[Modelling of LPG Spray Development Evaporation and Combustion]

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

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Abstract

Liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) are substances such as propane and butane, which are transported and stored in the liquid phase in tanks under sufficiently high pressure. It is generated as a by-product either of oil and gas production or refining. The composition components of LPG are much simpler than that of gasoline. LPG is thought to be a cleaner fuel because it is has less impact on air quality. The objective of this thesis is to obtain detailed understanding of LPG cylinder system behaviour during the continuous exhaustion or natural evaporation process via modification of the existing cylinder design. Experiments have been conducted to predict the parameters affecting the evaporation process such as surrounding temperature, pressure, composition and flow-rate of LPG in cylinder based on the rig set up. The investigation of these parameters during discharging process is the initial step in a usage management of LPG, which is an essential part to evaluate the left over problem. In a parallel effort, a computer model has been developed based on the unsteady state of heat and mass transfer concepts using MATCAB 2000.

Table of Content

Chapter 1: Introduction6

Research Background6

Objective and Scopes of Study8

Chapter 2: Literature Study9

Overview of Liquefied Petroleum Gas9

Modeling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Operation11

Chapter 3: Methodology11

Chapter 3: Methodology12

Fuels and Apparatus12

Study Procedure13

Summary13

Chapter 4: Experimental Study14

Chapter 5: Mathematical Modelling14

Chapter 6: Conclusions and Recommendations14

References15

Chapter 1: Introduction

Research Background

Liquefied Petroleum gas has become more popular compared to other liquid fuels based on a few factors i.e. easy to handle, less pollution; minimum space and can produce a high quality product (Jaimes and Sandoval, 2002, 243). There are a few concepts of liquefied petroleum gas distribution to the customer and it depends on the categories of customer i.e. whether it is domestic, commercial and industry. Liquefied petroleum gas will be delivered to the customer using cylinder, bulk storage or pipeline.

Liquefied petroleum gas or commercially known as LPG is a group of hydrocarbons derived from crude petroleum processes or natural gas, which are gases at normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures but which become liquid with either a moderate drop in temperature or pressure, or both. With that characteristic sometimes LPG is known as a 'hydrocarbon borderline product' (Leary, 1980, 15). Liquefied petroleum gas is a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons consisting mainly of propane and butane and it can also exist in its individual components such as pure propane or butane (Purkayasha and Bansal, 1998, 15). Besides the main components, other minor components, which may exist in LPG, are propylene, butylenes, and butadiene with ...