The Effect ofPropane Gas Burning Rate on the Effeciency of Heating
student photo

Researched by Kristi T.
2004-05


PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of propane gas burning rate on the efficiency of heating.

I became interested in this idea when I went to a store and saw propane sold for what I believed to be a very high price. I thought that if I could find a way to use less propane it would save many consumers money.

The information gained from this experiment could benefit consumers by saving them money.  This is because if people use less propane to do a job, they would need to buy less. It would also protect the environment. The pollution from large vehicles transporting propane is a danger to the environment. Another danger to the environment is the amount of propane. Some scientists predict that at the rate we use propane it could all be used up within the next seventy-five years.

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that there would be no change in the amount of the propane used to raise a fixed amount of water by 50° regardless of burner setting.

I based my hypothesis on a statement made by Larry Tracy on December 17, 2004 during our interview. He said, “No, if you heat propane at different temperatures under constant circumstances, there will be no change in the amount of propane used.”


 EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:
  • Amount of water used
  • Type of water
  • Same water supplier
  • Same burner
  • Same propane tank
  • Same propane supplier (Selah Supply)               
  • Amount of time the burner is on
  • Same scale to weigh propane
  • Same thermometer
  • Temperature change

The manipulated variable was the temperature setting of the flame produced from the propane.

The responding variable was the mass of the propane used in the experiment. 

To measure the responding variable I used a scale measuring in grams.


MATERIALS

QUANTITY ITEM DESCRIPTION
1
 SCALE
1
 BURNER
5
 GALLONS OF PROPANE
1
 PROPANE TANK
12
 LITERS OF WATER
1
 TIN PAN
1
 THERMOMETER


PROCEDURES

1. Weigh propane tank when it is filled
2. Set up burner, hook to filled propane tank
3. Place tin pan, with 10 liters of water in it, on burner
4. Take temperature of water and record
5. Turn propane bottle on, and start timer
6. Put burner on low
7. Keep thermometer in water until temperature is raised 50°C.
8. Turn off the burner and propane tank, and stop timer
9. Record temperature of water and time elapsed.
10. Weigh propane tank and record
11. With fresh water and a new tin pan, repeat steps 3-10, on medium setting for one trial and on high burner setting for one trial.
12. Compare data


RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of propane gas burning rate on the efficiency of heating.

The results of the experiment were that the highest burning setting used the most gas (456.6 grams) to heat 10 liters of water by 50° C.  The lowest setting used the least gas (90.7 grams) to do the same job.  The medium setting was about halfway between at 249.5 grams.  The amount of time required to heat the 10 liters of water by 50° C. was 5.8 minutes on high setting, 7.5 minutes on medium setting, and 25.2 minutes on low.


See my table and graph


CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that there would be no change in the amount of the propane used to raise a fixed amount of water by 50° regardless of burner setting.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the air temperature would affect the results of this test.  For example would the same general pattern exist at freezing and on a hot summer day?

If I were to conduct this project again I would use a more accurate scale and I would conduct several trials at each burner setting.
 

RESEARCH REPORT

Introduction
Propane is a non-renewable resource. Some scientists even suggest that it’s resources may only last up to seventy-five years. It affects the world in many ways. It helps heat homes, cook, and is also used as a fuel. Those are good things but there are also many bad things. Although propane is a clean burning gas, it can still cause pollution while it is being transported. The exhaust from the trucks that transport propane from state to state has a tremendous effect on the atmosphere.

What is Propane?
Propane is a colorless, flammable gas. It has no odor. Factories add an odor to propane so leaks can be found. Although propane is flammable, under some circumstances, one could be burned from its coldness. C3H8 is propane’s chemical name. Propane can change its form (liquid, gas, or vapor). Propane is the 3rd member of the methane series. Propane is a non-renewable energy source. . Propane is a member of the Alkane series of hydrocarbons.

Air Pollution
Air pollution endanger our health with both long term and short term effects. Different people are affected in different ways. For example some are more sensitive to pollutants that others. The young and elderly are often the ones who are most severely affected. Also people with heart or lung/breathing diseases are also often more affected. The longer one is around poisonous pollutants, the worse the affects are. Medical care for these health problems can be expensive.

What is Propane Used For?

Heat
Moving molecules makes heat.  The faster the molecules move inside a substance, the hotter the substance becomes. Since temperature is a measure of heat, it is really just a measure of how fast the molecules are moving. Propane’s boiling point is 42.1° Celsius. Propane’s ignition temperature is 466° Celsius. Its flame temperature is 1970° Celsius.

Cooking
Propane is clean burning and easy to use. It is replacing electric, wood, and natural gas stoves and other cooking fuels in many places

Fuels
Propane is replacing gasoline or other fuels in trucks and cars, ships, and various other motor vehicles.

Where does Propane come from?
Dr. Walter Snelling discovered propane in 1912. Propane is usually found underground,  near oil deposits, mixed with natural gas. Propane is a fossil fuel. It is called a fossil fuel because it was formed millions of years ago from the remains of tiny sea animals and plants. It is one of many fossil fuels found in the LP gas (Liquified Petroleum Gas) family. Others are gas, oil, coal, and peat. Propane is a resource that is running out. Some scientists suggest that propane supplies may last as little as 75 years.

Summary
In summary, propane is a fossil fuel that’s resource is running out. It is very important that propane is used as little as possible and not wasted. If this happens it could protect the environment and also save people money.
BIBLIOGRAPHY


“Calorie.” The American Heritage Student Dictionary, 1994

Dolbear, Geoffry E.   "Butane and Propane” World Book Encyclopedia, 1999.

“How can Air Pollution Hurt My Health?”
<http://www.lbl.gov/Education/ELSI/pollution-main.html>

Jacobs, Linda. Letting Off Steam Carolhord Books, 1998.6-9

McMullan, John T. “Propane” Academic American Encyclopedia, 1998

Morgan, Sally and Adrian. Designs in Science: Using Science Energy, Evans Brothers Limited, 1993

“Natural Gas.” Young Scientist Encyclopedia, 1997

“Butane and Propane.” The New Book of Popular Science, Groiler Danbury, Connecticut 1999, pg.132, 332

Vaughn. “Propane.” Illustrated Science Encyclopedia, 1997

“What is Propane?” November19, 2004 <http://lsa.colorado.edu/essence/texts/propane.htm>


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
  • My parents for helping me with my experiment
  • Selah Supply for donating all of the equipment used in this experiment
  • Mr. Newkirk for helping me with arranging my board
  • Mrs. Helms for helping me with various things along the way

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