However, propane is stored at significantly higher pressure than butane. When a cylinder bottle is filled, the pressure of the LPG in the container varies with the surrounding temperature. As the liquid boils (LPG), it draws heat energy from it surroundings. Heat is needed to convert the liquid to vapour. Some LPG and cylinder bottles are used specifically for the pressure. A 50kg gas bottle contains about 100.2 litres of LPG or 2212Mg of energy.
Most private gas bottle exchangers, offers more of propane than the butane. So, using butane cylinder container to accept a propane refill is not a good idea. The safety valve is likely to blow as the tank is filled. Propane has high pressure than butane. The reverse however, filling a propane cylinder bottle is not a problem, which is why most boats in motorhomes LPG system could start with propane tanks. The pressure and temperature also explains why cylinder bottle doesn't last as long when filled with butane gas. And because you face a logistics hurdle every time a cylinder bottle is exhausted. This is why propane gas would be the preferred refill option if available, fewer refills is easier. However, if you use a butane gas, to avoid running out of gas, you can take two or more cylinders for refills, but this, of course increase the cost and makes transport more difficult.
The main difference between the two main. LPG's is the ability to evaporate at lower temperature, which means that in colder climates, butane gas evaporate rate can slow to the point where the appliance will not work efficiently or fail to work altogether. This is why one finds propane as the LPG gas of choice in the UK, New Zealand, as well as North America. It is also why propane is preferred in rural areas even in less severe climates, as the gas bottle is typically stored outside. In Nigeria, since LPG is mixture of both propane and butane, a standalone propane or butane is not widely available. And LNG suffers in performance when compared with LPG.
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Propane & Butane