Saturday, 26 April 2014

Propane: Some Facts & Trivia

By Cath Buhr


Propane is a fuel used by millions of Americans. For some, propane is the fuel that is used in their central heating system. Others use propane for their barbecue grill or perhaps their camping stove. While you might know a few basic facts about how propane is used, here are a few interesting facts that you might not know.

Propane is interesting because it can be both a gas and also a liquid. When you see those propane trucks on the road, they are full of propane in its liquid state. Propane is a natural by-product of the processing of natural gas and also the refining of petroleum. The propane that is produced is stored in huge salt mines, the largest of which is in Texas. It can be carried out of the mine in trucks or via a pipeline.

Walter Snelling was the chemist that discovered propane as well as butane in 1910 while he was conducting experiments with gasoline. He separated the gasoline into gas and liquid and also found that a small amount of propane could power an entire home for several weeks. Within just a few decades, millions of Americans were using propane, especially for cooking.

If you were wondering if propane could be used to power your automobile, the answer is yes, and as far back as 1913, propane has been used as vehicle fuel. In some countries, such as Poland and South Korea, about 50% of the vehicles use propane or "autogas" as their fuel source. Not only is the propane quite a bit cheaper than gasoline, the carbon dioxide emissions are much lower as well, so it is more environmentally friendly than gasoline.

It's not just an efficient and inexpensive fuel source for cars, trucks and buses; it also is a cheaper and cleaner source of fuel in the home. Coal, one of the most common fuel sources in the United States, is more expensive and more damaging to the environment. If it costs $2 to run your dryer using coal-produced electricity, it would only cost about $1 if you use propane. Coal also releases about double the amount of carbon over propane. If you want to live a greener life and also enjoy saving money, than using propane as your fuel source is a great way to go. It also is worth noting that propane has no negative effect on our water or soil, which certainly is not true of other fuel sources.

When you purchase propane for your home, it is important to note that consumers should look for a propane source that sells only HD5 propane, which is the highest quality propane. HD5 propane burns hotter and cleaner than other types of propane and is healthier for your family. Consider using Thrifty Propane as your home propane source. They offer the lowest prices for the highest quality HD5 propane.




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