The Fundamentals of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG): Storage, Transport, and Uses

Introduction
Liquefied petroleum gas, commonly called LPG, is a versatile fuel and chemical feedstock composed mainly of propane, butane, or mixtures of the two. These hydrocarbons are gases under normal atmospheric conditions but can be liquefied under moderate pressure, making them much more compact for storage and transportation. LPG is used in households, commercial kitchens, agriculture, industry, transportation in some markets, and petrochemical applications. Its convenience comes with important engineering and safety requirements because the liquid can rapidly vaporize when pressure is released.

Where LPG Comes From
LPG is produced during natural-gas processing and petroleum refining. Natural-gas liquids are separated and fractionated into components including propane and butanes. Refineries also generate LPG-range hydrocarbons in distillation and conversion processes. Before...