MAP-Pro gas burns at 3,730 degrees Fahrenheit, while propane burns at 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit. MAP-Pro gas is a superior alternative to propane for soldering since it heats copper faster and at a higher temperature.
Is it butane or propane that burns hotter?
So you’ve undoubtedly read or been told that propane and butane are both types of LPG gas, but what exactly does that mean and what are the distinctions and similarities between the two?
Let’s take a look at LPG and what it is before we get into it. The phrase “liquefied petroleum gas” (LPG) refers to a group of light hydrocarbon gases. Propane and butane are the two most well-known gases in this class.
Because both of these gases have commercial and household applications as well as comparable properties, they are frequently misunderstood. Both gases can be used as fuel for heating, cooking, hot water, cars, refrigerants, and a variety of other applications.
What is propane and what is butane?
Propane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is liquefied through pressurization and is obtained from natural gas processing and oil refining. It is usually used for heating and cooking, but it may also be utilized for a variety of other domestic and commercial applications, ranging from home water heaters to powering a restaurant kitchen.
Butane, on the other hand, is a combustible hydrocarbon gas produced by natural gas processing and oil refining. Butane, on the other hand, is utilized as a fuel, propellant, and refrigerant more frequently.
Why should their differences matter if they are so similar? Despite their comparable characteristics, propane and butane have several variances that may be advantageous or unfavorable depending on how you intend to utilize them.
What are the differences between the two?
When comparing propane with butane, the boiling point of the gases is the most significant difference. Propane boils at -42 degrees Celsius, while butane boils at -2 degrees Celsius.
This implies that in colder climates, propane will continue to evaporate and transform to gas, which is ideal for the cold winters we have in Ontario and for outdoor use. Propane exerts more pressure than butane when held as a liquid in a tank at the same temperature. As a result, it’s better suited for outdoor storage and use.
Are there any similarities?
Propane and butane are both derived from the same sources and belong to the same LPG family, which means they share a number of characteristics, the most important of which is their environmental friendliness.
While propane produces more heat and is more efficient in burning, butane has an environmentally friendly feature in that it liquefies rapidly, making containment simple.
There are no long-term harmful consequences on the ecosystem from any gas. Propane and butane are both clean-burning, non-toxic fuels that provide a lot of energy.
Propane and butane gas emit much fewer greenhouse gases per productivity unit than oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and ethanol because to their reduced carbon content.
Do you want to learn more about propane’s environmental benefits? For more information, read our latest blog, ‘Can Propane Help Me Live a Greener and More Environmentally Friendly Lifestyle?’ or contact our team of specialists now.
Is propane or acetylene hotter to burn?
- When Propane is burned in Oxygen, the flame temperature reaches 2800 degrees Celsius.
- When burning acetylene in oxygen, the flame temperature reaches 3100 degrees Celsius.
Propane, often known as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or LP gas, is a popular fuel. It is carried and kept as a very cold liquid, and if it comes into contact with the skin, it can induce a “frozen burn” or frostbite. Inside a tank or cylinder, liquid propane is converted to gas. Propane is colorless and odorless in its natural state. Manufacturers add a chemical ingredient to propane to give it a unique smell, making it simpler to detect in the event of a leak or spill.
Welding
To begin with, propane cannot be utilized in gas welding. When acetylene is burned in the presence of oxygen, a reducing zone forms, which cleans the steel surface. Propane, unlike acetylene, lacks a decreasing zone and so cannot be utilized for gas welding.
Brazing
Propane can be used for brazing in the same way as acetylene can. Equal result for capillary brazing (silver brazing). Acetylene will be advantageous for Braze “welding (thick flowing brazing alloys).
Cutting
Propane, like acetylene, can be used to cut. When cutting with acetylene, the tip of the inner flame cone is usually placed on the metal (1mm from the plate surface). If you try the same thing with propane, you’ll have to wait a long time. The preheat procedure starts faster if you lift the torch to use the outer flame cone. Because propane only produces a modest amount of heat in the inner flame cone (less than 10%), the majority of the heat in the flame is concentrated in the outer cone. In the inner flame cone, acetylene discharges over 40% of its heat.
As a result, acetylene is preferable to propane for cutting. While acetylene is hotter than propane in terms of temperature, the fact is that individuals are cutting with propane wrongly. They make the error of cutting with propane in the same way as they would with acetylene. The heat in the propane warmup flame is not the same as the heat in the acetylene preheat flame. In summary, cutting with propane necessitates a different method, while acetylene preheats faster in general. Because cutting quality is unimportant in shipbreaking/ship demolition yards and scrapyards, propane is frequently used for cutting.
Heating
…is a completely other story. It is incorrect to claim that propane produces less heat (plain wrong actually). Although acetylene is hotter, it produces less heat. Oxygen / Propane is used for the majority of the preheating. This is a proven fact. The amount of heat provided from propane is greater.
Economy
Propane’s stoichiometric oxygen needs are higher than those of acetylene. The volume of oxygen to fuel gas ratio for the maximum flame temperature in oxygen is 1,2 to 1 for acetylene and 4.3 to 1 for propane. As a result, when Propane is used, significantly more oxygen is consumed. Despite the fact that propane is less expensive than acetylene, the higher oxygen consumption offsets this.
Safety
The most significant disadvantage of utilizing propane on board is, without a doubt, the issue of safety.
With a specific gravity of 0,9, acetylene is lighter than air (1). If gas escapes, the temperature will rise. Propane has a Specific Gravity of 1.66, making it heavier than air (as do other hydrocarbon gases such as butane and MAPP* (modified propane gas). Any propane leak in an enclosed space will sink to the deck level, where it will accumulate and may go undetected.
The oxygen-to-gas combination must be within a specified range for propane to burn successfully. There should be four parts propane to 96 parts oxygen in optimal conditions. When the gas burns outside of these parameters, incomplete combustion occurs, resulting in an excess of carbon monoxide. If the space does not have adequate ventilation, this can be quite harmful. Working in enclosed places such as ballast tanks and double bottoms onboard a ship is common. As the deadly gas replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, carbon monoxide overdose can be fatal.
*”MAPP gas” is a registered trademark of The Linde Group. The original chemical composition, methylacetylene-propadiene propane, inspired the name. “MAPP gas” is a term used to describe a type of gas
Why isn’t MAPP gas available anymore?
Because of its high flame temperature of 2925 C (5300 F) in oxygen, genuine MAPP gas can be used in conjunction with oxygen for heating, soldering, brazing, and even welding. Although acetylene has a higher flame temperature (3160 C, 5720 F), MAPP has the advantage of requiring no dilution or special container fillers during transportation, allowing a larger amount of fuel gas to be transported at the same weight, and it is considerably safer in use.
Due to the high concentration of hydrogen in the flame (greater than acetylene, but lower than any of the other petroleum fuel gases), a MAPP/oxygen flame is not totally suitable for welding steel. The hydrogen corrodes the welds by infusing itself into the molten steel. This is not a severe concern for small-scale MAPP welding because the hydrogen escapes rapidly, and MAPP/oxygen can be utilized to weld small steel pieces in practice.
Underwater cutting, which necessitates high gas pressures, MAPP/oxygen was shown to be beneficial (under such pressures acetylene can decompose explosively, making it dangerous to use). Underwater oxy/fuel gas cutting of any kind, on the other hand, has mostly been supplanted by exothermic cutting, which is faster and safer.
MAPP gas is also utilized in air combustion for brazing and soldering, where its higher combustion temperature of 2,020 C (3,670 F) in air gives it a modest edge over rival propane fuel.
The most significant disadvantage of MAPP gas is its high cost, which is typically one-and-a-half times that of propane at the refinery and up to four times that of propane at the consumer level. It is no longer widely used in large-scale industries. for consumers on a broader scale When high flame temperatures are required, acetylene/oxygen is more cost-effective than MAPP/oxygen, while propane/air is more cost-effective when large amounts of overall heating are required.
A MAPP/oxygen flame, on the other hand, is still extremely desired for small-scale users, as it has higher flame temperatures and energy densities than any other flame other than acetylene/oxygen, but without the hazards and hassles of acetylene/oxygen. It comes in handy for jewelers, glass bead makers, and a variety of other craftspeople. The high heat capacity of the MAPP/air flame is particularly valued by plumbers, refrigeration and HVAC experts, and other craftsmen; MAPP was frequently utilized until recently, and was provided in small to medium size containers.
Blowtorches are used to brown and sear food cooked sous-vide at low temperatures. MAPP gases should be used instead of cheaper butane or propane, according to Myhrvold’s Modernist cuisine: the art and science of cooking, since they create greater temperatures with less chance of giving the dish a gas flavor, which can occur with incompletely combusted gas.
How hot is acetylene compared to propane?
If you ask any welder what they want from their welding tools, they’ll usually tell you that heat, efficiency, versatility, and clean cuts are the top priorities, depending on the type of welding they’re doing.
The fact that acetylene burns hotter is one of the most compelling arguments in its favor. When it comes to welding, many people believe that hotter is better. Is acetylene, on the other hand, actually hotter to burn? Yes is the straightforward answer to this question. Acetylene has a maximum neutral flame temperature of 5720 F in oxygen, while propane has a temperature of 5112. However, this does not imply that propane produces less heat.
Acetylene has the potential to burn hotter and perhaps pre-heat metal more quickly. Propane, on the other hand, may rival or even outperform acetylene with the right knowledge, parts, and setup. Obviously, there are numerous aspects to consider. The question isn’t which option is best, but which option is best for you, based on the work you want to do and the tools you want to utilize.
The fact that propane is safer than acetylene is one of the most compelling grounds for its use. Again, based on the numbers, this appears to be the case. Acetylene ignites at concentrations ranging from 2.5 percent to 82 percent, while propane ignites at concentrations ranging from 2.1 percent to 9.5 percent. It’s easy to argue that propane is far safer to use than acetylene based on these figures. However, keep in mind that both of these gases are combustible and must be handled with caution. Regardless of which choice you choose, the same safety precautions should be taken.
Finally, we must consider the great dollar, which is frequently the deciding factor in many commercial decisions. Acetylene has grown increasingly difficult to get in recent years, increasing the cost. Propane, on the other hand, is more readily available and stable for storage, making it more cost-effective. Indeed, the widening price gap between these two welding fuels has prompted many in the sector to explore switching from acetylene to propane.
What is the temperature of a Bernzomatic propane torch flame?
The thin, lightweight cylinder is made of sturdy steel and is easy to grip and handle while working. This item can be used in conjunction with our Digital Fuel Gauge to simply determine how much fuel is left in the cylinder. The flame temperature of propane is 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit in the air.
Is propane a hotter fuel than wood?
Gas-burning systems are quite convenient, but they can have drawbacks.
To begin with, they are more costly to install.
A plumber will need to run a natural gas line from your residence, or a propane tank will need to be used to fuel the fire. Gas lines and tanks carry the risk of a deadly gas leak, even if the chances are minimal. When employing a propane tank, imaginative landscaping is often required to conceal the unsightly gas tank.
When it comes to heat, gas applications fall short of wood burning systems. Wood burning features have a more traditional appearance and feel. Because wood burns hotter than propane and natural gas, it provides greater heat. This also means that wood-burning stoves are easier to use than gas stoves for outdoor cooking. Nothing compares to the crackling sounds and rustic aromas of a natural cedar-burning fire place. If you do a lot of cooking and want your fire feature to have a true, rustic feel, go with wood burning.
Why is butane used instead of propane in lighters?
A lighter is a small device that produces a flame and can be used to light a variety of flammable objects, including cigars, cigarettes, gas stoves, pyrotechnics, and candles. It is made out of a metal or plastic container filled with pressurized liquid gas, as well as a means of igniting the flame.
Butane lighters come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of additional benefits tailored to the needs and aspirations of the user. Decorated lighters, lighters with engraved or attached logos, limited edition lighters, “dress” lighters, disposable lighters in various sizes, lighters for lighting candles, outdoor cooking stoves, or wood-based fires, and other lighters can be found. Because of features such as viscosity, vapour pressure, and autoignition temperature, butane is employed in more lighters than propane.
There are propane-fueled lighters on the market, but their use is limited. One of the factors is the vapor pressure of each substance at room temperature. Butane has a vapor pressure of 35.4 psia at ambient temperature (25C). It’s 135.7 psia for propane. As a result, the cost of making a lighter that can safely hold propane is likely to be higher than the cost of making a lighter that can only hold butane.
Furthermore, butane is better suitable for this use than propane and is more efficient per volume of gas. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane, therefore it’s better for cold conditions (butane’s boiling point is near -1C below that, so it won’t convert to gas quickly).
Is it possible to braze using a propane torch?
Using a flame, brazing permanently connects two metals. Most metals can be brazed together using a propane torch. Propane torches are frequently accessible at local hardware stores, plumbing supply stores, and metalsmith and jewelry supply stores.
