JB2004 wrote:How do I convert Kgs of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to cubic meters (M3)?
For example how would I convert 100 kilograms of LPG in a standard bulk transportation container to M3 (as it is read through a standard utility company meter at your house)? Thanks!
From the ideal gas law, 1 mole of a gas at 1 atm and 0 °C occupies a molar volume of approx. 22.4 L.
Unfortunately, "standard" temperature for a gas meter is 15 °C, and 1 atm. Since this volume is proportional to absolute temperature, it is 22.4 x 288.2/273.2 = 23.6 L at 'standard" temp.
The chemical formula for pure propane is C3H8, so the molecular weight is 44.1 amu or 44.1 g/mol.
So 44.1 g occupies 23.6 L at the standard conditions of the gas meter, or,
44.1 kg occupies 23.6 m³
so 100 kg x 23.6 m³/ 44.1 kg = 53.5 m³
Note that when the 100 kg is delivered, it is pressurized until it is a liquid, and will only occupy around 200 L or 0.2 m³, more or less.
In reality, commercial propane usually has some butane and other gases in it, which will affect the molar mass, and the ideal gas law differs (slightly) from reality and real gases have a compressibility factor, so this figure does not have undue precision but should be pretty close.