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Average electric water heater = 5,000 Watts
Average electric stove = 8,500 Watts
Average electric clothes dryer = 5,000 Watts
These
three appliances moved to gas will reduce the generator size
by 18,500 Watts
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Consumption of Propane
Cubic foot of propane = 2,500 BTU
36.6 Cubic feet of propane = 1 gallon |
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If
a generator uses 36.6 Cubic feet of propane that is one
gallon of propane gas
By
law, the location of any propane tanks must be at least
10 feet away from generators, air conditioners or any electric
motors
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WHAT IS
PROPANE? -- Propane, LP gas, bottled gas, butane, and propylene
are some of the names used to identify liquefied petroleum gas.
LP gases are in the family of hydrocarbons, but not all hydrocarbons
are liquefied petroleum gases.
Propane is normally stored in a pressure vessel as both a vapor
and a liquid under moderate pressure. In its natural state it
is colorless, tasteless, odorless and non-toxic. It is produced
through the oil refining process or is stripped out of natural
gas. In most cases an odorant is added to serve as a warning agent
of a possible gas leak. The odorant most commonly used is Ethyl
Mercaptan.
PROPANE EXPANDS -- Propane liquid will expand 270 times
as it changes from a liquid state to vapor state. For example,
1 gallon of liquid stored under pressure in a container will expand
to approximately 270 gallons of vapor if released to the atmosphere.
Consequently, a small amount of liquid propane has the potential
to create a serious hazard. This rapid expansion ratio of 270:1
makes propane an effective refrigerant.
PROPANE TEMPERATURE -- Propane boils at 44 degrees below
zero (-44°). Through this refrigeration process, heat is rapidly
absorbed. As liquid propane converts to vapor through the 270:1
expansion ratio, the rapid conversion of liquid to vapor causes
intense chilling that literally freezes whatever it comes in contact
with. For this reason, precautions should be taken to protect
eyes and skin from the liquid since freeze burn or frostbite is
possible. First aid treatment for frostbite is the application
of lukewarm water to the affected area. As with any serious burn,
immediate medical treatment should be sought.
PROPANE
SPECIFIC GRAVITY -- Specific Gravity is the weight of a product
compared to the weight of water or air. The specific gravity of
propane vapor is 1.50; air is 1. This means that propane vapor
weighs one and one-half times more than air. The specific gravity
of propane liquid is 0.504; water is 1. Therefore, we know that
propane liquid is lighter than water. Since propane is heavier
than air, it PROPANE IS HEAVIER THAN AIR will normally seek out
low areas. This behavior, however, can easily be affected by air
currents.
The fact that propane is heavier than air also creates the hazard
of a simple asphyxiant. Oxygen needed to sustain life can be displaced
by propane. If a large accumulation of liquid or vapor is present,
always remain upwind. Never enter a concentrated area of propane
vapor. Inhaling vapor can cause dizziness, anesthesia, and respiratory
arrest.
PROPANE
WEIGHT -- One gallon of propane weighs 4.2 pounds.
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Temperature
has a direct relationship to propane pressure. A pot of water placed
on a stove at a high temperature will eventually boil over. In the
same way, an increase in outside temperatures will cause an increase
in the pressure in an LP gas container. As the pressure increases,
the volume of the liquid will also expand in the container. For
example, water expands 2.2%. At a temperature rise from 160°
F to 600° F, liquid propane would expand 25% and steel would
expand only 0.19%. The fact that propane reacts more quickly to
outside temperature changes and expands more rapidly emphasizes
the importance of NEVER overfilling an LP gas container. No LP container
may be filled to more than 80% of its capacity without temperature
correction. This means that a container filled to the legal limit
will propane stored inside as both a vapor and a liquid (as shown
below), allowing for expansion within the container. |
