Gas Tank – Propane Tank with Propane – LPG Tank: Bulk Gas Tank Sizes

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Home 9 Business LPG Blogs 9 Gas Tank – Propane Tank with Propane – LPG Tank: Bulk Gas Tank Sizes

In this article:

LPG tanks include everything from a BBQ gas bottle to LPG tank (propane tank), LPG bullet gas tank and up to a giant Horton Sphere.

LPG Gas Tank – Propane Tank with Propane – LPG Tank: Bulk Gas Tank Sizes

Our standard LPG gas tank sizes are the 45kg, 90kg or 210kg propane tank with propane.

An LPG tank (propane tank) is made from welded steel and is designed for the the required pressures and heat expansion of the stored hydrocarbon gases, including propane and butane.

An LPG gas tank is frequently seen at petrol stations for Autogas storage.

LPG tanks and storage vessels include everything from a small BBQ gas bottle to LPG gas bottle, LPG gas tank (propane tank), LPG bullet bulk gas tank sizes and up to giant Horton Spheres.

LPG Gas Tank –  Propane Tank Sizes Chart

LPG Tank Sizes – Propane Tank with Propane Weight:

LPG Gas Tank Capacity (tonnes)

LPG Gas Tank Sizes:

Diameter (mm)

LPG Gas Tank Sizes:

Length (mm)

LPG Gas Tank Sizes:

Capacity (L)

0.5 tonne LPG Tank 915mm 2250mm 980 litres
1 tonne LPG Tank 1065mm 2690mm 1960 litres
2 tonne LPG Tank 1220mm 3920mm 3920 litres
2.5 tonne LPG Tank 1220mm 5940mm 4900 litres
3 tonne LPG Tank 1220mm 7960mm 5880 litres

 

LPG gas tank sizes (propane tank sizes) shown are indicative. Actual LPG tank sizes can vary.
Extremely large LPG gas tank sizes (propane tank sizes) are also available.

Bulk LPG tank

Difference Between an Industrial Propane Tank and a Domestic Propane Tank

There is no difference in the gas provided to industrial and domestic users.

The rate of use means that more liquid LPG needs to be vaporized and that typically means a larger propane tank (LPG tank).

Residential LPG tanks and industrial LPG tanks are identical with the exception of the applications.

LPG Tanks Sizes – Propane Tank Sizes – LPG Gas Tank Sizes

The most common propane tank sizes are 45kg propane tank, followed by 90 kg propane tank and 210kg propane tank with propane sizes.

Half tonne and one tonne propane tank with propane sizes would be common for large country properties and farms, as well as smaller commercial enterprises.

Our standard LPG bulk storage tank sizes range from 0.5 tonnes all the way up to 50 tonnes and larger LPG gas tank sizes.

LPG tanks come in various LPG bulk storage tank sizes (propane tank sizes) for use in LPG bulk storage.

Propane tanks are used for lesser storage.

A good conversion rate to remember for LPG gas tank capacity is that 1 kilogram is approximately equal to 1.96 litre of LPG.

LPG gas tanks comes in a range of sizes.

LPG gas tank storage vessels start from small to mammoth including:
● Forklift Gas Bottle – Propane Tank
● Large Gas Bottle – Propane Tank
● Large LPG Gas Tank – Bullets
● Storage in Intermodal ISO LPG Gas Tank Containers
● Mounded LPG Tanks – Bullets
● LPG Tank Spheres – Horton Spheres
● Underground Propane Storage Caverns

Forklift Propane Tank – LPG Tank

The gas for forklifts is stored in two different size forklift gas bottles.

These LPG tanks are also made from both steel and aluminium.

There are the 15kg aluminium and 18kg steel forklift propane tank.

 

Forklift LPG Bottles

Large Propane Tank – LPG Gas Tank

LPG 45kg gas bottle – also called 45kg propane tank – are the most popular gas bottles sizes for homes and small businesses.

45kg propane tank can be exchanged or refilled onsite via propane tank trucks.

A typical installation is comprised of two 45kg LPG tanks.

This is so you can switch LPG tanks while awaiting an exchange or refill of the empty.

There are also 90kg, 190kg and 210kg propane tank sizes, for heavier use.

These larger LPG tanks are always filled via propane tank trucks, as they are too larger to be exchanged in a practical manner.

 

45kg LPG

Large Propane Tank – Propane Tank Bullets

There are LPG bulk storage tank sizes for various application solutions.

These are sometimes called an “LPG Bullet”, “Propane Tank” or just “Bullet”.

The propane tank is for commercial, industrial and agricultural applications.

Whilst vertical installation is possible, the vast majority of propane tank installations are horizontal.

Propane tank sizes range from ½ tonne to 40 tonnes and larger.

Large LPG bullet tank

Intermodal ISO Propane Tank with Propane

ISO propane tank containers are a propane tank with propane mounted within a standardised framework.

The standardised framework is built to ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) standards, just like a standard (closed steel box) shipping container.

Typical ISO propane tank sizing is 6.05m (20ft) long, 2.4m wide and 2.55m high, although other propane tank sizes also exist, including 12.2m (40ft) versions.

Capacity of the 6m ISO propane tank with propane is 24,000-25,000 litres or around 12 tonnes of propane.

A propane tank container is built to the ISO standards to be “intermodal”, making it suitable for different modes of transportation and stackable.

These containers can be used for transport by ship, rail or truck, being transferred between them without unloading/reloading the Propane cargo.

LPG Intermodal ISO Tank

Mounded Propane Tank – Bullet

Placing a large propane tank or bullet under mounded earth provides enhanced fire safety.

The mounding provides protection from any nearby fires, vandalism and sabotage.

The bullets are buried horizontally. Some of the largest can be up to 7m in diameter and 70m or more in length.

A mounded propane tank with propane allows storage of huge quantities of propane in a single location.

 

Mounded LPG Tank

Propane Gas Storage Spheres – Horton Spheres

A storage sphere is a very efficient and cost effective way to store propane.

Spheres require less steel than a propane tank to hold the same quantity of propane.

Spheres are also a good shape for pressure vessels, as they distribute the stress evenly.

Horton spheres also need less land to store the same quantity of propane, versus bullets.

In addition, they help minimise the cost of piping and foundations, as they hold more in a single pressure vessel.

The Hortonsphere® is named after Horace Ebenezer Horton, builder of the first spherical pressure vessels, back in 1923.

LPG Storage Sphere

Underground Propane Gas Storage Caverns

Why would we have propane gas storage underground?

Underground storage is a cost efficient way to store very large quantities of propane.

Unlike an above ground propane tank, there is no need for refrigeration and there is no finite life span for the project.

The above ground plant and equipment is uncomplicated, requiring minimal maintenance.

The gas is typically held within the cavern by hydrostatic water pressure in the surrounding stone.

These facilities can incorporate a dedicated docking system to load and unload propane ocean tankers.

These can be as large as VLGC class ships of up to 45,000 tonnes.

The docking system also loads smaller tankers for re-distribution to other facilities.

The picture below was taken during the construction phase of the Elgas Cavern, in Sydney.

Elgas Botany Bay Cavern

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Eric Hahn

Steve Reynolds

Technical Consultant

Steve Reynolds is a leading expert in the LPG industry with over 22 years of experience. As part of the national management team at ELGAS, Steve ensures the safe and efficient storage, handling, and transportation of LPG. He serves as the lead investigator for incidents and collaborates with authorities on industry developments.

Steve is a technical advisor to Standards Australia and Gas Energy Australia (GEA), and an active member of the World LPG Association (WLPGA), contributing to global standards and technical reviews. He holds a BSc. (Hons) in Industrial Chemistry from UNSW and has held senior safety and technical roles at ELGAS, making him a trusted authority in LPG safety and standards.