An lpg gas cylinder works when the LPG, stored as a liquid under pressure, turns back into gas by releasing some of the pressure in the gas cylinder.
LPG is generally stored, as a liquid, in steel vessels ranging from small BBQ gas bottles to larger gas cylinders and storage tanks.
LPG gas bottle sizes vary, based on application and demand.
LPG tanks are typically made of welded steel, aluminium or composites. Steel is by far the most common material, as it is the easiest to fabricate and it is a low cost material. Some cylinders are made of aluminium or composites to save on weight. Aluminium is quite common for forklift cylinders, relating to safe lifting. The use of aluminium keeps the weight down to allow for more gas whilst still staying within the safety weight limits. The most recent innovation is the composite cylinder. These are typically fiberglass with a high impact plastic outer shell. Some have an inner lining of HDPE whilst other have a thin steel liner.
Did you know that every time you turn on one of your gas appliances, the LPG gas cylinder works (propane tank works) as your gas starts to boil? If you could see though the steel, you would also notice that it looks just like water boiling.
The big difference is that it happens up until -42°C or -44°F. This is vaporisation, which is how LPG – propane – goes from liquid to vapour (gas).
Water boils at 100°C or 212°F, becoming a gas (steam). In contrast, LPG boils at -42°C or -44°F, becoming gas vapour. LPG stays liquid because it is under pressure in an LPG cylinder (propane tank). As a liquid, it looks a lot like water. It is colourless and odourless in its natural state.
The LPG gas vapour is held in the top of the LPG bottle and the liquid LPG at the bottom.
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