Is propane is a clean burning fuel and a good alternative for other more traditional fossil fuels?

The current fuel options on the market range from the fossil fuels we’ve been using for many years to the hybrid electric cars now made by all auto manufacturers. There are many other potential fuels as well such as biofuel and ethanol that can now be a realistic way to power your engine. Propane may not sound like much of an alternative to petroleum but it actually is.

Most of us already make use of propane for cooking on barbecues or to power outdoor accessories. Though some people have propane vehicles, it isn’t as common as petroleum.

Propane is a gas that is converted to a liquid form in order for it to be used. It must be converted so that it is in a portable form and can then be put in tanks and moved. Though propane is derived from fossil fuels, it tends to be much safer. It is perfectly safe for heating homes instead of using natural gas. It may be wise to consider using it for vehicles as well since propane clearly does have some advantages. When compared to natural gas for cooking it proves to be cleaner burning and leaves food much more flavorful.

Propane is given an additive, a certain type of alcohol called ethanethiol. This gives the propane a very distinct scent so that it can easily be detected in the event of a spill or leak. Overall propane is relatively nontoxic. If it is abused as an inhalant it could become very deadly but with proper use it is quite harmless. Another advantage of propane use is that it is often cheaper than gas and tends to last longer with normal driving. It can be a change that eases the tension on your wallet.

A propane powered vehicle might not get as much power as a gas engine but most owners claim not to notice a difference. An added safety benefit is that a propane tank is much stronger than a gas tank and therefore is more resistant to any form of damage such as punctures. Some people make the decision to convert their gasoline car over to propane. This can be done though it does cost thousands of dollars. If you plan to do something like this, be sure to see a professional so it is done correctly.

It’s important to really consider why you want to make the switch to propane

Either way, it is still a fossil fuel and regardless, most fossil fuels are bad for the earth and they are not renewable resources.

On the other hand propane is also regarded as clean and environmentally friendly because its vapor doesn’t cause air pollution and is not harmful if accidentally inhaled  and because propane doesn’t pollute drinking water or damage water or soil based ecosystems. In addition it is non-toxic and isn’t counted amongst the greenhouse gases except for emissions from propane combustion and here the level of damaging emissions following LP Gas combustion is well below other carbon based fuels used in vehicles and engines today, well within the requirements for clean fuel vehicles.

Propane fuel is listed as an approved clean fuel by the U.S. Government and it can help to reduce the smog effects created by the use of other combustible fuels such as petrol and diesel

Fueling up can be an issue. You will likely have to make note of each gas station that has propane, not all of them do. If your goal is simply to save a little money then propane may be a great option for you. However, if you wish to make a difference on a global scale then a hybrid or flex fuel may be preferable. Do your research on all fuel types so you know what you’re really dealing with. Information is a major component of going green.

Author: Levi Quinn

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I have selected a few extra sources of related information about propane if you would like to explore this subject further

Hot water heater wiring – DIY Chatroom – DIY Home Improvement Forum

Draining your propane water heater is an important annual to semi-annual maintenance project that will help to lengthen its service life and decrease energy costs. Draining your propane water heater flushes out the sediment

Rub-a-dub-dub

A Toast ! to you at Unique Gas Appliances, for that first glorious propane water heater; the Safety-vent Fridge is still going strong (and that nobody has broken any mantles in my Falks propane lights lately). 

Water Heater  Cruisers & Sailing Forums

I have a propane water heater in my new boat. The previous owner installed it because he hated running the diesel to get a shower. It can take a small separate propane tank tucked beside the holding tank, or can probably be spliced into …  

Propane Water Heaters – A Better Choice For Energy Efficient Water 

Propane water heaters possess immense utility. Any sort of household necessities such as cleaning, cooking, bathing, etc becomes convenient with the usage of propane water heaters. Propane gas is used as energy to heat water 

Technorati Tags: alternative, barbeque, fossil, fuel, fuels, gas, green, heater, natural, portable, powered, propane, tank, tanks, vehicle, water

Natural gas has a wide range application because of its high octane power. In a number of countries the use of propane or auto gas is gaining a great following among automobile users as the third most used vehicle fuel after diesel and petrol.

The propane is and odorless, nontoxic flammable hydrocarbon compound made up of a chain of three carbon attach to eight hydrogen elements. This complex mix is also called alkenes that when completely burnt up in extra oxygen will produce water, carbon dioxide and energy of fifty mega joule for every kilogram of propane.

Propane is available as gas but to be used in vehicle it is usually liquefied and mixed with other compounds such as butane and propylene. This makes it portable and potent in terms of the energy it generates.

Other compounds odorant compounds are added to make it easier to detect gas leaks. What makes propane a good alternative vehicle fuel is that it is not messy as diesel and produces less carbon deposit, which means less engine wear and oil changes.

Propane releases less carbon monoxide, toxins and smog than their gasoline when used as vehicle fuel

Safety

A number of individuals promote use of propane as fuel for vehicles since it performs the same as gasoline on new or well maintained vehicle. The liquefied propane is stored under modest pressure making the refueling task as quick as a gasoline refill. Furthermore, there are other propane refueling options for natural gas vehicle fuel enthusiast who can modify their automobiles to use the readily available propane cylinders during emergency. In terms of safety, propane tanks are designed to operate under extreme conditions. The tanks can resist puncture twenty times and up to four times operating pressure. While when it come to operation, propane powered engines have lower maintenance cost due to less wear and tear of parts.

Convenience

When it comes to convenience vehicles that use propane have the same engine and transmission parts. However, they have a different fuel storage and distribution system. Propane powered cars have high pressure fuel tanks that can take stress of over 200PSI before they fracture. In addition, their fuel distribution system has a special pressure storage tank that ensures the engine deliver steady performance even as the fuel pressure continues to declines on the main tank. To ensure that one gets the best performance from their propane engine, they need to inspect and repair their fuel system to keep it in top shape.

A present there are a number of propane powered vehicles being used worldwide. Unofficial estimates indicate that close to nine million vehicles are fueled by propane. Some of the automobiles come ready made from the manufacturers, while a growing number are able to use propane after a relatively affordable conversion process. The cost of fuel propane may be similar to that of gasoline but they give a much lower power performance because they are less dense than gasoline. Propane gives users fuel economy.

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Here are some more blog posts and news about alternative fuel propane driven vehicles and conversion:

Clean Cities Initiative Parcels Out $300 Million for Alt Fuel 

Only about100 of the 9000-plus alt-fuel vehicles to be subsidized with the grants will be all-elelctric, including at east 56 neighborhood electrics, or NEVs. But more than 1000 will be trucks and buses (and a few cars) using propane.

Stimulus grant helps state buy alternative-fuel cars

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Thursday the money will help fund an initiative pushing electric, propane, ethanol and biodiesel vehicles. Stimulus grant helps state buy alternative-fuel cars

Cruising The Country in a Propane F150

People have been drag racing with propane powered cars since the 70′s IIRC. Too bad the fuel is not more mainstream here in the USA. 

Asheville’s Alliance AutoGas offers police departments alternative 

Earlier this year, Force 911 completed the installation of 30 Alliance AutoGas hybrid propane fuel systems for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department in Georgia. The fuel converters installed a “propane hybrid” system in each vehicle, … Founded as long ago as 2008, Alliance AutoGas switches auto fleets from gasoline to clean-burning propane-powered vehicles. Cars and trucks are converted to propane power

Technorati Tags: car, cars, conversion, conversions, cylinders, economy, engines, fuel, gas, liquefied, lp, lpg, power, powered, process, propane, tank, tanks, vehicle, vehicles

A propane powered generator is a great option whether for residential, business, or recreational uses, stand alone or portable

More and more homeowners are buying portable generators in case of emergency situations. It seems like there has been an increase in situations where the electrical power has gone down for many reasons. Most of these situations appear to be weather related but from time to time power plants have experienced problems causing a loss of power to residential areas.

With this in mind it is no wonder that more home owners have been purchasing these power generators. The preference for many individuals is to buy propane generators because of the many benefits of using propane. First of all propane powered generators are very reasonable in cost. They are usually portable and easy to move. Propane is a fuel that is easy to store and has a long shelf life. Propane is readily available at a good price, providing good power at a decent value. And finally propane is safe and burns cleaner than other fossil fuels and compared to the traditional gasoline powered generators.

These are all major reasons why propane is fast becoming the fuel of choice for generators. If that is not enough, propane does not release harmful toxins into the atmosphere like gasoline. You can feel safe and secure with propane. The fact is that propane generators offer a degree of safety and security over gasoline powered generators. The propane tank is secure and sturdy. No one is going to try to come in and steal propane like they would with gasoline. Your investment is more protected from leakage, theft, and vandalism. Propane tanks are also very easy to replace and refill. Generally you can take the tank in to your gas supplier and pick up a new one right on the spot. There is no waiting and you always have a fresh new tank that is filled and ready to go. This is going to safe you time and money. That can not be said about gasoline. The price of propane has remained stable as well. Most likely you are not going to see those high spikes in the price of propane like you see with gasoline.

When it comes to the market place you will find many brand names available for propane generators to choose. They also come in many sizes to provide you the power you need for any situation. They are readily available at stores and home improvement centers. You can also talk with your local gas supplier for advice on a propane powered generator. It is an investment that will pay dividends for your home or business. If you need a generator you should investigate the advantages of propane.

Many households already have propane tanks to meet their water heating, cooking, outside lighting, and other needs

Author Simon Harris writes about Propane Prices at http://www.propane-prices.org

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Locating A Good Portable Or Propane Generator Isn’t That Difficult

Locating A Good Portable Or Propane Generator Isn’t That Difficult. by Frank Froggatt. Portable generators can be purchased for both camping trips and for use at home. An excellent but costly portable generator is the Honda EU1000i 

Service Plus Heating & Air Conditioning 

Furnaces and Boilers: Natural gas & propane furnaces must meet an Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) 95 or higher, oil furnaces and gas, oil and propane boilers must meet an AFUE of 90 or better. 

Patio Radiant Heaters

Tabletop patio heater: Tabletop patio heaters use small disposable propane gas cylinders. These models of heaters are not very expensive. Table patio propane heaters use a dome to radiate heat in all directions.

Propane camping stoves

Propane cooks hot very fast and is much cleaner than alternate fuel. It is very much like cooking at home on your kitchen stove. In situation like car campaign propane stoves are very easy to use. Propane is available in small canisters 

A New Push To Use Existing Clean Energy Sources

And the propane industry will continue its partnership with T. Boone Pickens to help tell the stories of the many examples of propane technology already in use today to educate through public relations, social media, conferences

Propane Truck Giveaway Fueled by Stories

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) links storytelling and pickups as part of its new Propane Tank Tales Program, an initiative to collect valuable information about propane use on the farm.

Technorati Tags: buying, canister, cost of, cylinder, gas, generator, generators, powered, propane, safety, storage, supply, tanks, use