Propane Vs Butane

[deso]

What's the difference? Is one or the other better for barbecues and patio heaters? Does one come in blue bottles and one in orange?

[buildersmate]

They are different gases and they aren't interchangeable. The have different burners. The butane comes in blue bottles, the propane in red. I think propane burns hotter.

[Clanad]

Buildersmate is on the right track except propane and butane are both Liqufied Petroleum Gasses (LPG). However, propane has a lower boiling point down to -45 C than butane which has the lower vapour pressure at equivalent temperatures and is suitable for interior use only. Therefore propane will continue to convert from a liquid to a gas even in very cold conditions. When stored as a liquid in a tank, propane exerts a greater pressure than butane at the same temperature. Propane is most suitable for exterior storage and use. Its ability to operate in low temperatures makes it suitable as a fuel for many applications. (Source NAT-GAZ)

[KARL]

It is certainly possible to use either/both in many applications, particularly ordinary cooking stoves and camping bits and bobs. Using butane will often be very disappointing when the user has previously used propane in the same application. This is due to the lower pressure and (consequential) lower heat output by butane. Perhaps the most significant difference for the average user is that butane is usually significantly cheaper.

[rugeleyboy]

as much as i dont like to correct buildersmate, i have to on this 1 occasion!

i sell these bottles, its true the butane is mainly for internal use,but if you buy a new BBQ from argos or B&Q they come with a propane regulater on them,but if you read the paperwork on some of these models it will say "can run on butane or propane"......thus making it cheaper as propane is �17.99 for 13kg plus deposit and butane is �13.99 without the need to pay a deposit..

[buildersmate]

Overwhelmed with greater experts I bow to your greater knowledge. I thought the pressure-limiter valves are different - the bit that connects to the top of the bottles?

[rugeleyboy]

do you mean the regulator?

the propane for the BBQ's have a 27mm reg on them, if you want to use butane,you have to change the reg to a 20 or 21mm,some of the smaller propane bottles come with a threaded top,again,if it can run on butane,this reg can be changed.

[buildersmate]

Thanks, now I understand.

[Hammer]

When I bought my (propane) BBQ, the guy in the shop sold me a new regulator and a bottle of butane, saying it would work just as well and work out cheaper.
I've had no trouble so far...

[BiterWylie]

Propane or butane � what type of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) should I use?

Propane. Alde UK recommends the use of propane in all Alde (and SMEV) systems within the UK.

The operating temperature ranges of propane and butane are different, and will impact performance even at mild temperatures. The gas in a smaller bottle will cool quicker as it is tapped than in a larger bottle, and bottles chilled overnight may not warm to operating temperature again during the day. Thus the size of a bottle and the temperature at which it's stored will also impact performance.

BS 5482 Part 1 states, "For butane cylinders, satisfactory service might not be obtained at temperatures of less than 10 �C; the most suitable temperature range is from 13 to 30 �C. For temperatures less than 13 �C, the use of propane should be considered."

Propane will operate down to -42 �C and is more suitable for the British climate.

Be aware that Campingaz (formerly Camping Gaz) is butane, and therefore not recommended for use our systems.

Calor Patio and BP light are Propane and suitable for year round use and with Alde heating systems.

[palmofski]

Propane (Red Bottle), chemical formula C3H8, produces 96 Megajoules of energy per cubic metre.

Butane (Blue Bottle), formula C4H10, produces 126 Megajoules of energy per cubic metre

The problem is that Butane is less volatile and therefore a Propane BBQ tends to burn more gas per second (at the same, outside air temperature) as a result of the higher gas flow rate.

Which is hotter? - Butane is hotter when it's hot outside but Propane is hotter when it's cold outside. Butane is my choice (and has been for years) as it is more economical and I tend to BBQ when it's sunny and hot.

[mickus]

Love the information on Propane and Butane, i have another question.....I have an old 1920/30 gas street Lamp...ive got all the upper gas fittings and even bought mantles, ive tried Propane 37millibar... and a quick try of Butane 28 Millibar, but, these old lamps ran on Coal gas, i found somewhere it was 6.25 Millibar, so the pipes apertures and air ajustment rings all run on a lower pressure system IE: bigger holes ....what i need is a way of converting the pressure of butane or propane down to 6 millibar..... but also after various tests (reduction Tubes ) i came to the conclusion propane does not burn hot enough and unstable flames shoot out...is there any other way to get a hotter gas but at lower pressure ???

mike