Using Propane & Underground Propane Tanks

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© 2007 Propane Education & Research Council.

Course Objectives

•Identify multiple energy options for fueling or powering the home, including propane.

•Identify the benefits of using propane to fuel homes.

•Describe different propane applications.

•List propane storage options.

•Understand underground propane tank installation considerations.

•Identify the benefits of underground propane tanks.

•Find a local propane retailer that can work with you and your building partners to help you design homes with propane as the primary energy source.

Why Use Propane?

Why Use Propane?

Objectives

•Identify different energy options available to consumers.

•Provide benefits for using propane.

•Explain why propane is a green energy choice.

Other Energy Options:Electricity

•Power Source for Over 120 Years

•Distributed through the Grid

•Primarily Generated with Coal in U.S.

•Contributes to• Acid Rain

• Global Warming

• Air Pollution

•38% of All Country’s GHG Emissions

•Grid Criticized for• Outdated Equipment

• Poor Performance

• Fewer Workers

Other Energy Options:Natural Gas•Primarily Methane•Cleaner Burning Fossil Fuel •Characteristics are Similar to Propane•Only Available in Population Dense Areas

• Difficult to Transport and Store

• Pipelines Expensive to Expand

•Uses in Residential Homes Include

• Space Heating• Water Heating• Cooking• Clothes Drying• Stand-by Power

Other Energy Options:Heating Oil

•No. 2 Fuel Oil and Red Diesel•Low Viscosity Liquid Petroleum•Heavy Carbon Footprint•EPA Concerns for Ground Water Contamination•Strict Transport and Storage Regulation

Other Energy Options:Solar Energy

•Obtaining Usable Energy from Sun

•Expensive

•Dependent on • Daylight

• Climate

•Requires Southern or Easter Exposure

Benefits of Propane: Cleanliness

•Clean Burning•Non-Toxic•Does not Leave Residuals•Emits Less Carbon Dioxide than

• Coal• Heating Oil• Ethanol

Approved Alternative Fuel•Clean Air Act of 1990•National Energy Policy Act of 1992

Benefits of Propane:Safety

•Industry’s Highest Priority

•Remarkable Safety Record

•Codes and Regulations Developed

• Internally

• NFPA

Safety Features

• Will not Ignite unless source is 920 degrees F.

• Non-toxic

• Not Harmful to Soil or Ground Water

• Odorant Added to Identify Leaks

For more information about propane safety, see www.propanesafety.com.

Safety: NFPA Standards

NFPA 58: Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code

•Adopted in All 50 States•Safety Requirements•Highway Transportation•LP-Gas System

• Design• Construction• Installation• Operation

More information about the standards can be obtained at www.nfpa.org.

Benefits of Propane: Reliability

•Desirable when Natural Gas not Available

•Natural Gas Appliances can be Easily Converted to Propane

•Fuel for Stand-by Generators

•Generators Automatically Start when Electricity Fails

•Fuel Supply Kept on Site, Independent From Regional Pipeline Interruptions

Benefits of Propane: Value

•Immediate Heat

•Warm and Even Heat

•High Efficiency Propane Appliances Available

•Rebates and Tax Incentives Available

•Short Energy Savings Pay-back Period

•Long Term Energy Savings

Benefits of Propane: Cleanliness

Environmentally Friendly

• Clean Burning

• Non-Toxic

• Leaves No Residuals

Contributes to Lowering of Greenhouse Gasses (GHG)

Propane Energy Applications

Propane Energy Applications

Objectives

•Describe residential propane applications for inside the home.•Describe residential propane applications for outside the home.•Identify commercial applications of propane.

Residential Propane Applications:Custom Home Building

60% of Custom Homes Feature Propane44% of Custom Homes Feature Underground Storage

Inside the Home:Fireplaces

Propane Fireplaces•Cost-effective Secondary Heat Source•75% Return on Investment•Propane Fireplaces and Log Sets 100% Efficient

Wood Fireplaces•10% Efficient•Reduces Air Quality

Inside the Home: Central Heating Systems

Furnaces •Run in Short Intervals•Compared to Electric Heat Pumps•Warmer Air Discharges•10 Year Longer Life Span

Hydronic Systems•Pump Hot Water Through Floor Piping•Keeps Warm Air Low

Inside the Home: Water Heaters

Tankless Water Heaters•Reduce energy costs•Initial investment will typically be offset within three years•Typically last 20 years or more•Use less space than tank type water heaters

Inside the Home: Tank Type Water Heaters

•Uses Gas Burner Instead of Heating Element•Utilizes Same

• Connections• Space• VentingAs Natural Gas

•At least 50 Gallon per Hour Water Recovery

Inside the Home: Tankless Water Heating Systems

•On-Demand Hot

Water Heating

• Lower Energy Bills

• Eliminates Heating

Stored Water

•Space Savers

•20 Year Life-Span

•Easily Installed

Inside the Home:Indoor Cooking Appliances

96% of Chefs Prefer Cooking With Gas Benefits:•Instant Flames•Greater Temperature Control•Burners Cool Quickly

Residential Kitchens•Ovens•Cooktops•Convection Ovens•Griddles•Grilltops•Deep Fryers

Inside the Home: Propane Generators

•Keeps electric running during outage

•Primary Energy source

•Turn on Automatically

•Additional Benefits

•Burn Cleaner than Diesel

•More Durable than Gasoline

•Run Quiet

•Propane Can Be Stored without Deteriorating

•Cogneration Units Provide Heat and Power

Outdoor Living

Outdoor Space=30% of Home ValueOutdoor Propane Uses•Grills•Fireplaces•Patio Heaters•Pool and Spa Heaters

Commercial Propane Applications

Commercial KitchensLaundromats•Water Heaters•Dryers

Schools•Heating Systems•Water Heaters•Clothes Drying•Cooking

Propane Availability and Storage

Propane Availability and Storage

Objectives

•Describe where propane comes from.

•Identify retail propane services.

•Distinguish between community and individual underground tank systems.

•Follow the flow of propane from the tank to the house.

•Describe alternatives when burying a tank is not possible.

Where Propane Comes From

•Abundant Supply in United States

• 95% Produced in No. America

• By-product of Oil Refining and Natural Gas Processing

•Large Infrastructure already in place

Retail Propane Distribution

Retail Services•Residential Service and Filling of Tanks•Appliance Sales, Installation and Service•Tank Installation•Community Tank Systems•Gas Piping Systems

To Find a Retailer, Go to www.usepropane.com

Community Propane Storage

•Large Tanks Serve entire Communities

•Usage Tracked for Each Home

•No Tank Refilling by Homeowner

•Serves All Residential Propane Applications, for Example

• Water Heating

• Indoor/Outdoor Cooking

• Stand-by Generator

Individual Underground Tanks

Underground Tank•Does Not Affect Landscaping•Environmentally Friendly

Typical Residential Underground Propane System

Four Basic Parts•Storage Containers•Regulators•Vapor Distribution Piping•Gas Appliances and Ventilation Systems

How Propane Gets to the House

•Delivered as a Liquid•Converts to a Gas Inside Tank•Travels in Gas Pipe to House•Multiple Regulation to Appliances

Residential Above Ground and Mounded Tanks

Above Ground Tank•Sits on Foundation•Painted a Light Color•Landscape Options Available

Mounded Tank•Buried at Shallow Depth•Covered with Fill Soil•Raises above Soil Grade

Underground Propane Tanks

Underground Propane Tanks

Just use the big graphic from the intro page.

Objectives

•Determine the tank size needs of a customer.

•Identify a location for underground tank installation.

•Understand the installation of an underground propane tank.

•Identify underground tank propane vaporization factors.

Underground Tank Location

Location Conditions•Minimum Distance Requirements•Capacity of Tank•State and Local Codes

Underground Tank Location: Minimum Distance Requirements

•Nearest important building.•Nearest property line.•Exterior source of ignition.•Intakes of appliances or ventilation systems.•Openings to homes that are below the level of the relief of the valve.•Stored trash, hay, or other combustible material.•Stored flammable liquids.•Other propane tanks; multiple tank installations.•Cesspools, septic tanks, water or sewage lines, or any underground utility.

Underground Tank Location: Delivery and Refills

•Access for Delivery•Typically within 75-100 Feet of Driveway Access•Emergency Access Required

Tank Size

100-250 GallonsLow Consumption Applications

500 GallonsAverage 4 Bedroom Home

1000+ GallonsLarge Homes with Spas and Swimming Pools

Climate Affects Tank Size•Soil Temperature•Vaporization Capacity•Depth of Burial

Tank Size (Cont.)

Delivery Frequency Determined by•Usage•Climate•Tank Size

Just a Note AboutVaporization

Process that converts Liquid Propane to Gas

Affected by•Outside Surface of Tank•Level of Liquid Propane in Tank•Temperature Surrounding Tank•Location of Tank•Depth of Soil Frost Penetration

Underground Tank Installation

•Small Area Excavation•500 Gallon Tank=12 ft x 5 ft x 4.5 ft•6 in of sand at bottom•Possibly Magnesium Anode Bags attached to tank to Prevent Electrolysis•Backfilled with Sand and Landscaped

Underground Tank Installation (Cont.)

18 in Trench for PipingRegulator at the HouseOnly the Top Dome is Visible; Houses•Filling Connections•Valves

Thank you for taking this course.

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