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69-476: What became Megargel ISD was established in the spring and summer of 1910. The first school received an addition of two rooms circa 1914. In 1924 the school district acquired three school buses and an additional four rooms were added to the school in the wake of an oil boom in the area. The school district had at its peak two schools: Megargel School, which served Pre-School through 6th Grade; and Megargel High School, which served 7th Grade to 12th Grade, and occupied

138-632: A bricky ("brick" shaped van). Although less popular, Mercedes also manufactured a similar-sized light van and conversions were reasonably common in the 1960s and 1970s. Of a similar size and vintage is the British Commer Spacevan conversion. In Europe, the Citroën H-Van has also been used as a base for many campervan conversions, and is popular amongst Dutch and Belgian users in particular. Ex-factory, it had several height and length configurations, and in all versions it had

207-463: A camper , caravanette , motorhome or RV (recreational vehicle) in North America, is a self-propelled vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation. The term describes vans that have been fitted out, whereas a motorhome is one with a coachbuilt body. The term motorhome is sometimes used interchangeably with campervan, but the former can also be a larger vehicle than

276-413: A boost, where it is added through the turbocharger, to mix with diesel fuel droplets. Propane droplets' very high hydrogen content helps the diesel fuel to burn hotter and therefore more completely. This provides more torque, more horsepower, and a cleaner exhaust for the trucks. It is normal for a 7-liter medium-duty diesel truck engine to increase fuel economy by 20 to 33 percent when a propane boost system

345-409: A campervan and intended to be more comfortable, whilst the latter is more concerned with ease of movement and lower cost. For example, some campervans lack built-in toilets and showers, or a divide between the living compartment and the cab. The United States term " recreational vehicle " (RV) is more analogous to motorhome than campervan. Campervans may be equipped either with a "pop-up" roof which

414-457: A chimney, (known as lower heating value ) is −2043.455 kJ/mol. The lower heat value is the amount of heat available from burning the substance where the combustion products are vented to the atmosphere; for example, the heat from a fireplace when the flue is open. The density of propane gas at 25 °C (77 °F) is 1.808 kg/m , about 1.5× the density of air at the same temperature. The density of liquid propane at 25 °C (77 °F)

483-431: A dedicated battery (other than the van battery) known as a deep-cycle or leisure battery , or from AC power , supplied at a campsite via a hook-up cable. Larger models may include a water heater, space heating and air conditioning, a portable toilet and an internal shower. Smaller models often carry a portable toilet, and sometimes an external shower that operates within the privacy of an awning. The term " Dormobile "

552-575: A full double bed area usually with a fabricated aluminium framework. All equipment necessary to set up a well-appointed camp site is stored under the double bed with access through lidded areas under the bed. Unlike a standard station wagon where the camping equipment has to be removed before sleeping or a tent set up, the car camper is self-contained. Similar to North American A-class recreational vehicles (sometimes known generically as "Winnebagos") but generally still smaller in Europe . Fully coachbuilt over

621-618: A garage for bikes, and may be large enough to support a mechanism for towing a small city car . Roughly comparable to the North American C-class (CC). Common base vehicles include the Fiat Ducato , Renault Master , and Ford Transit . Coachbuilt but without a raised bed over the cab. Other beds may be fixed in place, built by moving seats and tables, or lowered from the ceiling. Shower and toilet cubicles usually fitted. Garages and towing fittings may be carried as with

690-456: A gas, very high pressure is required to store useful quantities. This poses the hazard that, in an accident, just as with any compressed gas cylinder (such as a CO 2 cylinder used for a soda concession) a CNG cylinder may burst with great force, or leak rapidly enough to become a self-propelled missile. Therefore, CNG is much less efficient to store than propane, due to the large cylinder volume required. An alternative means of storing natural gas

759-469: A low floor and high ceiling, a legacy of one of its original uses as a mobile shop. It does not usually need a pop-top to accommodate its users. Modern mid-sized Japanese vans such as the Toyota Hiace are sometimes converted to have the appearance of a classic Volkswagen. The car camper is an estate car (UK) or a station wagon (USA) converted into a travel home. The rear cargo area is converted into

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828-526: A medium-to-large van chassis, from 7.5 tonnes and upwards. Highly appointed, sometimes with electrically operated slide-out (sideways) extensions to the living space, electricity-generating windmills and in very large models (of North American scale) sometimes even fitted with a hydraulically operated garage capable of transporting a small car. Smaller (sub 7.5 tonnes) A-class vehicles are also popular in Europe, similar in size to overcab coachbuilts, but without

897-410: A qualified engineer. Insurance for a DIY campervan requires a policy that is flexible enough to cover the vehicle while it is a van, during the conversion process and when it is a completed campervan. There are several types of campervan manufactured by Volkswagen ; depending on their age, they are colloquially referred to as either a splitty (split windscreen), a bay (bay framed windscreen), or

966-399: A significant risk of fire or explosion. Vendors and advocates of hydrocarbon refrigerants argue against such bans on the grounds that there have been very few such incidents relative to the number of vehicle air conditioning systems filled with hydrocarbons. Propane is also instrumental in providing off-the-grid refrigeration, as the energy source for a gas absorption refrigerator and

1035-585: A truckload or railway car load. The price for home heating was exactly double that price; at 95 cents per gallon wholesale, a home-delivered price was $ 1.90 per gallon if ordered 500 gallons at a time. Prices in the Midwest are always less than in California. Prices for home delivery always go up near the end of August or the first few days of September when people start ordering their home tanks to be filled. Campervan A campervan , also referred to as

1104-414: A two-story structure. The high school building first opened in 1927. The high school had the first-ever school band established in the state. The last Megargel school building opened in 1927. The campus, compared to other schools, was outdated by 2006. The gymnasium did not have air conditioning. The classrooms were heated with propane space heaters . The building contained coal chutes. The wood floors in

1173-422: A visible flame. The enthalpy of combustion of propane gas where all products return to standard state, for example where water returns to its liquid state at standard temperature (known as higher heating value ), is (2,219.2 ± 0.5) kJ/mol, or (50.33 ± 0.01) MJ/kg. The enthalpy of combustion of propane gas where products do not return to standard state, for example where the hot gases including water vapor exit

1242-438: Is 0.493 g/cm , which is equivalent to 4.11 pounds per U.S. liquid gallon or 493 g/L. Propane expands at 1.5% per 10 °F. Thus, liquid propane has a density of approximately 4.2 pounds per gallon (504 g/L) at 60 °F (15.6 °C). As the density of propane changes with temperature, this fact must be considered every time when the application is connected with safety or custody transfer operations. Propane

1311-415: Is a popular choice for barbecues and portable stoves because the low boiling point of −42 °C (−44 °F) makes it vaporize as soon as it is released from its pressurized container. Therefore, no carburetor or other vaporizing device is required; a simple metering nozzle suffices. Blends of pure, dry "isopropane" [isobutane/propane mixtures of propane (R-290) and isobutane (R-600a)] can be used as

1380-486: Is a simple asphyxiant . Unlike natural gas , it is denser than air. It may accumulate in low spaces and near the floor. When abused as an inhalant , it may cause hypoxia (lack of oxygen), pneumonia , cardiac failure or cardiac arrest . Propane has low toxicity since it is not readily absorbed and is not biologically active . Commonly stored under pressure at room temperature, propane and its mixtures will flash evaporate at atmospheric pressure and cool well below

1449-545: Is a three- carbon alkane with the molecular formula C 3 H 8 . It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure , but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is often a constituent of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is commonly used as a fuel in domestic and industrial applications and in low-emissions public transportation; other constituents of LPG may include propylene , butane , butylene , butadiene , and isobutylene . Discovered in 1857 by

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1518-535: Is also sometimes used to allow for standing room in the vehicle. Shower and toilet cubicles rarely fitted. The Volkswagen Transporter is a common base vehicle, and Ford Transits are also reasonably common. Also known as "surf vans" (or "surf buses") and "day vans". Typically similar in size to the rising roof designs. Beds usually built by moving seats and tables. Shower and toilet cubicles very rarely fitted. The Volkswagen Transporter and Mercedes-Benz Vito are particularly common base vehicles. They have become

1587-524: Is as a cryogenic liquid in an insulated container as liquefied natural gas (LNG). This form of storage is at low pressure and is around 3.5 times as efficient as storing it as CNG. Unlike propane, if a spill occurs, CNG will evaporate and dissipate because it is lighter than air. Propane is much more commonly used to fuel vehicles than is natural gas, because that equipment costs less. Propane requires just 1,220 kilopascals (177 psi) of pressure to keep it liquid at 37.8 °C (100 °F). Propane

1656-581: Is commonly used for camping and recreational vehicles. It has also been proposed to use propane as a refrigerant in heat pumps . Since it can be transported easily, it is a popular fuel for home heat and backup electrical generation in sparsely populated areas that do not have natural gas pipelines. In June 2023, Stanford researchers found propane combustion emitted detectable and repeatable levels of benzene that in some homes raised indoor benzene concentrations above well-established health benchmarks. The research also shows that gas and propane fuels appear to be

1725-454: Is delivered to end-users via small or medium-sized individual cylinders, while empty cylinders are removed for refilling at a central location. There are also community propane systems, with a central cylinder feeding individual homes. In the U.S., over 190,000 on-road vehicles use propane, and over 450,000 forklifts use it for power. It is the third most popular vehicle fuel in the world, behind gasoline and diesel fuel . In other parts of

1794-467: Is far less than current refrigerants, propane was chosen as one of five replacement refrigerants approved by the EPA in 2015, for use in systems specially designed to handle its flammability. Such substitution is widely prohibited or discouraged in motor vehicle air conditioning systems, on the grounds that using flammable hydrocarbons in systems originally designed to carry non-flammable refrigerant presents

1863-544: Is known as a BLEVE or boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion . The Kingman Explosion involved a railroad tank car in Kingman, Arizona, U.S., in 1973 during a propane transfer. The fire and subsequent explosions resulted in twelve fatalities and numerous injuries. Propane is produced as a by-product of two other processes, natural gas processing and petroleum refining . The processing of natural gas involves removal of butane , propane, and large amounts of ethane from

1932-457: Is much cleaner than that of coal or unleaded gasoline. Propane's per-BTU production of CO 2 is almost as low as that of natural gas. Propane burns hotter than home heating oil or diesel fuel because of the very high hydrogen content. The presence of C–C bonds , plus the multiple bonds of propylene and butylene , produce organic exhausts besides carbon dioxide and water vapor during typical combustion. These bonds also cause propane to burn with

2001-423: Is not commonly used except for imported North American models, which may vary greatly in size from semi-low profile coachbuilts to van conversions. Typically, a van chassis is provided without interior or some exterior features as an "incomplete vehicle" by an automobile manufacturer, and upfitted with RV amenities by a coachbuilder. It is then sold as a completed RV and usually has safety standards certification from

2070-525: Is not suited for most vehicle fuels. HD-5 is a specification that establishes a maximum concentration of 5% propene in propane. Propane and other LP gas specifications are established in ASTM D-1835. All propane fuels include an odorant , almost always ethanethiol , so that the gas can be smelled easily in case of a leak. Propane as HD-5 was originally intended for use as vehicle fuel. HD-5 is currently being used in all propane applications. Typically in

2139-741: Is present for complete combustion, carbon monoxide , soot ( carbon ), or both, are formed as well: C 3 H 8 + 9 2 O 2 ⟶ 2 CO 2 + CO + 4 H 2 O + heat {\displaystyle {\ce {C3H8 + 9/2 O2 -> 2 CO2 + CO + 4 H2O + heat}}} C 3 H 8 + 2 O 2 ⟶ 3 C + 4 H 2 O + heat {\displaystyle {\ce {C3H8 + 2 O2 -> 3 C + 4 H2O + heat}}} The complete combustion of propane produces about 50 MJ/kg of heat. Propane combustion

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2208-440: Is raised during camping , or a fixed roof, either shared with the commercial van that forms the basis of the vehicle (commonly a "high-top" model), or as part of a custom coach-built body. Campervans usually have a small kitchen with a refrigerator (which is often powered by a choice of gas, battery, or mains electricity) and a two-burner gas hob and grill . They generally have dual-voltage lighting which can work from either

2277-466: Is rated HD-5 (Heavy Duty 5%). HD-5 grade has a maximum of 5 percent butane, but propane sold in Europe has a maximum allowable amount of butane of 30 percent, meaning it is not the same fuel as HD-5. The LPG used as auto fuel and cooking gas in Asia and Australia also has very high butane content. Propylene (also called propene) can be a contaminant of commercial propane. Propane containing too much propene

2346-692: Is sometimes used generically in the United Kingdom due to a once highly popular conversion brand, and "Kombi" is used in Australia and other countries. The popularity of this type expanded in the 1950s after Volkswagen commissioned the Westfalia company to use the Kombi version of their Type 2 transporter as the basis for a campervan. Off-road campervans are often referred to as 4WD or 4x4 campers. Some models include expandable tents mounted on

2415-537: Is that theft is much more difficult than with gasoline or diesel fuels. Propane is also used as fuel for small engines , especially those used indoors or in areas with insufficient fresh air and ventilation to carry away the more toxic exhaust of an engine running on gasoline or diesel fuel. More recently, there have been lawn-care products like string trimmers , lawn mowers and leaf blowers intended for outdoor use, but fueled by propane in order to reduce air pollution . Many heavy-duty highway trucks use propane as

2484-720: Is used for heat and cooking in recreational vehicles and campers . Propane is becoming popular as a replacement refrigerant (R290) for heatpumps also as it offers greater efficiency than the current refrigerants: R410A / R32, higher temperature heat output and less damage to the atmosphere for escaped gasses - at the expense of high gas flammability. Propane was first synthesized by the French chemist Marcellin Berthelot in 1857 during his researches on hydrogenation . Berthelot made propane by heating propylene dibromide (C 3 H 6 Br 2 ) with potassium iodide and water. Propane

2553-474: Is used. It is cheaper because propane is much cheaper than diesel fuel. The longer distance a cross-country trucker can travel on a full load of combined diesel and propane fuel means they can maintain federal hours of work rules with two fewer fuel stops in a cross-country trip. Truckers, tractor pulling competitions, and farmers have been using a propane boost system for over forty years in North America. The North American standard grade of automotive-use propane

2622-643: The space group P2 1 /n. The low space-filling of 58.5% (at 90 K), due to the bad stacking properties of the molecule, is the reason for the particularly low melting point. Propane undergoes combustion reactions in a similar fashion to other alkanes . In the presence of excess oxygen, propane burns to form water and carbon dioxide . C 3 H 8 + 5 O 2 ⟶ 3 CO 2 + 4 H 2 O + heat {\displaystyle {\ce {C3H8 + 5 O2 -> 3 CO2 + 4 H2O + heat}}} When insufficient oxygen

2691-510: The 1930s included the introduction of railroad tank car transport, gas odorization, and the construction of local bottle-filling plants. The year 1945 marked the first year that annual LP gas sales reached a billion gallons. By 1947, 62% of all U.S. homes had been equipped with either natural gas or propane for cooking. In 1950, 1,000 propane-fueled buses were ordered by the Chicago Transit Authority , and by 1958, sales in

2760-550: The December 2015 EIA figure for the East Coast at $ 2.67 per gallon and the Midwest at $ 1.43 per gallon. As of August 2018 , the average US propane retail cost was approximately $ 2.48 per gallon. The wholesale price of propane in the U.S. always drops in the summer as most homes do not require it for home heating. The wholesale price of propane in the summer of 2018 was between 86 cents to 96 cents per U.S. gallon, based on

2829-541: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) quotes a $ 2.995 per gallon average on the East Coast for October 2013, while the figure for the Midwest was $ 1.860 for the same period. As of December 2015 , the propane retail cost was approximately $ 1.97 per gallon, which meant filling a 500-gallon propane tank to 80% capacity costed $ 788, a 16.9% decrease or $ 160 less from November 2013. Similar regional differences in prices are present with

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2898-781: The French chemist Marcellin Berthelot , it became commercially available in the US by 1911. Propane has lower volumetric energy density than gasoline or coal, but has higher gravimetric energy density than them and burns more cleanly. Propane gas has become a popular choice for barbecues and portable stoves because its low −42 °C boiling point makes it vaporise inside pressurised liquid containers (it exists in two phases, vapor above liquid). It retains its ability to vaporise even in cold weather, making it better-suited for outdoor use in cold climates than alternatives with higher boiling points like butane. LPG powers buses, forklifts, automobiles, outboard boat motors, and ice resurfacing machines , and

2967-584: The U.S. had reached 7 billion US gallons (26,000,000 m ) annually. In 2004, it was reported to be a growing $ 8-billion to $ 10-billion industry with over 15 billion US gallons (57,000,000 m ) of propane being used annually in the U.S. During the COVID-19 pandemic , propane shortages were reported in the United States due to increased demand. The " prop- " root found in "propane" and names of other compounds with three-carbon chains

3036-759: The United States and Canada, LPG is primarily propane (at least 90%), while the rest is mostly ethane , propylene , butane , and odorants including ethyl mercaptan . This is the HD-5 standard, (maximum allowable propylene content, and no more than 5% butanes and ethane) defined by the American Society for Testing and Materials by its Standard 1835 for internal combustion engines. Not all products labeled "LPG" conform to this standard, however. In Mexico, for example, gas labeled "LPG" may consist of 60% propane and 40% butane. "The exact proportion of this combination varies by country, depending on international prices, on

3105-432: The availability of components and, especially, on the climatic conditions that favor LPG with higher butane content in warmer regions and propane in cold areas". Propane is bought and stored in a liquid form, LPG. It can easily be stored in a relatively small space. By comparison, compressed natural gas (CNG) cannot be liquefied by compression at normal temperatures, as these are well above its critical temperature . As

3174-440: The base vehicle's cab. In its place, a (wider) cab is added, which allows for a drop-down bed to be fitted above. Recognisable by their large curved windscreens. Coachbuilt body, retaining the base van's cab, with a raised Luton van style area over the cab containing a bed. Other beds may be fixed in place, built by moving seats and tables, or lowered from the ceiling. Shower and toilet cubicles usually fitted. Sometimes including

3243-590: The building were creaky. In the 2000s, when the school was still open, it attracted troubled teenagers from nearby school districts because of its small class sizes. The April 11, 2006 issue of the Dallas Morning News featured the Megargel School in a front-page article. The school (along with the town) had declined for years, and was running out of funds. After looking at what consolidation options were available with neighboring districts,

3312-580: The circulating refrigerant in suitably constructed compressor-based refrigeration. Compared to fluorocarbons, propane has a negligible ozone depletion potential and very low global warming potential (having a GWP value of 0.072, 13.9 times lower than the GWP of carbon dioxide) and can serve as a functional replacement for R-12 , R-22 , R-134a , and other chlorofluorocarbon or hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in conventional stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Because its global warming effect

3381-413: The conversion is demountable from the back of a pick-up truck body. In recent years, converting vans into self-contained motorhomes or campervans has become a popular trend among people who want to own a motorhome or campervan but don't have the budget for a purpose built motorhome or professional conversion. The conversion process involves stripping out the existing interior of the van and installing

3450-619: The dominant source of benzene produced by cooking. In rural areas of North America, as well as northern Australia, propane is used to heat livestock facilities, in grain dryers, and other heat-producing appliances. When used for heating or grain drying it is usually stored in a large, permanently-placed cylinder which is refilled by a propane-delivery truck. As of 2014 , 6.2 million American households use propane as their primary heating fuel. In North America, local delivery trucks with an average cylinder size of 3,000 US gallons (11 m ), fill up large cylinders that are permanently installed on

3519-577: The floor to the pilot light on the furnace or water heater, and results in an explosion or fire. This property makes propane generally unsuitable as a fuel for boats. In 2007, a heavily investigated vapor-related explosion occurred in Ghent, West Virginia, U.S., killing four people and completely destroying the Little General convenience store on Flat Top Road , causing several injuries. Another hazard associated with propane storage and transport

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3588-408: The freezing point of water. The cold gas, which appears white due to moisture condensing from the air, may cause frostbite. Propane is denser than air. If a leak in a propane fuel system occurs, the vaporized gas will have a tendency to sink into any enclosed area and thus poses a risk of explosion and fire. The typical scenario is a leaking cylinder stored in a basement; the propane leak drifts across

3657-472: The new components. This can include insulating and lining the van, cutting and fitting furniture, installing electrical systems, new windows, a pop-up top and plumbing in a sink and water supply. It is possible to do a hybrid conversion where large elements such as roof, windows and bed are installed by a professional company and the owner then completes the job themselves. Gas installation requires particular expertise and must either be completed or certified by

3726-418: The overcab designs. Typical base vehicles are lighter-duty or smaller-engined variants of the same vehicles used for overcab designs. Based on a high-top van, typically of around 2.8 to 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, without major coachbuilding modifications to the body. Beds typically fixed in place or built by moving seats and tables. Shower and toilet cubicles sometimes fitted. Typical base vehicles are

3795-511: The propane consumed each year, with about 70% of that coming from Canada via pipeline and rail. The remaining 30% of imported propane comes to the United States from other sources via ocean transport. After it is separated from the crude oil, North American propane is stored in huge salt caverns . Examples of these are Fort Saskatchewan , Alberta ; Mont Belvieu, Texas ; and Conway, Kansas . These salt caverns can store 80,000,000 barrels (13,000,000 m ) of propane. As of October 2013 ,

3864-521: The property, or other service trucks exchange empty cylinders of propane with filled cylinders. Large tractor-trailer trucks, with an average cylinder size of 10,000 US gallons (38 m ), transport propane from the pipeline or refinery to the local bulk plant. The bobtail tank truck is not unique to the North American market, though the practice is not as common elsewhere, and the vehicles are generally called tankers . In many countries, propane

3933-425: The raw gas, to prevent condensation of these volatiles in natural gas pipelines. Additionally, oil refineries produce some propane as a by-product of cracking petroleum into gasoline or heating oil. The supply of propane cannot easily be adjusted to meet increased demand, because of the by-product nature of propane production. About 90% of U.S. propane is domestically produced. The United States imports about 10% of

4002-437: The retail cost of propane was approximately $ 2.37 per gallon, or roughly $ 25.95 per 1 million BTUs. This means that filling a 500-gallon propane tank, which is what households that use propane as their main source of energy usually require, cost $ 948 (80% of 500 gallons or 400 gallons), a 7.5% increase on the 2012–2013 winter season average US price. However, propane costs per gallon change significantly from one state to another:

4071-399: The roof while others have pop-up roofs for additional sleeping space and storage. Pop-up roof variants share certain design elements with roof tents as sometimes fitted to more robust four wheel drive off-road vehicles intended for expeditions rather than relaxed camping. A compromise between these two purposes is sometimes reached by basing the conversion on an off-road vehicle. Sometimes

4140-446: The same as for the coachbuilt designs, above. Often, a Dodge, GMC or Ford van will be professionally converted into a high top. Often based on a relatively small van, typically 2 to 3 tonnes gross vehicle weight, including the classic Volkswagen Type 2, and with a roof which raises, usually with fabric sides, in a way not unlike a roof tent. Bed typically in the rising roof but also sometimes built by moving seats and tables. A rising roof

4209-543: The school board voted to consolidate with Olney Independent School District in Olney, Texas (about 12 miles (19 km) southeast), subject to voter approval on May 13, 2006. Proponents argued that the school (which had 63 students, including only one in the seventh grade) simply could not continue to function, and consolidation with the neighboring district (which has nearly 800 students) will provide more opportunities for educational achievement. Opponents feared that closure of

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4278-686: The school would cause the town to disappear. The vote (which required approval of the voters in both districts) was 89% in favor of consolidation. The school and district closed after the school year ended. Olney ISD announced plans to hire former Megargel ISD employees. In 2009 Debbie Wells, a resident of Megargel and a former resident of Grapevine, Texas , bought the Megargel High school property. In 2014 she put it on sale for $ 289,000. 33°27′07″N 98°55′24″W  /  33.4519°N 98.9232°W  / 33.4519; -98.9232 Propane Propane ( / ˈ p r oʊ p eɪ n / )

4347-592: The successors to the classic Volkswagen Type 2. Slightly smaller vans such as the Fiat Scudo may be used; on occasion, even smaller vans such as the Fiat Doblò are used to make casual light-duty campers with minimal facilities beyond sleeping space. A coachbuilt body sits on a (sometimes modified) pick-up load-bed, and generally removable at campsites to allow the vehicle to be used. Ford , Toyota , Nissan and Mitsubishi vehicles are common bases. This term

4416-547: The world, propane used in vehicles is known as autogas. In 2007, approximately 13 million vehicles worldwide use autogas. The advantage of propane in cars is its liquid state at a moderate pressure. This allows fast refill times, affordable fuel cylinder construction, and price ranges typically just over half that of gasoline. Meanwhile, it is noticeably cleaner (both in handling, and in combustion), results in less engine wear (due to carbon deposits) without diluting engine oil (often extending oil-change intervals), and until recently

4485-547: Was derived from " propionic acid ", which in turn was named after the Greek words protos (meaning first) and pion (fat), as it was the "first" member of the series of fatty acids . Propane is a colorless, odorless gas. Ethyl mercaptan is added as a safety precaution as an odorant , and is commonly called a "rotten egg" smell. At normal pressure it liquifies below its boiling point at −42 °C and solidifies below its melting point at −187.7 °C. Propane crystallizes in

4554-443: Was developed by Frank Peterson and its patent was granted on July 2, 1912. The 1920s saw increased production of LP gases, with the first year of recorded production totaling 223,000 US gallons (840 m ) in 1922. In 1927, annual marketed LP gas production reached 1 million US gallons (3,800 m ), and by 1935, the annual sales of LP gas had reached 56 million US gallons (210,000 m ). Major industry developments in

4623-532: Was during this time that Snelling — in cooperation with Frank P. Peterson, Chester Kerr, and Arthur Kerr — developed ways to liquefy the LP gases during the refining of gasoline. Together, they established American Gasol Co., the first commercial marketer of propane. Snelling had produced relatively pure propane by 1911, and on March 25, 1913, his method of processing and producing LP gases was issued patent #1,056,845. A separate method of producing LP gas through compression

4692-663: Was found dissolved in Pennsylvanian light crude oil by Edmund Ronalds in 1864. Walter O. Snelling of the U.S. Bureau of Mines highlighted it as a volatile component in gasoline in 1910, which marked the "birth of the propane industry" in the United States. The volatility of these lighter hydrocarbons caused them to be known as "wild" because of the high vapor pressures of unrefined gasoline. On March 31, 1912, The New York Times reported on Snelling's work with liquefied gas, saying "a steel bottle will carry enough gas to light an ordinary home for three weeks". It

4761-467: Was relatively low-cost in North America. The octane rating of propane is relatively high at 110. In the United States the propane fueling infrastructure is the most developed of all alternative vehicle fuels. Many converted vehicles have provisions for topping off from "barbecue bottles". Purpose-built vehicles are often in commercially owned fleets, and have private fueling facilities. A further saving for propane fuel vehicle operators, especially in fleets,

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