You might be wondering whether propane would last till the winter or not. Its property of high longevity is, after all, one of its USPs. Does propane go bad? No, propane can never go bad. The shelf life of this gas is claimed to be indefinite. But if propane can’t go bad, why is there a date of expiry on the propane containers that we purchase? Because it is the propane container that can expire, and not the gas inside it. Did you know that propane is a much cleaner alternative to fuels like diesel and petrol? Today, the US has emerged to be the largest producer of propane in the world. Don’t you want to know why propane is so popular? If you still haven’t used any propane-powered appliances, you must try using one. In this article, we will tell you the reason behind the popular usage of propane, methods of storing it, and how it is a better alternative than diesel and petrol. Stay with us till the end to get caught up with propane.
What is Propane?
What is Propane?
Propane is a hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C3H8. It is a colorless gas that can be easily liquefiable. It is extracted in large quantities from crude oil, natural gas, and other oil refinery gases. This compound is made available commercially by liquefying it. As mentioned earlier, propane is also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG or LP gas. Did you know that 90 percent of the propane used is produced domestically in the USA? What could lead it to become the world’s largest producer of propane? Such an increase in the production of propane occurred in less than a decade. It was because of the increase in growth of producing oil and natural gas from US shale. The combination of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling led to the US Shale Revolution. It significantly allowed the country to raise the production of oil and natural gas. It now accounts for 36 percent of the total crude oil produced in the USA. This revolution reduced the nation’s dependence on oil imports drastically.
Does Propane go bad?
Does Propane go bad?
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Does propane go bad? Honestly, propane never expires, but the container in which it is stored can get spoilt if not inspected. As mentioned earlier, propane’s ability to not expire is one of its USPs. You don’t have to quickly use it all up within a certain time like you have to in the case of kerosene and diesel. Fuels like kerosene and diesel degrade over time. Propane can be stored up for quite a while. You just need to make sure that it is stored in the right containers. You can be confused about seeing an expiry date on the container of propane. You may also see it on its gauge. This expiry date is actually the approximate date of inspection of the container. It reminds you that by this date, you must send it for inspection so that the container does not lose its durability. This is the reason behind using propane as fuel for emergency generators.
The lifespan of a propane tank
The lifespan of a propane tank
We had discussed earlier that only the propane tank expires and not the actual gas. So, how long do you think a propane tank can be stored? Guess what? If the tank is stored and maintained in a proper place, then it can last for 10 to 30 years or more. You must keep in mind that large propane tanks need to be recertified after ten years since the date of manufacturing. This recertification is an essential process as, during this process, the tank is thoroughly checked and inspected for signs of rust formation and, most importantly, whether there is the presence of any leaks or not. On using a rusted tank, the container will be degraded and lead to the formation of holes. The formation of holes will lead to leakage of the gas.
How to store propane safely?
How to store propane safely?
You can store your propane containers or tanks safely in the following ways:
Is propane a better fuel than diesel and gasoline?
Is propane a better fuel than diesel and gasoline?
Diesel expires if it is kept for a long time. You can add additives to increase the shelf life of diesel to a maximum of 3 years. Gasoline, too, has a minimal shelf life as compared to propane. It can last a maximum of 15 months if additives are used. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of using diesel, gasoline, and propane as fuel.
Pros and cons of using Diesel
Pros and cons of using Diesel
Pros:
The following are the advantages of using diesel:
Cons:
Now that we’ve learned all the advantages of using diesel, let’s take a look at its disadvantages as well:
Pros and Cons of using Gasoline
Pros and Cons of using Gasoline
Pros:
The advantages of using gasoline as a fuel are:
Cons:
The disadvantages of using gasoline as a fuel are as follows:
Pros and Cons of Using Propane
Pros and Cons of Using Propane
Pros:
Cons:
Propane has very few disadvantages of using as a fuel. But these disadvantages can be very deadly. Take a look:
Why isn’t propane used as a fuel for vehicles?
Why isn’t propane used as a fuel for vehicles?
All around you, it is mostly observed that vehicles usually run on either diesel or petrol. You might be thinking that even after having so many advantages, why isn’t propane used widely in vehicles? You know propane has been used as a vehicle fuel since 1912. Today, it is the third most used fuel, after diesel and gasoline. Propane is not used widely in vehicles because handling it is more difficult than gasoline and diesel. Moreover, it also contains only 85 percent of the total energy content. Today it is mostly used in your homes for heating, cooking, and grilling purposes. Additionally, it is also used for laundry dryers, water heaters, backyard barbecues, and portable stoves. With advancements in technology, propane is beginning its use in medium, heavy-duty, and fleet vehicles, like garbage trucks, police cars, city buses, and emergency vehicles.
Final thoughts
Final thoughts
In this article, we have learned about the important functions of propane in our environment as well as our lives. Propane is indeed one of the safest fuels available. Moreover, it can also keep its properties intact and work with full efficiency indefinitely. All you need to keep in mind is the date of inspection of your propane containers. As our Earth depletes day by day because of our actions, using propane as a fuel alternative can be your step towards sustainability.
