About liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

LPG is used as a fuel in a range of applications including in heating and cooking appliances, industrial applications, in vehicles and as a propellant and refrigerant. LPG can be obtained primarily as propane, butane or a mixture of the two. A powerful odorant is added so that it is easily detected. LPG is flammable and heavier than air so that it will settle and may accumulate in low spots such drains and basements. Here it could present a fire or explosion or suffocation hazard.

Consumer Bulk Storage for LPG

When the consumption of LPG is above that which can be effectively supplied by the use of manifolded large propane cylinders, a bulk storage vessel can be used.

Consumer vessels for the small domestic and commercial applications typically hold between 200 kg and 2,000 kg.

Consumer vessels are installed at the customer's premises and LPG is delivered to these vessels from a road tanker using its own engine-driven pump. An "on-board" meter records the amount of gas delivered, which is then charged to the consumer. This type of delivery is often described as split bulk, to differentiate it from the full tanker loads delivered to the large industrial consumers.

Bulk storage vessels are normally installed above ground but there is increasing interest for these vessels to be buried or semi-buried (mounded) below ground.

The rate at which vapour can be withdrawn from an LPG vessel, is determined primarily by the level of LPG in the vessel and the ambient conditions. We give advice on the approximate rate at which it can be withdrawn, which will also be dependent on the nature of the consumption, i.e. whether it is intermittent or continuous. The vaporisation mechanism is the same for bulk storage vessels as it is for cylinders.