[en] The worldwide LPG industry continues to expand faster than the petroleum industry -- 4%/year for LPG vs. 2%/year for petroleum in 1995 and less than 1%/year in the early 1990s. This rapid expansion of LPG markets is occurring in virtually every region of the world, including such developing countries as China. The Far East is the focus of much of the LPG industry's attention, but many opportunities exist in other regions such as the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. The investment climate is improving in all phases of downstream LPG marketing, including terminaling, storage, and wholesale and retail distribution. The world LPG supply/demand balance has been relatively tight since the Gulf War and should remain so. Base demand (the portion of demand that is not highly price-sensitive) is expanding more rapidly than supplies. As a result, the proportion of total LPG supplies available for price-sensitive petrochemical feedstock markets is declining, at least in the short term. The paper discusses importers, price patterns, world LPG demand, world LPG supply, US NGL supply, US gas processing, ethane and propane supply, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline supply, and US NGL demand

[en] China's refining industry has embarked on a massive overhaul and expansion to accommodate soaring domestic growth in refined products demand. Currently that growth in demand is being met by increasing imports of refined products, in recent years attaining triple digit growth rates and squeezing direly needed foreign exchange. The focus is on adding refining capacity of about 1.4 million b/d to the current capacity of about 3.2 million b/d by 2000. Priority for increasing capacity is being given to expanding existing refineries and participating in foreign joint venture grassroots refineries along China's booming coastal regions as well as hiking output. A major challenge for China's refineries is that country's reentry into the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), recently signed in Morocco by more than 100 nations. The accompanying reduction of tariffs on imported refined products will make it more difficult for China's marginal refineries to compete in the domestic market. The paper discusses imports and exports, LPG outlook, refining capacity, revamps needed, third party processing, China's first joint venture refinery, industry plans, and GATT challenges

[en] This document brings together the different financial incentives proposed to the acquisition and utilization of electric power, natural gas or LPG vehicles. The financial assistance of the ADEME, the fiscal incentives and other proposals are detailed. (A.L.B.)

No abstract available

[en] A technology has been developed for the production of SnO₂ + Nb₂O₅ (80 : 20 wt.%) semiconductor solid solution and the thin-film, nanoscaled resistive sensor based on it. The gas sensitivity characteristics of the sensor to different concentrations of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were investigated. The SnO₂ sensor showed sensitive to this gas from temperatures up to 250°C in the presence of ultraviolet irradiation. The 250°C was chosen as the operating temperature and at this temperature the sensor showed sufficient sensitivity, high speed and repeatability of response over time. In the future the SnO₂ structure can be used in security systems that detect LPG and measure its concentrations

[en] The safety of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage tanks, in refineries, petrochemicals plants, or distribution storage, is an important concern. Some serious accidents in recent years, have highlighted the need for a good safety policy for such equipment. Accidents in LPG storage are mainly due to losses of containment of the LPG. Formation of a cloud can lead to a ''Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion'' (UVCE). Liquid leakage can lead to pool fires in the retention area. In some circumstances the heat input of the tank, combined with the loss of mechanical resistance of the steel under high temperature, can lead to a BLEVE ''Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion''. It is obvious that such equipment needs a proper design, maintenance and operating policy. The details to be considered are set out. (4 figures). (Author)

[en] This paper reports that after years of being bandied about within the LP-gas industry but never quite moving beyond the discussion stage, the subject of residential fuel gas leak detectors has finally elicited sufficient attention and group involvement to command priority status and a government agency report. The question of whether or not a propane consumer should spend his or her money on one or more of these devices has sparked deeper discussions regarding internal placement, response sensitivity, maintenance, and a host of other issues. Although some technical questions remain unresolved, it is noteworthy for now that the need to establish a suitable installation standard has been officially recognized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - two prominent entities that exert considerable influence upon the LP-gas industry

[en] This paper proposes switching tank sets to combined regasification so as to reduce the energy consumption in artificial regasification systems. To that end, a tank set must be equipped with a special valve to sustain a pressure of 0.135 MPa in vapor blankets. This valve will trigger alternating draft of liquid and vapor phases of liquefied petroleum gases so as to maximize the utilization of the natural evaporating capacity of feed tanks.

To make the proposed solution scientifically sound, the research team has developed a mathematical model of combined regasification of liquefied petroleum gases, which integrates the two basic periods of tank-set operation: natural regasification in the feed tank, and artificial gasification in the evaporator. In order to validate the proposed model, a pilot set was used for experimentation. The obtained experimental data correlate well with the numerical output of the proposed model, making it recommendable for engineering practice. Studies show that implementing combined regasification in liquefied gas tanks will considerably reduce the energy costs of evaporating gas, making the liquefied gas supply systems much more energy-efficient and cost-effective. (paper)

[en] The paper describes the planning, approval procedures, design, fabrication, site-assembling and the testing of liquefied petroleum gas storage tanks. The practical experience after three years of operation is reported. 8 figs

[en] This paper reports that use of liquefied petroleum gas as petrochemical feedstock will increase worldwide, providing major growth opportunities for LPG producers. World exports of liquefied petroleum gas will increase more slowly than production as producers choose to use LPG locally as chemical feedstock and export in value added forms such as polyethylene. So predicts Poten and Partners Inc., New York. Poten forecasts LPG production in exporting countries will jump to 95 million tons in 2010 from 45 million tons in 1990. However, local and regional demand will climb to 60 million tons/year from 23 million tons/year during the same period. So supplies available for export will rise to 35 million tons in 2010 from 22 million tons in 1990