Propane is a three-carbon alkane found basically as a gas, but it can be readily converted into a liquid and transported. Propane is produced through other petroleum compounds during the processing of oil and natural gases. Propane finds great utility as fuel allocated to engines, barbecues and home heating units. Propane naturally occurs as a gas. However, at higher pressure or lower temperatures, it becomes a liquid.



As a part of internal combustion engines in vehicles, Propane is used as a mix with butane, propylenes and butylenes. The engines also augment the mixture with an odourant called Ethanethiol. It helps in sensing leaks, which are otherwise not detected by the human nose. LPG uses higher quantities of butane in winter and propane for summer; when used as a domestic fuel.

Contrary to natural gases, propane is heavier than air and subsequently pools on the floor in its raw state. On ideal combustion, propane produces 50 MJ of energy per kilogram. Unlike butane, which can be fatal if inhaled, propane does not create many toxicity concerns. Mild choking can result from inhalation of concentrated Propane though. This is caused due to a lack of oxygen. Propane can result in frostbite as it can expand and cool beneath a threshold on releasing from high pressure conditions.

In terms of combustion, propane lies between natural gas and gasoline. Gasoline is the dirtiest combustible. Propane is effectively used as a fuel in cooking on most kinds of barbecues, portable stoves and motor vehicles. The unassuming steel container is fondly named the “barbecue tank”. Once out of high-pressure containers, propane vaporises quite quickly owing to its low boiling point. This explains why it is an ideal choice for barbecues and portable stoves.

Propane is adept in propelling locomotives into action. It can be handy for all kinds of ice resurfacing machines and is used for supplying heat and aspects of cooking for recreational vehicles and campers.

Propane is widely utilised in rural North America as a gas providing diverse bounties with ease. It is used in heaters, laundry dryers and other appliances which principally revolve around heating. In North America more than 6.9 million household adhere to propane making it the most commonly used cooking and heating fuel in these parts.

LPG is not completely propane. It is a mix of propane, butane, propylene and butylenes. The concentration of propane can get as high as 90%. This is higher for summer. These statements are essentially true for US and Canada. For Mexico, propane concentration gets diluted and butane comes up as the primary fuel.

Propane is fast taking over from wood and other conventional fuel sources in areas deprived of industrialisation.

Propane's services are utilised efficiently for off-grid refrigeration. In its most purified form, it can take over from Halomethanes and chlorofluorocarbons as an agent of mechanical refrigeration.

It also finds great usage as vehicular fuel. Because propane can be kept in the liquid state through application of moderate pressure, it gives opportunities for faster tank refills and reasonable fuel tank build-up.