precaution while using lpg

The basic idea of LPG is simple. If youre far from a gas main (the ordinary system of natural gas supplied to buildings through a network of pipes), simply get your gas from a large fixed tank or a portable canister or bottle. As its name suggests, LPG is a fossil fuel closely linked to oil. About two thirds of the LPG people use is extracted directly from the Earth in the same way as ordinary natural gas. The rest is manufactured indirectly from petroleum (crude oil) drilled from the Earth in wells in the usual way.

LPG is a mixture of two flammable but nontoxic gases called propane and butane. Both of these are hydrocarbons (their molecules are made from different combinations of hydrogen and carbon atoms): propane molecules (C3H8) have eight hydrogen atoms attached to three carbon atoms, while butane molecules (C4H10) have ten hydrogen atoms bonded to four carbon atoms. LPG sometimes contains a variation of butane called isobutane, which has the same component atoms (four carbons and ten hydrogens) connected together in a slightly different way.

Roughly half the LPG people use is consumed in homes for heating and cooking (in other words, instead of piped natural gas). Typically, this kind of LPG is delivered by road to a large tank placed safely outside a home or other building (for safety reasons). Its also possible to buy reusable gas canisters (from such companies as Calor in the UK) for powering standalone stoves, heaters, barbecues, and outdoor patio heaters (now frowned upon because of the energy they waste to the open air). Tiny LPG canisters are also widely used in portable haircare appliances, such as haircurling tongs.

The main reason for converting to LPG is its superb portability and convenience: it can be used in remote places where ordinary gas supplies are unavailable. That doesnt just mean rural homes: large LPG canisters are extremely useful in disasters and emergencies where supplies of electricity and gas have either been interrupted or never existed in the first place. Although LPG is a fossil fuel, its relatively clean compared to such things as coal and oil (it makes less air pollution

The two big disadvantages of LPG are safety and cost. Keeping a gas pressurized at 274 times less space than it would normally occupy requires extremely sturdy metal tanks and its hardly surprising that LPG containers do occasionally explode. Explosions of gas canisters on building sites are far from uncommon, for example. In theory, since LPG is highly flammable, transporting it by road and storing it in large tanks in populated areas should be much more dangerous than piping natural gas underground. Having said that, LPG suppliers go to great lengths to ensure safety and LPG is generally recognized as being just as safe, allround, as an ordinary natural gas supply. Cost is another big drawback: LPG is typically several times more expensive than ordinary natural gas. But if you cant get piped gas, and LPG is your only option, maybe thats not really such an issue.

Before igniting the gas, we should make sure that there is no foul smell of the leaking gas. If there is foul smell of gas, then the doors and windows should be opened at once to allow the gas to escape. The gas cylinder, rubber tubing and gas stove should then be properly checked to detect the cause of gas leakage. Preferably a mechanic should be called to set right the defect. The gas should be used only after the defect has been rectified. Never use a leaking gas cylinder.

We should not use any open flames like a kerosene stove or electric heater near the gas cylinder. Before igniting the gas, we should make sure that there is no foul smell of the leaking gas. If there is foul smell of gas, then the doors and windows should be opened at once to allow the gas to escape. The gas cylinder, rubber tubing and gas stove should then be properly checked to detect the cause of gas leakage.

The rubber pipe connecting the gas cylinder to gas stove should be checked regularly for any wear and tear. Preferably a mechanic should be called to set right the defect. The gas should be used only after the defect has been rectified. Never use a leaking gas cylinder. We should not use any open flames like a kerosene stove or electric heater near the gas cylinder.

Close the cylinder value when the gas stove is not in use. The rubber pipe connecting the gas cylinder to gas stove should be checked regularly for any wear and tear. The gas cylinder should be handled with care to avoid any damage to the cylinder valve. While lighting the gas stove, first open the cylinder (regulator) valve and then turn the knob of the gas stove.

We should not keep any hot flames like kerosene lamp, kerosene stove or electric heater near the gas cylinder. The gas agency should be informed in case of a leaking gas cylinder and it should be replaced at the earliest. Before lighting a matchstick, we should make sure that there is no foul smell of the leaking gas in the kitchen, near the as cylinder or gas stove.