Types of gas mixtures in cylinders for a gas stove: main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages

Have you ever tried to smell a gas leak in your kitchen? And if there is no smell or is it poorly captured? Agree that someone who understands the main differences between gas mixtures and knows how to determine them feels more confident. It is important to know whether liquefied gas in cylinders is what kind of gas and how it will behave in case of violation of the integrity of the gas pipeline. This is a security issue.

Each type of fuel has its own characteristics. Specific heat of combustion, color, smell, temperature of spontaneous combustion - all these are the signs by which we identify a substance. An important parameter is molar mass. The distribution of gas in the event of a leak depends on this value: it will accumulate at the bottom, filling the basement, or, conversely, will rise.

The ability to understand balloon mixtures is the key to correct operation, the absence of fatal errors during replacement, disposal. In addition, knowledge of the theory will help you make the right choice when buying. And that's half the battle.

Natural or liquefied - what's the difference?

Choosing a fuel source, the user may come across two concepts: natural gas and liquefied gas. The first, in most cases, is transmitted through urban backbone networks. Much less often it can be purchased compressed in containers. The second is a traditional composition for propane and butane cylinders.

Natural gas characteristics

The main component is methane. It accounts for almost no less than 70%.

The remaining parts are distributed between heavy hydrocarbons:

• propane;
• butane;
• ethane;
• pentane.

In addition, it contains hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a small amount of hydrogen sulfide. It is important to know that naturally produced gas is odorless and colorless. Therefore, it is customary to enrich natural gas in cylinders odorants - substances with a pungent odor.

You don't have to sniff to detect a leak. Due to its volatility, the compound instantly spreads indoors, quickly attracting attention.

The most common odorant is ethanethiol, which gives off rot or rotten eggs. This compound is toxic in large quantities. It is absolutely harmless in low concentration, typical for the classical composition of the household gas mixture.

The advantages of liquefied gas

The liquefied gas is propane and butane mixed in different proportions. Under high pressure, these carbons turn into a liquid and noticeably decrease in volume. The reverse process is possible when the temperature rises - heating entails expansion of the substance. Therefore, cylinders for liquefied hydrocarbon gases are manufactured strictly in accordance with GOSTs and are filled no more than 85%.

The indisputable advantage of propane-butane gas is its lightness. A cylinder filled with such a mixture will be several times lighter than a similar container with methane.

Other pluses:

• environmental Safety;
• a strong, specific odor is a useful leakage indicator;
• low cost.

Correctly configured plate connected to the cylinder with hydrocarbon gas, will work without soot, give out even streams of burning fuel.

Winter and Summer Blends

Since only one 5-liter cylinder is allowed in residential premises, large-volume containers are installed outside the house. Accordingly, the climatic conditions during use can be any. Taking this factor into account, gas compositions are created for the warm and cold seasons, more about which is written here.

What is the difference between seasonal versions?

Inside the cylinder, liquefied gas is in two states of aggregation: liquid and gaseous. The intensity of filling the gas duct with the gaseous fraction directly depends on the temperature: in heat, the indicator is higher than at low temperatures.

This situation is corrected by changing the proportions of propane and butane. The first is capable of evaporating at 42 degrees below zero. The second loses this ability immediately after crossing the zero mark.

Therefore, in winter versions, the volume of propane increases. In summer, on the contrary, it decreases. This approach makes it possible to reduce the cost of summer versions at the expense of cheaper butane and ensure the efficiency of winter ones.

Calculation of proportions taking into account the climate

When determining the recommended proportions, the middle strip of Russia was taken as a starting point. The minimum propane content for the winter version is limited to 70%. In the summer version, a 50 percent content is permissible.

The composition for other regions is carried out taking into account the distance from the middle zone, climatic features. This should be done by specialists from licensed organizations.

Versatile for any temperature

Correct functioning of portable gas systems in a wide temperature range is characteristic of the combination of propane, isobutane and butane. Having different combustion temperatures, these substances made the complex composition as versatile as possible.

Coloring and marking of gas cylinders

Surprisingly, the world has not yet come to a unified system for labeling gas cylinders. Therefore, when choosing a fuel source overseas, it is imperative to check local regulations. In Russia, all containers with gas mixtures used for cooking on the stove have a white transverse inscription on a solid red background.

All other information is on a metal plate - a kind of product passport. These are the service life, serial number, empty weight, dates of manufacture and next approval, manufacturer's trademark, test pressure.

Coloring and Marking Standards the same for methane and propane-butane mixtures - only red cylinders with a white lettering are suitable for use in the kitchen. Other colors may mean that the container is filled with nitrogen, argon, ammonia, helium, freon.

How to identify a leak?

The difference between methane and propane-butane leaks is the smell. But in fact, and in another case, the stench will make itself felt in the first place.

To detect the penetration of both trains into the airspace, 4 methods are suitable:

1. Definition by hand. Household gases are colder than air. Having passed your hand over the places of flange joints, joints of gas pipeline elements, it is easy to feel the outgoing chill.
2. Using a soap solution. Bubbles that appear on the treated surface indicate a problem.
3. Installing a stationary sensor. Models are preferred that provide not only a digital signal in the form of instrument readings, but also a sound one.
4. Measurement with a portable device.

The method of measuring the concentration of a harmful compound in the air using portable sensors depends on the composition of the gas in household cylinders installed in the kitchen or outside the boundaries of the home.

When measuring propane / butane leakage, install the device at the lowest point in the room. The heavy mixture will primarily fill the floor space.

The situation with methane is the opposite - this gas is twice lighter than air. Therefore, when it evaporates, it will move upward. Accordingly, measurements will have to be made under the ceiling.

How to calculate the fullness of the balloon?

The filling of the container with the mixture is easy to determine by weight. To do this, you need to know the weight of the empty container and the weight of the gas. Both values ​​are always indicated on the metal passport of the product. This can be a rectangular plate or a disc around the valve. The sum of these two values ​​is equal to the mass of a fully filled cylinder. A decrease in the amount indicates fuel consumption.

The weight of the mixture of butane and propane depends on the ratio chosen, since propane is a lighter gas. At zero temperature, one liter of a 1: 1 mixture will weigh 564 grams. The weight of one liter of methane under the same conditions will be equal to 710 grams.

Reasons for the prevalence of propane mixtures

Compositions of propane and butane are much more often used as raw materials for filling household gas cylinders.

The reasons are simple:

1. Propane is easier to liquefy. To influence it, a pressure of 16 atmospheres is enough. Methane will only become liquid after exposure to 150 atmospheres.
2. Inexpensive cost of obtaining liquefied gas in comparison with methane mixture.
3. Less durability of the cylinders, which has a positive effect on the price.
4. Application safety.

Using a container with an internal pressure of 16 atmospheres is much safer. And this is an important selection criterion.

Disposal of gas cylinders

Compliance with the rules for safe disposal is mandatory for gas cylinders with any composition. They must be handed over to specialized collection / exchange points. Despite the fact that propane-butane gas is contained in the container at a lower pressure than methane gas, the possibility of an explosion remains. This is due to the high residual pressure of propane.

The main motives for self-opening of old containers are the use of empty containers for household purposes and scrapping. Experts advise to abandon such ideas or seek the help of professionals. The main thing is to remember that a one-piece cylinder is never completely free from a gas mixture.

An excellent solution is to return the cylinder to a private service company. As a rule, their prices are much higher than the profit from the delivery of the container for scrap metal. An additional bonus is self-pickup, when representatives of the organization leave for the equipment at the specified address.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In order not to be mistaken when choosing, you can focus on the color of the container. To connect to a gas stove, use red cylinders with a white inscription:

The most popular formulation used to fill domestic cylinders is a propane / butane mixture. Correctly selected proportions allow effective use of the physical properties of both substances.

Please note that a cylinder with an inappropriate label must be taken out of service. Any attempt to paint over, change the name is a violation of the rules.

Maybe you have useful experience in using gas stove cylinders, are you well versed in the compositions, or have you ever noticed a leak in time? Write about it in the comments. Your experience can be invaluable to other users.