Propane, a natural gas, is also sometimes called LPG or Liquid Petroleum Gas. Generally, propane is used in daily activities such as cooking, heating water, or even in vehicles as a liquid fuel. Due to new technological advancements, its uses are rapidly expanding. However, propane autogas is what it’s called when it’s utilized as a car fuel.
What Is A Propane Tank?
Propane tanks are storage containers for propane in liquid form. They come in a variety of sizes and are manufactured and designed to hold propane at high pressures. The most common material for these cylinders is steel, but they can also be built of aluminum or composite materials.
These tanks are made to be installed and filled on-site at a customer’s location. Larger tanks can be set up on a temporary basis for certain applications with higher demand and consumption requirements.
Propane cylinders are certified by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) because they are meant to be carried with propane inside of them. DOT cylinders are the most frequent name for them.
We required all of the various propane cylinder types to properly size heating units while measuring heating outputs. The most common form of LPG cylinder is 20 pounds tanks, which are utilized for propane gas cookers and patio heaters. However, there are also 40lb, 60lb, and even 100lb propane tanks.
How Is Propane Used In A Car?
Propane cars have spark-ignited internal combustion engines, somewhat similar to gasoline cars. There are 2 kinds of propane fuel injection systems on the market: vapor and liquid. Though it is not used nationwide due to the issue of convenience. However, in many places, it is used as an alternative car fuel.
Propane is kept as a liquid in a low-pressure tank, usually at the back of the vehicle, in both variants. Liquid propane passes through a fuel line into the engine compartment and is turned to vapor by a regulator or vaporizer in vapor-injected systems. The propane in liquid propane injection engines is not vaporized until it reaches the fuel injector, allowing for more precise fuel delivery and enhanced engine performance and economy.
For decades, propane cars have been widely used and refined, and their power, acceleration, and cruising speed are comparable to those of conventionally fueled vehicles. Large vehicles, like cargo vans and public buses, can also adopt propane motors and fueling equipment, with some OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) offering ready-made engines.
Dedicated and bi-fuel propane cars are the two categories of propane vehicles. Only propane can be used in dedicated propane cars. Bi-fuel vehicles are equipped with two different fueling systems that allow them to run on either propane or gasoline. This gives bi-fuel vehicles the option of using either fuel, giving them a longer range than dedicated propane or gasoline vehicles.
Additional storage tanks can extend range, however, tank size and weight have an impact on payload capacity. As LPG has a lower energy density than gasoline and has significantly more severe storage requirements, it is not used in all cars.
Can We Place A Propane Tank In The Yard or Garden?
Yes, indeed! But, due to safety and other reasons, there are certain rules and regulations regarding the placement of a propane tank. The location of an LPG tank is not a decision made lightly. Indeed, there are a slew of federal, state, and municipal laws and restrictions that must be followed on all occasions. The ideal placement distance of a propane tank from a property is as follows:
- 100-pound propane tanks:
- The minimal distance from a building’s opening is 3 feet.
- A 5-foot distance from any source of ignition is required.
- 100-gallon propane tanks:
- The minimum distance from a building’s opening is 5 feet.
- A 10-foot distance from any source of ignition is required.
- 500-gallon propane tanks:
- The minimal distance from a building’s opening is 10 feet.
- A 10-foot distance from any source of ignition is required.
- A minimum distance of 10 feet from a property line is required.
- 1000-gallon propane tanks:
- The minimal distance from a building’s opening is 10 feet.
- A 10-foot distance from any source of ignition is required.
- A minimum distance of 10 feet from a site boundary is required.
5 Best Plants To Hide A Propane Tank
When we place a propane tank on our residential property, we probably would not want the tank to be an exploiter of the beauty of our garden. So, we usually hide or cover the propane tank with plants or various kinds of bushes so that it enhances the vibe of the ambiance instead of diminishing it.
A lot of beautiful and alluring plants can help us hide a propane tank. Below are some of the best plants that we may consider:
- Arborvitae:
Arborvitae plants are native to North America, and they got their identity a few generations ago when early French colonists in Canada found that drinking tea from thuja bark could cure scurvy.
Arborvitae’s dense foliage provides adequate privacy while also adding to the beauty of the landscape. Without pruning, many arborvitaes form a lovely pyramid shape. If we must prune, it should be done only once a year. To reduce root crowding and competition for nutrients and water, plant arborvitae trees around three feet apart, depending on the species.
Arborvitaes are difficult to beat if one is searching for fast-growing, low-maintenance evergreen trees to utilize as a hedge or a cover for the propane tanks. Plant many of them in a row, and the thick, dense foliage will fill in in a year or two, creating the perfect living fence.
- Morning Glory:
Morning glory is the widespread title for approximately 1,000 flowering plants belonging to the Convolvulaceae group. Morning glory flowers bloom early in the morning, as their name implies. Their preferred soils are mesic, with full sun exposure throughout the day.
Morning glory plants are also simple to care for. In reality, once they’re established, they don’t require much upkeep. The soil should be damp but not wet in the ideal situation. Water them once or twice a week during dry periods. Container plants, especially in hotter climates, may require additional watering.
Simply remove spent blooms as they fade or all dead vines after the first fatal frost in the fall to prevent re-seeding and control undesirable spreading. This is also another great option to hide our residential propane tank.
- Bougainvillea:
Bougainvillea vines feature stiff stems with thorns wrapped in heart-shaped leaves and grow quickly. With the right support, their vines can reach a height of 40 feet. Low-growing, shrubby types can be planted in pots and grow to reach only a few feet tall. Bougainvillea blooms occur in a variety of colors, including purple, red, orange, white, pink, and yellow.
Getting enough sunlight is important for Bougainvillea. If we put one in a gloomy place, we won’t get the riot of blossoms that bougainvillea is known for. We’ll be surrounded by vines and thorns. Direct sunlight is necessary for a minimum of six hours a day.
Since it is a vine, we can easily grow these plants around our tank covering it completely.
- Bamboo:
This plant can also be a good choice to hide propane tanks and a great addition to our garden. The plant’s easy growing nature is convenient for gardeners. As long as the environment is favorable, bamboo may grow in almost any type of generally fertile, well-drained soil. It’s low-maintenance and drought-resistant, yet it still benefits from regular watering.
Planting a bamboo tree is super easy. We need to dig a hole twice the diameter of the bamboo’s root ball and place the bamboo in the hole and spread out the roots a little. Then we should backfill the hole gently, tamping down the soil as we go. Finally, we need to fill the hole with water to help fill any air pockets.
This method of planting bamboo will facilitate rapid establishment since the surrounding soil will be loose and the roots and rhizomes will be able to increase more rapidly.
Water the bamboo plants once a week until they are established. For the first two weeks following planting, if possible, provide some shade for the newly planted bamboo.
- Butterfly Bush:
From summer to autumn, the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) is a lovely, fast-growing deciduous shrub with an abundance of blossoms—long, spiked trusses. Its flowers occur in a variety of colors, but butterflies appear to prefer the lavender-pink variety over the white and dark purple varieties.
The shrub of butterfly bushes requires just deadheading and annual pruning in late winter to produce blossoms and a compact shape. Butterfly bush spent flower spikes should be removed as soon as possible after flowering to encourage continued blooming until frost. This plant grows quickly, and spring cutting all the way down to the ground encourages vigorous growth and abundant flowering.
This fast-growing and easy-to-hide plant can be used to cover a residential propane tank. Since it attracts butterflies, our garden becomes more lively than earlier as well.
Most people generally use such vines and plants to hide their propane tanks. However, apart from these, there are a bunch of other plants that we may consider for this. These are just some of the most common options that are convenient for everyone.
Conclusion
Propane is a gas that is commonly used for multi-purpose, including cars. That is why often we install propane tanks in our gardens. But, when placing a propane tank we must follow the rules and guidelines of placing a propane tank. Maintaining the guidelines is also good for our safety.
However, almost everyone wants to hide their installed propane tank as it may disturb the ambiance of our garden. People apply various ideas to hide their residential propane tanks. Several plants, vines, and bushes can be used to get rid of this tension as serious and passionate gardeners do not like propane tanks in their gardens.
We hope, through this guide, you have gained some ideas on how you can hide a propane tank with the help of various plants. There are also other tricks to hide a propane tank. But, plants are probably the best choice.
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