According to the Gas Processors Association HD5 specification for LPG as a transportation fuel, LPG must consist of 90% propane, no more than 5% propylene, and 5% other which is primarily butane and butylene. It is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. The components of LPG are gases at normal temperatures and pressures.
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Propane is a by-product from two sources: natural gas processing and crude oil refining. Most of the LPG used in the United States is produced domestically. When natural gas is produced, it contains methane and other light hydrocarbons that are separated in a gas processing plant. Because propane boils at -44°F and ethane boils at -127°F, it is separated from methane by combining increasing pressure and decreasing temperature.
The natural gas liquid components recovered during processing include ethane, propane, and butane, as well as heavier hydrocarbons.
Propane and butane, along with other gases, are also produced during crude refining as by-products of the processes that rearrange or break down molecular structure to obtain more desirable petroleum compounds.
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What are the Benefits of Using Propane?
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Propane vehicles can produce fewer ozone-forming emissions than vehicles powered by reformulated gasoline. In addition, tests on light-duty, bi-fuel vehicles have demonstrated a 98% reduction in the emissions of toxics, including benzene, 1,3 butadiene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, when the vehicles were running on propane rather than gasoline.
The cost of a gasoline-gallon equivalent of propane is generally less than that of gasoline, so driving a propane vehicle can save money. In addition, propane is the most accessible of all alternative fuels. In the United States approximately 3,000 publicly accessible facilities offer propane.
Approximately 85% of all propane used in this country comes from domestic sources, so driving a propane vehicle can help reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil and strengthen national energy security.
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Current Virginia Clean Cities Propane Projects & Events
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Virginia Clean Cities and the Propane Research & Education Council Present...
Propane Vehicles Seminar
Special Focus on Propane in School Buses
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hosted by: James City County
Location: James City Williamsburg Community Center, 5301 Longhill Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Register by Thursday, April 17th - Instructions below
Agenda
Target Audience: Fleet Managers and anyone with an interest in propane for transportation
11:00 - 11: 15: Welcome & Introductions
Al Christopher and Chelsea Jenkins, Virginia Clean Cities
11:15 - 12:00: Propane 101: Covers the basics of transitioning and using propane in various transportation fleet applications
Greg Zilberfarb, Propane Research & Education Council
DOWNLOAD PRESENTATION HERE
12:00 - 12:45: Lunch and Networking Sponsored by PERC
12:45 - 1:30: Blue Bird Propane Powered Vision School Bus: Provides and overview of the first dedicated propane powered school bus to be offered by a major manufacturer in the U.S. since 2002
Mike Perticone, CleanFUEL USA
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