Propane Super Science Fair Projects

Name: Kristi
Grade Level 7th
Awards: Mid-Columbia Science Fair. Award of Distinction for Creativity.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of propane gas burning rate on the efficiency of heating.

I became interested in this idea when I went to a store and saw propane sold for what I believed to be a very high price. I thought that if I could find a way to use less propane it would save many consumers money.

The information gained from this experiment could benefit consumers by saving them money.  This is because if people use less propane to do a job, they would need to buy less. It would also protect the environment. The pollution from large vehicles transporting propane is a danger to the environment. Another danger to the environment is the amount of propane. Some scientists predict that at the rate we use propane it could all be used up within the next seventy-five years.

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that there would be no change in the amount of the propane used to raise a fixed amount of water by 50° regardless of burner setting.

I based my hypothesis on a statement made by Larry Tracy on December 17, 2004 during our interview. He said, “No, if you heat propane at different temperatures under constant circumstances, there will be no change in the amount of propane used.”

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

• Amount of water used
• Type of water
• Same water supplier
• Same burner
• Same propane tank
• Same propane supplier (Selah Supply)               
• Amount of time the burner is on
• Same scale to weigh propane
• Same thermometer
• Temperature change

MATERIALS                            

PROCEDURES

1. Weigh propane tank when it is filled
2. Set up burner, hook to filled propane tank
3. Place tin pan, with 10 liters of water in it, on burner
4. Take temperature of water and record
5. Turn propane bottle on, and start timer
6. Put burner on low
7. Keep thermometer in water until temperature is raised 50°C.
8. Turn off the burner and propane tank, and stop timer
9. Record temperature of water and time elapsed.
10. Weigh propane tank and record
11. With fresh water and a new tin pan, repeat steps 3-10, on medium setting for one trial and on high burner setting for one trial.
12. Compare data

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of propane gas burning rate on the efficiency of heating.

The results of the experiment were that the highest burning setting used the most gas (456.6 grams) to heat 10 liters of water by 50° C.  The lowest setting used the least gas (90.7 grams) to do the same job.  The medium setting was about halfway between at 249.5 grams.  The amount of time required to heat the 10 liters of water by 50° C. was 5.8 minutes on high setting, 7.5 minutes on medium setting, and 25.2 minutes on low.

CONCLUSION