LOT (Liquid – Off – Take) Installation

• LOT Cylinders were introduced in India in view of shortage of space and availability for a VOT Multi Cylinder Bank, as LOT cylinders save space in places of high consumption like Star Hotels, Small, Medium and Large Scale Industries where installation of a bulk LPG tank is not possible.
• In case of LOT, liquid LPG will be drawn instead of conventional vapour, using a liquid out-take valve which is transferred to a specially designed vapouriser to convert it into gas form to be used for the usage application.
• The rate at which liquid LPG inside is the cylinder is discharged is 4 kg/hr.
• Thus, the quantum of cylinders required is reduced and the number cylinders can be connected in series as per LPG consumption and required stock.

The standard configurations and schematic views of a LOT cylinder bank according to the consumption pattern of the user is as below:

Limitations of VOT Installations:

• Inadequate cylinder banks result in pressure drops in the VOT system throughout the year especially in peak hours or winter season. It is initially designed for the usage estimated and installed at the initial commencement of the project and subsequently more burners and equipment fired on LPG are added but the VOT cylinder bank remains the same.
• There are occurrences of cylinders getting frozen with ice formation on the exterior of the cylinders, hot water buckets are used to increase the natural evaporation rate of LPG, which is a wrong & dangerous practice. Unnecessarily money and energy are spent to recover the residual LPG and increase the pressure output from VOT cylinders.

Advantages & Benefits of LOT Installations:

• A LOT cylinder bank substantially reduces:

  a. Space required for storage of cylinders.

  b. Cylinder handling in Gas Bank area.

  c. The residual gas loss that occurs in VOT cylinders, which returns unused.

• Absolutely safe and recommended where LPG consumption is relatively high in places like hotels and industries and installing a bulk tank is not an option.
• No residual amount returned unused in the cylinder, thus ensuring zero loss of LPG and increased savings for consumers.