LPG has its own distinct advantages and can perform nearly every fuel function of the primary fuels from which it is derived. The fact that it can be easily liquefied makes LPG a highly versatile energy alternative, and thanks to a wide variety of packaging and storage options, LPG has numerous fueling applications.
LPG is an exceptional fuel. The energy provided by LPG is unmatched by most fuels, mainly due to its calorific value and portability. Maybe because of this, LPG as a fuel can serve even the remotest of locations. Let's look at some basic LPG properties.
LPG, or Liquefied Petroleum Gas, is an umbrella term given for a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gas majorly containing propane and butane and mixtures of these.
- LPG, by nature, is colourless and odourless. It's a mixture of propane and butane in varying compositions.
- LPG is highly flammable in the 2% to 9% LPG: air ratio.
- LPG remains a gas at normal temperature. Therefore, it's highly pressurised in the cylinders at home to keep it in a liquid state. The liquid form is easy to handle and transport.
- One drop of liquid LPG expands 250 times when it changes to vapour LPG. So, in a short time, it can fill the entire kitchen.
Therefore, Ethyl Mercaptan is the chemical added to LPG to detect gas leakage and avert this danger. It has a pungent smell and is easily detectable by humans.
Even though LPG is beneficial, and people are generally alert, there are still chances for improvement, and a safety culture needs to be inculcated in people. We might have encountered a question many times about what to do if a gas cylinder leaks.
So, please find below some safety tips in case of an LPG emergency or a gas cylinder leakage:
- Do not panic
- Open all the doors & windows for ventilation. LPG is heavier than air, and hence it tends to settle down. Opening the doors must be the first step
- Put off all flames, lamps, incense sticks etc.
- Put the safety cap back on the cylinder
- Close the regulator and burner knobs
- Do not operate any electrical switches, appliances, or equipment in the kitchen
- Isolate the electrical supply from the outside source
- Call your LPG dealer for emergency assistance
- Try to isolate the cylinder to an open space and cover it with a wet cloth
- Call the fire brigade and SUPERGAS team if required
Steps to take in case of any injuries caused due to a gas leak:
- If a person has inhaled the gas and experiencing difficulty breathing, immediately get them outside the house so that they can breathe fresh air. Ensure they are lying in a comfortable position. Administer artificial respiration if necessary.
- If the skin has come in contact with the gas or any burns have been experienced, remove the area covered by cloth and rinse it with cold water.
- Get the injured person to a hospital immediately.
Remember, safety is never a choice. It's a way & part and parcel of our lives.