The advantages of butane gas and precautions when using it

Butane gas is widely used in various industries, such as outdoor activities, industrial heating equipment, liquefied petroleum gas, chemical synthesis, solvents and cleaning agents, etc. It is so closely related to our daily life. Then what are its advantages and precautions when using it？

1. Butane Gas High calorific value and high efficiency

1)High combustion efficiency: The calorific value of butane is approximately 49.5 MJ/kg (higher than that of propane at 46.3 MJ/kg), which can provide a large amount of energy and is suitable as a fuel.

2)Wide range of applications: It is commonly used in portable stoves, lighters, camping equipment, etc., and is also one of the main components of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

2. Butane Gas Easy Storage and Transportation

1)Low liquefaction pressure: It can be liquefied at room temperature by applying a moderate pressure (about 0.2 MPa), which makes it easy to store in steel cylinders and reduces transportation costs.

2)Small volume: The volume of liquid butane is approximately 1/250 of that of gaseous butane, saving space.

3. Butane Gas Clean Combustion

1)Less Pollutants: The combustion mainly produces carbon dioxide and water, with extremely low emissions of sulfur compounds and particulates, making it more environmentally friendly than coal or diesel.

2)No Residues: After complete combustion, there are no residues, reducing the need for equipment maintenance.

4. Butane Gas Safety and Stability

1)Chemical Stability: It does not easily ignite or decompose at normal temperatures, ensuring high storage safety (but ventilation and leak prevention measures are necessary).

2)Enhanced Safety through Additives: In industrial applications, odorants (such as ethyl mercaptan) are often added to facilitate leak detection.

5. Butane Gas Economy

1)Lower Cost: As a by-product of petroleum refining, it has a wide source and its price is usually lower than that of electricity or other clean energy sources.

2)High Utilization Rate: The release volume can be precisely controlled by adjusting the pressure, thereby reducing waste.

6. Butane Gas Flexible for Industrial Applications

1)Refrigerant: Isobutane (R-600a) is widely used in environmentally friendly refrigerators due to its low Global Warming Potential (GWP).

2)Chemical Raw Materials: Used in the synthesis of rubber, plastics, and solvents (such as butadiene, butyl acetate, etc.).

7. Butane Gas Portability

1)Suitable for Outdoor Use: The compact butane gas cylinder is lightweight and easy to carry, making it an ideal energy source for activities such as camping and hiking.

Improper operation of equipment such as gas stoves can cause explosion. For instance, placing a larger baking tray on a gas stove can guide the flame to heat the gas tank, causing it to deform or get damaged, and thus leading to gas leakage. In addition, when used outdoors, wind can also blow flames towards one side of the cylinder, causing an explosion ‌.Here are the precautions when using it:

1)Don’t make the size of the pot larger than that of the stove