Propane, which comes from natural gas processing and oil refining, is a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is liquefied through pressurization. Meanwhile, butane is also a flammable hydrocarbon gas that comes from natural gas processing and oil refining. Butane on the other hand, is more commonly used as a fuel, propellant and refrigerant. If they are so similar, why does it matter about their differences?
Despite both having similar qualities, there are certain differences between propane and butane which could be either advantageous or disadvantageous depending on how you intend to use them. When comparing propane and butane, the most important differences come down to the boiling point of the gases. This means that propane will continue to vaporize and turn to gas in colder climates, which is perfect for the cold winters we get here in Ontario and for outdoor use.
When stored as a liquid in a tank, propane also exerts a greater pressure than butane at the same temperature. This makes it more suitable for exterior storage and use. Propane and butane are both sourced in the same way and are members of the LPG family, and this means there are a number of similarities between the two gases - the most important of those is their environmental-friendliness.
While propane produces more heat than butane and is more efficient in combustion, butane has a characteristic that is also beneficial to the environment - it liquefies easily, making containment easy.
With both gases there are no long-term negative effects on the environment. Butane is also a single, relatively simple chemical species so theoretically engines and exhaust catalysts could be optimized for low emissions with its use. It also has relatively low reactivity in the atmosphere and like propane, would be stored on-board as a pressurized liquid. Consequently, a butane-fueled vehicle would also have no evaporative emissions, and could also be classified as an inherently low emissions vehicle ILEV.
Butane has a greater volumetric energy content than propane so vehicle range could be extended over that of propane.
Since butane storage pressure is lower than that of propane, there is an opportunity to use the same equipment for delivery and refueling of butane as is currently used for propane.
Butane tends to be in slight oversupply on a yearly basis in the U. The imbalance is projected to equal as much as , barrels per day this year and increase by 20 percent by the year Like propane, butane production is associated with natural gas production and petroleum refining. However, butane production is more easily swung between gasoline and neat product than propane.
This could allow butane supply to more easily balance demand than propane. Subscribers can view annotate, and download all of SAE's content. Learn More ». View Details. Browse Publications Technical Papers Citation: Payne, M.
Spraying directly into the mouth can cause the larynx to go into spasm, blocking off the air supply to the lungs and causing suffocation. This is because when released, propellant gases are at an extremely low temperature. Other harms related to butane include injuries due to accidents or taking risks while intoxicated.
There is also a risk of serious burn injury from fire or explosion as butane is highly flammable. High levels of use within a short period of time can lead to depressed breathing and loss of consciousness. In this state, a person using butane is at risk of choking if they vomit. For information about how to reduce harms, see the Reducing VSU harm page of this website. Taskforce on Butane Misuse.
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