Significance and Use 5.1 The moisture content of LPG can be critical to the use, transportation, or processing of LPG products, especially at cold ambient temperatures and during pressure throttling, when icing or hydrate formation, or both, are most likely to occur. In order to prevent ice or hydrate formation, or both, the water content has to be low enough to prevent the formation of free water in storage tanks and/or regulators over the entire range of operating conditions (temperatures, pressures, and compositions) encountered during normal service. For example, propane and propane-propene mixtures require moisture levels below the equilibrium saturation level of water at operating temperature and pressure for these hydrocarbons to meet specifications such as Specification D1835. 5.2 The presence of free water in a propane system can lead to ice or hydrate accumulation, the blockage of vapor or liquid fuel lines, and disrupt the operation of pumps, meters, filters, valves, regulators, safety shut-off valves, and other equipment. 5.3 This test method allows continuous monitoring of process flow streams and could be applied to monitoring of product dryness during transportation operations if it is known that methanol has not been added.Scope 1.1 This test method covers the quantitative determination of water in liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) from 1 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg using an online electronic moisture analyzer, also known as an electronic hygrometer or dew point analyzer, in the absence of methanol or other anti-freeze agent. 1.1.1 These analyzers commonly use sensing cells based on aluminum oxide, Al2O3, silicone, phosphorus pentoxide, P2O5, piezoelectric-type cells, or laser-based technologies to measure the dew point temperature of LPG. 1.1.2 Knowledge of the hydrocarbon composition of the LPG is required to calculate the water content on a mass basis from the dew point temperature of an LPG sample. 1.1.3 The LPG shall be free of alcohol (sometimes added as an anti-freeze agent) as it can interfere with the electronic moisture analyzer. Thus the method will be most useful in a process facility where it is known that no methanol has been added to the LPG product. 1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. 1.2.1 There is an exception in Appendix X1, where the unit “mbar” is used in data provided by an external source, and parts per million by weight (ppm by weight) is widely used in industry. 1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
