Propane gas: what is it and how much do I need?

Propane gas is a compound that belongs to the aliphatic hydrocarbons, whose main characteristics include being odorless and colorless.

This gas is essential for carrying out one of the most important tasks in the home and a fundamental basis for an entire industry: cooking. It is a clean, quality and economic source of energy for your pocket.

Know where this gas comes from, what its chemical formula is, its properties, its methods of obtaining it and which of its formats is ideal for your business.

What is propane gas?

Propane gas is obtained from oil fields, as part of the refining of crude oil. For distribution, it is transformed into a liquid state, making it suitable for use in homes, businesses and industries.

Propane was identified by American doctor Walter Snelling in 1910, as a volatile material in gasoline.

Within his work he reported how one bottle of that compound could supply electricity to a house for about three weeks.

After this discovery, with the help of other scientists, they began to develop methods to extract these gases. That is how in 1911 they began to extract pure propane and in 1913 the invention was patented.

Where does it come from?

Propane gas is obtained during the process of extraction of natural gas and oil from the fields, also during its refining.

The quality, quantity and purity of propane gas, in liquid form, depends on the deposits from which it is extracted

When the oil has been extracted for sale and transport, the vapour pressure it contains must be removed in order to store it correctly and avoid accidents.

The reduction or elimination of vapor pressure is better known as oil stabilization, which is achieved by separating the gases.

If there is any gas left in the oil that has been stabilized in advance, it is mixed in a fractionation area to finish the oil production and start the propane gas treatment for sale.

Properties of propane gas

Propane gas is a compound formed by three carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms connected by simple bonds. It belongs to the group of alkanes and its chemical formula is C3H8.

Propane gas is one of the liquid petroleum gases that has a high demand due to its low costs and its good performance as an energy source.

When extracted, propane gas is easy to liquefy due to its physical qualities. In addition, it is easy to bottle in special bottles for faster, cleaner and safer transportation.

Propane gas works in any area, but it is much better in places with cold climates. That is because propane manages to convert to the gaseous state in spite of the low temperatures and to freeze it must reach -44 degrees centigrade.

How important is propane gas?

Propane gas is used to run household appliances such as heating and cooking.

Thanks to its extensive usefulness it competes with energy sources such as electricity, butane or natural gas.

After cooking, one of the most widespread uses of propane gas is heating. For this reason, it is a highly demanded resource in homes and businesses, especially after the arrival of the winter months.

To obtain hot water, propane gas is used in gas accumulators and heaters. A safe way to obtain hot water, as long as the recommendations of the building and installation regulations are followed.

Just as it provides a source of heat for your customers in the cold months, it works to cool them down when they are hot in the summer. Add propane gas to the air conditioning and it will keep your establishment’s spaces cool.

It’s also a gas used in propane kitchens because it distributes heat evenly and helps your food get better cooked.

Propane gas sales formats

Propane gas sold for human consumption is not in pure concentrations. It is a mixture of gases with propane that changes according to the place of production and trade.

Being a gas it is easy to store and transport. Three forms of safe distribution have been developed for its commercialization:

Piped propane gas

Piped propane gas is used for areas that are not served by natural gas and there are many homes there.

The gas is transported through a network of pipes that connect the homes with the tank that supplies the propane, so that they can carry out their daily activities with the appliances such as stoves, heaters and heaters.

The government sets the price for piped propane gas because it is a continuous supply. Although the price of piped gas is around 1.57 euros per month, this varies depending on the use of this fuel, so the price of the bill may rise.

Propane gas in bulk

To install bulk propane service, a tank is required. The tank must be on the property or establishment, maintaining a safe distance to avoid accidents.

It should be a tank that is three meters high from the building or if it is buried, it can be a meter and a half away from the heat source.

The cost of propane depends on the state of the tank, the company selling the propane, and the negotiation of the final price. Despite all these details, propane gas can cost between 1500 and 2500 euros per ton purchased.

Bottled propane gas

The bottled propane gas is sold in special bottles. These propane gas containers are for sale to the public in 11 and 35 kilogram presentations, although there are companies that offer other presentations.

The price of bottled gas is divided by the size of the bottle.

The cost of bottles between 8 and 20 kg is regulated by the Government, and for bottles outside that range the companies decide their prices because it is a free market.

Tips to help you choose the format that best suits your consumption

Although there are different ways to acquire propane gas, you should choose the one that best suits the activities you carry out in your business or home, so that it does not run out and leave you in a hurry.

If you have a small premises that does not have a large gas consumption, the 11-kilogram cylinder is a viable option so that you do not have to invest in more gas than you are going to use.

If you have a medium sized restaurant with a high consumption, having several 35-kilogram gas bottles will give you a break in your restaurant’s consumption and will not take up much space in the restaurant.

And if your restaurant has a high gas consumption and is a large establishment, the ideal is to buy and install a gas tank to acquire it in bulk and thus measure the gas expense per month without having to invest in gas bottles.

In homes with gas stoves, an 11-kilogram bottle can last several months. As consumption is reduced, there is greater control when the change is needed.