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Propane is widely used as a commercial and industrial fuel for numerous high volume usage activities. These types of large volume applications range from fleet fueling, agricultural heating and commercial kitchen cooking to resale cylinder filling and forklift fueling. There are so many different industrial and commercial uses for propane that choosing a properly sized tank to suit the application requirements can sometimes be complex. Tanks for commercial propane use are generally larger than residential propane tanks.
Commercial and industrial propane tank sizing can be very simple or extremely complex depending on usage requirements and application. There are exponentially more factors that go into selecting an appropriate tank size to meet the needs of propane users in commercial and industrial markets. Luckily, if the application requires more propane, a larger tank or an additional propane tank can be installed to meet the demand requirements. Industrial and commercial propane usage demands can be extremely high in certain situations and when available space for tank installation is limited, propane vaporizers can be incorporated into the industrial LP Gas system.
Propane in a commercial application generally implies a larger gas usage volume than that of a residential application. As a general rule, commercial and industrial propane users require larger tanks for their needs as they often use propane throughout the year, independent of the weather or cold temperatures. For instance, a residential kitchen may have a load of 65,000 BTU/hr and operate 10 hours a week while a commercial kitchen has a load of 500,000 BTU/hr and run 70 hours a week meaning an exponentially larger propane usage requirement.
Commercial propane applications will almost always require a larger gas tank to meet the demand and although the tanks are used for an industrial purpose, the tanks are still the same as those used in residential service. People often believe that because the propane tank is used in a business, industrial or commercial setting, it is different than that of a residential tank of the same size. This is a common misperception among people and the fact is, a 500 or 1,000 gallon tank in residential service is no different than a 500 or 1,000 gallon tank in commercial or industrial service. Get a quote today!
Choosing a tank size is solely dependent up how much propane you expect to use. This is not a tricky subject in the propane industry but for many people unfamiliar with propane, it can be a bit confusing. It is recommended that you visit with a propane company to determine the best size tank for a commercial propane application. When talking with them, let them know about any future changes that may impact gas usage. This will help in selecting the most appropriate LP Gas tank for the industrial/commercial application.
To get an approximate idea of what size tank you may need, add up the total BTU’s of LP Gas appliances that will be using propane and divide by 91,500. This will give you a fairly accurate idea of how many gallons of propane will be used in an hour. If the total load is 1,000,000 BTU, the system will use about 11 gallons of propane an hour. It is important to know that this figure represents the BTU load at capacity (100%) so if all appliances are used 10 hours per day at full capacity, the propane consumption will be around 110 gallons per day. Usage such as this would probably require around 2,000 gallons or more in storage.
While commercial and industrial applications may require a year-round supply of propane at a fairly steady rate, any appliances or equipment used during the heating season must be taken into consideration. It would be fairly straight forward to size a large propane tank for use in an industrial setting where LP Gas fired equipment runs at a steady and constant rate. But when the demand for gas increases significantly during cold temperatures and the draw on that same tank is much higher, problems with adequate propane vaporization can arise. This is just one reason that commercial and industrial propane tank sizing is better left to licensed, professional propane companies.
Propane-powered forklifts produce 19 percent fewer emissions than gasoline forklifts and 7 percent fewer emissions than diesel forklifts. Additionally, when you take in total site-to-source emissions, propane’s total emissions are fewer than electricity. Propane-powered forklifts can operate more quickly than electric, which boosts productivity outdoors where faster speeds are allowed. Additionally, propane only requires a quick and easy cylinder switch, which can be faster than charging a battery. Propane has a proven and trusted track record in material handling.
Propane fuels 670,000 forklifts in U.S. factories and warehouses. Choosing forklifts that run on American-made propane reduces dependence on foreign oil and keeps jobs at home. With more than 70 percent of propane production coming from domestic natural gas, the U.S. produces enough of its own propane to exceed customer demand.
Versatile, proven, efficient, and dependable, propane storage tank water heaters offer a great solution for many commercial applications. They are ideal for both new construction and as replacement units in existing buildings, with superior hot water delivery, reduced energy costs, and faster recovery rates compared with standard electric storage tank units. Featuring storage tank capacities, often 100 gallons or more, and the ability to heat water up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, commercial storage tank water heaters are a more robust version of common residential units.
Commercial gas furnaces are self-contained units that supply heated air to condition a wide variety of spaces. With zoned heating capabilities, capacity from 44,000 up to more than 1 million Btu/h, and efficiency levels of 80-98.5 percent, these furnaces can meet very specific commercial demands. And with heated air leaving a propane furnace at a significantly warmer temperature than some electric options, spaces are heated steadily and with reliable comfort.
Commercial propane generators provide supplemental power for a building’s electrical loads when the electric grid is interrupted. They are typically installed as fully automated systems that ramp up quickly for almost immediate power and hands-off operation. Generators with capacities from 5-400 kW are available in single and three phase configurations and voltages of 120, 240, and 480. Propane-powered standby generators offer clear advantages when considering fuel storage, fuel maintenance, and reliability. The indefinite shelf life of propane makes it an ideal fuel for generators.
Propane is used increasingly for vehicle fuels. In the U.S., 190,000 on-road vehicles use propane, and 450,000 forklifts use it for power. It is the third most popular vehicle fuel in America, behind gasoline and diesel. In other parts of the world, propane used in vehicles is known as autogas. About 13 million vehicles worldwide use autogas.
Propane is also used as fuel for small engines, especially those used indoors or in areas with insufficient fresh air and ventillation to carry away the toxic exhaust of an engine running on gasoline or diesel. More recently, there have been lawn care products like string trimmers, lawn mowers and leaf blowers intended for outdoor use but fueled by propane to reduce air pollution.
More than 1 million commercial establishments, such as hotels, restaurants and laundromats use propane in the same way a homeowner does: for heating and cooling air, heating water, cooking, refrigeration, drying clothes, barbecuing, and lighting. More than 350,000 industrial sites rely on it for space heating, brazing, soldering, cutting, heat treating, annealing, vulcanizing, and many other uses. Petrochemical industries use propane in the manufacture of plastics.
Propane is a cost-cutting way for many other types of businesses to save money, too, on things like heating, hot water, and cooking.
Our commercial, industrial and agricultural customers trust Carmichael Propane for:
Increase profits by reducing overhead. When you work with Carmichael Propane, we’ll help you keep your business running efficiently, productively and profitably. Contact us today!
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