Propane History
From barbecue grills and portable stoves to household hot water heaters, it feels like propane has been around forever. In reality, it was discovered just over a century ago, and took a while to make its way into our homes and everyday lives.
Propane was first discovered in 1857 by Marcellin Berthelot, a French chemist, but it wasn’t until 1910 for propane to be identified as a volatile component in gasoline. Walter Snelling, and American chemist, first made the observation that led to the vapor being recognized as an energy source. Along with some colleagues he started the American Gasol Co. and became the first to market propane.
In 1912, a patent was issued for producing LP gas through compression, and commercial use grew. By 1935, the annual sales of LP gas reached 56 million US gallons. During the 30’s, innovations were made in transportation, gas odorization, and the construction of bottle-filling plants.
Since then, propane production has been increasing rapidly. In 2004, over 15 billion US gallons were used annually in the United States.
Quick Propane History Timeline
1910: Chemist Walter Snelling discovers propane after observing how gasoline in a jug causes the cork to pop off. A few years later, Snelling sells the patent and others start developing new uses for the fuel.
1920s: Throughout this decade, research paves the way for new ways to use propane in appliances and gas equipment. Slowly, products are rolled out into homes.
1930s: During this decade, a rotten egg odor, ethyl mercaptan, is added to propane to allow consumers to detect leaks. In addition, railroad tank transit is developed along with local bottle-filling plants, making the fuel even more ubiquitous.
1947: By this time, 62 percent of American homes are equipped with either natural gas or propane.
1950: The first propane-powered buses are ordered by the Chicago Transit Authority. By 1958, total national propane sales reach over 7 billion gallons.
2004: By this time, propane grows to be a nearly $10 billion industry, with roughly 15 billion gallons of propane used annually in the United States.
Real World Propane Applications
Propane is an ideal, clean-burning fuel for a wide variety of applications from standard barbecue grills to portable stoves. Homes across North Central Florida choose propane as the primary energy source to power furnaces, water heaters, dryers, stoves, generators, and pool heaters. Many local businesses and farmers choose propane to power equipment such as grain dryers and lawn equipment.
Propane is known to power a number of vehicles around the world including UPS fleet, school buses, Zambonis, trains, forklifts and even some taxi cabs called the propane Autogas industry. It is also ideal for cooking and heating mobile homes and campers. Propane is starting to become a popular alternative choice to gas and diesel due to its environmental and cost benefits. In the United States alone, over 190,000 street legal vehicles use propane and almost 500,000 forklifts.
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