Use of LPG

     Heating:

LPG is used as an alternative to heating oil and electricity in places where there is no natural gas pipeline.

 

     Cooking:

LPG is the most common cooking fuel.

 

     Refrigeration:

Gas absorption refrigerators and air conditioning systems use LPG. But its use in motor vehicles for air conditioning has been discouraged due to the risk of fire.

 

     Automobiles:

A large number of vehicles, light, medium and heavy duty, around the world are fueled by LPG. Propane fueled forklifts are used both inside and outside warehouses and at construction sites.

 

     The Advantages of LPG

The Environmentally Clean Advantage - because LPG vaporizes when released from the tank and is not water soluble, LPG does not pollute underground water sources. Its high octane rating enables it to mix better with air and to burn more completely than does gasoline, generating less carbon. With less carbon buildup, spark plugs often last longer and oil changes are needed less frequently.

The Performance Advantage - Power, acceleration, payload and cruise speed are comparable to those of an equivalent vehicle fueled on gasoline. Propane has a high octane rating of 104, in-between Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) (130) and regular unleaded gasoline (87). Refueling a propane vehicle is similar to filling a gas grill tank; the time it takes is comparable with that needed to fill a CNG, gasoline or diesel fuel tank.

Because it burns in the engine in the gaseous phase, propane results in less corrosion and engine wear than does gasoline.

 

     The Advantages of CNG


The Environmentally Clean Advantage Compressed natural gas is the cleanest burning fuel operating today. This means less vehicle maintenance and longer engine life. CNG vehicles produce the fewest emissions of any motor fuel. Dedicated Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) has little or no emissions during fueling. In gasoline vehicles, fueling emissions account for at least 50% of a vehicle's total hydrocarbon emissions. CNG produces significantly less pollutants than gasoline. Tailpipe emissions from gasoline operated cars release carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. This is greatly reduced with natural gas.

The Maintenance Advantage Some fleet operators have reduced maintenance costs by as much as 40% by converting their vehicles to CNG. Intervals between tune-ups for natural gas vehicles are extended 30,000 to 50,000 miles. Intervals between oil changes for natural gas vehicles are dramatically extended--anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 additional miles depending on how the vehicle is used. Natural gas does not react to metals the way gasoline does, so pipes and mufflers last much longer.

The Performance Advantage Natural gas gives the same mileage as gasoline in a converted vehicle. Dedicated CNG engines are superior in performance to gasoline engines. CNG has an octane rating of 130 and has a slight efficiency advantage over gasoline. Because CNG is already in a gaseous state, NGVs have superior starting and drivability, even under severe hot and cold weather conditions. NGVs experience less knocking and no vapor locking.

The CNG Cost Advantage Natural gas is cheaper per equivalent gallon than gasoline (an average of 15% to 50% less than gasoline)