The vapor pressure of propane (C3H8) depends on temperature.

Vapor pressure of 100%

propane at temperatures ranging -30 - 110oF (-42 - 43oC) are indicated in the diagram
and table below:

Temperature
(oF)
-44

1)

1)

(oC)

Vapor Pressure
(psig)

(bar)

-42.2

-30

-34.4

6.8

0.5

-20

-28.9

11.5

0.8

-10

-23.3

17.5

1.2

-17.8

24.5

1.7

10

-12.2

34

2.3

20

-6.7

42

2.9

30

-1.1

53

3.7

40

4.4

65

4.5

50

10.0

78

5.4

60

15.6

93

6.4

70

21.1

110

7.6

80

26.7

128

8.8

90

32.2

150

10.3

100

37.8

177

12.2

110

43.3

204

14.1

Boiling point of LPG-gas at atmospheric pressure

It is common to distribute a mixture of propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10) (LPG) for
combustion purposes.
Propane is more suited to colder environments since it evaporates at -44oF (-42oC) at
atmospheric pressure. Butane evaporates at 33oF (-0.5 oC) at atmospheric pressure.
The vapor pressure of a mixture of the two products are indicated in the table below:
Vapor Pressure (psig)
Propane
(C3H8)
(%)

100

70

50

30

Butane
(C4H10)
(%)

30

50

70

100

-44

-30

6.8

-20

11.5

4.7

-10

17.5

3.5

24.5

15

7.6

2.3

10

34

20.5

12.3

5.9

20

42

28

17.8

10.2

Temperature 30
(oF)
40

53

36.5

24.5

15.4

65

46

32.4

21.5

3.1

50

78

56

41

28.5

6.9

60

93

68

50

36.5

11.5

70

110

82

61

45

17

80

128

96

74

54

23

90

150

114

88

66

30

100

177

134

104

79

38

Mixture

110
204
158
122
93
47
2
2
2
-3
1 psi (lb/in ) = 144 psf (lbf/ft ) = 6,894.8 Pa (N/m ) = 6.895x10 N/mm2 =
6.895x10-2 bar

Note that the evaporation temperature is not the only parameter that influences on
evaporation of the propane butane mixture. Evaporation requires heat and if the heat
transferred to the liquid gas is limited - the liquid cools down and the evaporation is
reduced.

Larger consumers requires heat exchangers fueled with hot water, electric heater
or combustion of the propane butane mix itself to supply the evaporation heat.
Smaller consumers requires propane butane mix containers with efficient heat
transfer from the surroundings. By example - composite containers provides less

heat transfer compared to steel containers and may cause problems at lower
surroundings temperatures.

Propane Butane Mix Vapor Diagram - psig

Propane Butane Mix Vapor Diagram - bar

The tables below can be used for propane gas pipe sizing.

Steel Pipe - Schedule 40

Capacity of Pipe (kW)

Pipe Length (m)

Pipe Size
(in)

12

24

50

1/2

70

48

33

22

15

3/4

145

100

69

47

32

274

188

130

89

60

1 1/4

560

387

265

182

123

1 1/2

840

580

400

274

184

1625

1117

768

527

354

2 1/2

2590

1780

1223

841

565

4580

3145

2160

1487

1000

9340

6415

4410

3030

2040

16900

11615

7980

5485

3690

27360

18800

12920

8880

5970

56220

38640

26560

18250

12270

pressure less than 10 kPa

fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%

pressure drop 125 Pa

energy content in propane gas 94 MJ/m3

steel pipes schedule 40

Copper Tubing - type K

Capacity of Pipe (kW)

Nominal Pipe Pipe Length (m)
Size (O.D)
3
6
(in)

12

24

1/4 (3/8)

11

3/8 (1/2)

22

15

11

1/2 (5/8)

45

31

21

15

5/8 (3/4)

79

54

37

26

3/4 (7/8)

112

77

53

36

1 (1 1/8)

239

165

113

77

1 1/4 (1 3/8)

430

295

203

140

pressure less than 10 kPa

fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%

pressure drop 125 Pa

energy content in propane gas 94 MJ/m3

copper tubing type K

Copper Tubing - type L

Capacity of Pipe (kW)
Nominal Pipe
Size (O.D)
(in)

Pipe Length (m)

3

12

24

1/4 (3/8)

12

3/8 (1/2)

26

18

12

1/2 (5/8)

50

34

23

16

5/8 (3/4)

83

57

39

27

3/4 (7/8)

128

88

60

41

1 (1 1/8)

258

177

122

83

1 1/4 (1 3/8)
450
308
211
145
pressure less than 10 kPa
fittings factor 1.5 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 50%

pressure drop 125 Pa

energy content in propane gas 94 MJ/m3

copper tubing type L

The diagrams below indicates required capacity of relief valves on LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas - above ground and below ground tanks and
vaporizers.

Area - square feet (ft2) - Flow rate - cfm air

Area - m2 - Flow rate - l/s air

The tables below can be used for sizing propane gas pipes with pressure above 5
psig (35 kPa).

Capacity of 100 ft Steel Pipe Schedule 40 (MBH)

Pressure

Pipe Dimension (in)

Upstream Downstream
1/2
(psig)
(psig)
10
9

3/4

1 1/4 1 1/2

2 1/2

9.5

606

1265

2385

4896

9.0

875

1830

3550

7083 10612 20439 32576 57590 117460 212500

7335 14126 22514 39800 81180 146870

8.5

590

1239

2330

4785

7170 13810 22011 38910 79367 143590

8
7
6
5

8.1

810

1690

3190

6550

9810 18892 30112 53231 108575 196430

7.6

510

1070

2020

4150

6215 11969 19076 33723 68785 124440

7.2

741

1550

2925

6006

8999 17330 27622 48830 99598 180190

6.6

500

1046

1971

4050

6064 11678 18615 32904 67113 121420

6.3

675

1410

2658

5460

8178 15748 25100 44370 90500 163730

5.7

419

875

1647

3380

5064

5.4

605

1268

2387

4998

7339 14140 22530 39826 81233 146960

4.7

407

850

1603

3290

4930

4.5

536

1120

2110

4325

6481 12480 19890 35166 71730 129770

inlet upstream pressure is more than 35 kPa (5 psig)

one MBH is equivalent to 1000 BTU's per hour

fittings factor 1.2 - equivalent pipe length = pipe length + 20%

1 CFM 2.54 MBH

steel pipes schedule 40

9750 15550 27481 56053 101400

9490 15130 26748 54560

Propane Gas Pipe Capacity Diagram - 10% Pressure Drop

98710