to the cooling effect
created by the rapid expansion of the LPG liquid into a gas.
The condensing atmospheric moisture makes the leak visible.
In concentrated amounts and in uncontrolled conditions,
Liquefied petroleum gas has the potential to create a fire or an
explosion.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURE
FOR DEALING WITH LEAKING TANKS OR CYLINDERS
Keep other people away
Raise the Alarm
Remove all sources of ignition
No smoking or naked lights in the vicinity of leaks
Electrical Equipment may cause an ignition either by
SWITCHING ON or OFF. DO NOT TOUCH
Put on Protective Clothing
Approach from Upwind (if Safe)
Try closing the leaking valves
GENERAL INFORMATION
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS IS HIGHLY
FLAMMABLE
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
DO NOT SMOKE NEAR OR IN THE VICINITY OF GAS TANKS
DO NOT USE CELLPHONES AND NON-IS RADIOS NEAR TANKFARMS
ALWAYS WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
ALWAYS CARRY A DRY POWDERED FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CAB
AND ONE ON THE TRAILER
STORAGE COMPOUND SIGNS
SIGNS MUST INDICATE THE FOLLOWING:
LPG HIGHLY FLAMMABLE / NO SMOKING / NO
NAKEDLIGHTS
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION
Combustion is a “Chemical reaction”
which produces heat.
OX
EL ALL
YG
THREE
FU
EN
CREATE
COMBUSTION
IGNITION
This reaction produces Products of Combustion (POC’s)
IGNITION TEMPERATURE
AT WHAT TEMPERATURE DOES LPG IGNITE?
gas burns as soon as its reaches the ignition temperature
Propane Butane
480OC - 530OC approx. 460OC - 580OC approx.
FLAME SPEED
LPG is 0.47 m/s
B L E V E
Boiling-Liquid Expanding-Vapour Explosion
A phenomenon associated with the sudden and catastrophic failure of a
pressurised containment vessel when subjected to surrounding fire.
This is one of the most devastating of liquified gas accident scenarios.
Such BLEVE incidents have occurred with rail tank cars, road tankers, and in
number of terminal incidents.
Pictures of BLEVE
SUMMARY
1. LPG – COLORLESS, AND SOMETIMES ODORLESS
2. LPG VAPOR - IS HEAVIER THAN AIR.
3. LPG - FLAMMABLE
4. LPG – IS ALMOST HALF THE WEIGHT OF WATER
5. LPG – NON-TOXIC BUT CAN CAUSE ASPHYXIATION
6. LPG – 1 PART OF LIQUID WILL FORM AROUND 250 PARTS OF VAPOR.
7. LPG - TENDS TO VAPORIZE EASILY
LPG HAS MANY APPLICATIONS BUT HAS TO BE HANDLED
SAFELY & CAREFULLY
Food for thought:
You can never implement
An effective safety program
In your respective sections
If
YOU
Will not inspect your work
Areas.
Thank you
For your
Attention.
