As established bottled gas suppliers, we’ve seen an increase in popularity for butane gas bottles in recent years, thanks to their versatility and the vast number of benefits they bring to our customers.

Not only is butane perfect for camping and caravanning, but you can also use it for a number of heating applications at home or in your workplace. In particular, butane is a favourable choice for cooking in motorhomes and powering appliances such as ovens, fridges, and gas-powered heaters.

In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at exactly what butane is, as well as the many different uses and benefits of this gas.

What is Butane Gas?

Butane is a form of LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) with a boiling point of -2°C. It can be mixed with propane and commercially sold as LPG.

Butane is highly flammable, and when stored, it needs to be liquified. This is achieved by putting the gas into pressurised canisters — under natural conditions, butane takes the form of a gas.

Fuel for Cigarette Lighters

Butane is regularly used as fuel in lighters as it can be pressurised. The vapour pressure demands for butane are reasonably low, so putting the liquid into lighter products is feasible and does not pose a danger.

When you release the pressure into the valve, the liquid turns into a gas and is easy to ignite with oxygen and a spark. Various gases will disfigure plastic, however, butane is in the group of hydrocarbons that do not cause damage to plastic.

Portable Stoves

Butane is a popular choice for those who like to cook in motorhomes, caravans or while camping. The gas is easy to connect to cooking devices and is easily transportable when compressed into a canister.

It’s important to note that butane gas will not flow when it is cold outside, so propane gas is a better choice for all-year-round camping or caravanning due to the lower boiling temperature.

LPG Gas

Both butane and propane, along with many other substances, can be mixed to create liquefied petroleum gas. LPG can be used to manufacture petrochemicals, calibrate gas detectors, and also be used as a refrigerant.

Our range of Calor gases are incredibly versatile and can be used at home, at work or on holiday. The large canisters are ideal for trips away, while the small bottles are perfect for long weekends or infrequent use.

A Refrigerant

Butane is commonly used as a fuel propellant and refrigerant. Isobutane is an effective refrigerant because of its heat capacity and high purity.

To enhance the performance of butane, gasoline is regularly added when used in refrigeration systems. By adding odours to the refrigerant, it can be detected by humans in case of leaking.

Propellant in Aerosols

An aerosol spray can, which often uses butane as a propellant, works by evaporating the gas from the liquid inside the canister — causing pressure within the aerosol.

When the liquid is released, the propellant turns into a gas and breaks the product up into a spray or mist. Each can is pumped or compressed by the manufacturer to ensure that the contents distribute evenly.

Environmentally Friendly Gas

Butane is not a greenhouse gas and does not affect the ozone layer like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Butane has been a replacement for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) found in aerosol deodorants and for halomethanes in refrigerants, which were negatively impacting our planet.

The Benefits of Butane Gas

• Easy To Use – Whether you’re firing up the gas BBQ or warming up under your patio heater, butane gas is easy to use — attach the gas and let it run!
• Fast and Effective Burn – Like many gases, butane will light instantly, giving you maximum heat output almost instantly.
• Efficient Energy Source – Butane produces approximately 12% more energy than propane (when the same volume is burned). If you light your gas BBQ frequently, then butane is an excellent choice.
• Cost-Effective – In general, butane is usually a little bit cheaper to buy than propane.
• Low Toxicity – Butane burns cleaner than propane and produces carbon dioxide only when lit.
• Efficient In Warm Weather – While butane won’t flow when the weather is cold, it is very efficient in warmer weather.

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Here at Bottle Gases, our butane gas bottles are available in a variety of sizes allowing us to cater to your needs, whether you require a lot or a little.

We take the time to guarantee all of our gases are of the highest quality before delivery, making them efficient and suitable for any application required.

You can speak to us directly by calling 01843 220 596 or by using our online enquiry form.