Propane
Propane - colorless, odorless gas. Its chemical formula is C3H8 .
It exists together in the assorted with butane, which also belongs to the category of alkanes. Depending on the season, the proportions of each gas change - in summer, propane prevails in the mixture, in winter - butane.
Propane is poorly soluble in water. Its boiling point is 42.1 ° C. At such a low temperature, propane gas, which had a liquid form, turns into a gaseous state.
As a hydrocarbon-type gas, it is highly explosive both on its own and when its concentration in air is between 2.1% and 9.5%.
Under natural conditions, propane is distributed together with natural gas, but in this mixture its content is small. For the industrial production of propane, oil refining is required, at elevated temperatures.
Propane production
To obtain propane, using natural gas, it is first transformed into a gas-vapor mixture, which is called synthesis gas, and sent for synthesis. After carrying out the synthesis, gasoline is separated from the obtained gas. The latter is transported to fractionation equipment, where propane is rejected from this composition.
Hydrocarbon heavy gases such as propane, butane, etc. in the composition of oil have highly soluble properties. During processing, they are collected in a special tank called a gas separator. It is to such a separator that oil is transferred from the production site. Further, in this separator, by changing the pressure and the speed of the moving oil and gas flow, the separation (separation) of propane from oil, water and other mechanical impurities is performed. The separation process occurs as a result of differences in the densities of oil, gas, water and impurities. From the basement part of the ladder, water is removed, from the central part - oil, from the top of the oil heavy gas, which then enters the filtration and through the pipeline enters the gas processing plant.
Heavy petroleum gases are used as fuel and for the extraction of various chemicals. Through chemical treatment, from these substances, butylene, propylene, butadiene are obtained. These substances are used to make rubber and plastics.
Safety when filling cylinders
For transportation and storage of propane, cylinders and tanks are required. In these containers, for the safe storage of propane, no stabilizing additives are needed, however, the temperature balance must be maintained no higher than 50 ° C.
Before filling propane cylinders, it is necessary that the liquid volume of the mass does not exceed 85% of the volume of the cylinder. In addition, cylinders entering the filling station must contain residual gas.
