In the world in which we live fuels are have become an essential part of our lives. There are several types of fuels out there in the market. They can be either liquid, gas, or solid. In this article, we will be studying the differences between Natural Gas And LPG.
What is Natural gas?
Natural gas is a hydrocarbon gas which occurs naturally & it primarily consists of methane but can have many other alkalines, and sometimes can also have carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfide, or helium in some amount in it. It is also called a fossil fuel because it is formed when the decomposed plants and animals interact with the high heat of the earth’s core over millions of years. As this process cannot be repeated Natural gas is a non-renewable energy source. Natural gas has a wide range of applications from utilizing it for vehicle fuel to the manufacturing of plastic. It is used in various parts of different technologies.
The mining of Natural gas is a major reason for climate change. When released into the atmosphere it creates carbon dioxide during oxidation. Natural gas can be burned to generate heat and electricity with minimum waste and toxins. To keep your gas safe, make sure you choose best gas stove brands.
What is LPG?
LPG(Liquified Petroleum Gas) is a gas which we use in our household for cooking. Several gases come under the category of LPG gas. For example propane, butane, propane-butane. Different countries supply different categories of LPG to their citizen. In Australia, LPG contains only propane, whereas in India we have 60% propane and 40% butane. Thus in India, we have mix LPG.
Difference between Natural Gas And LPG?
Natural gas and LPG gas are two different gases. Natural gas consists of methane whereas LPG either consists of propane or butane. The energy content of natural gas is lower as compared to LPG. LPG’s energy content is 93.2 MJ/m³ whereas the energy content of Natural Gas is 38.7MJ/m³. Due to this, we require less LPG as compared to natural gas to perform the same task. Natural gas is lighter than air whereas LPG is heavier than air. The process for liquefication for both gases is different. LPG is liquefied by compressing the LPG gases whereas Natural gas is cryogenically liquified. LPG appliances operate at 2.75 kPa whereas natural gas appliances operate at 1.1kPa.
LPG has higher energy content and many times it is less expensive than natural gas. Due to these reasons, it is generally considered better than natural gas. But when it comes to delivery of gas through pipes, Natural gas is considered better because they produce slightly less CO2 as compared to LPG. As LPG gases are heavier than air, they settle at the bottom. Thus due to this if some kind of leak takes place in the cylinder then LPG can be more dangerous as compared to Natural Gas because Natural Gas is lighter than air and it can dissipate more quickly if there is a leak.
Applications of Natural Gas:
- Generating Electricity:
The Electric power sector uses Natural gas on a considerable level. According to one report in 2019, the total production of electricity and power in the US was generated using Natural Gas, and 31 percent of US power generating sectors were using Natural gas for power generation.
- Transportation Sector:
Natural Gas is also used for transportation purposes. Many of us have heard about CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). CNG is also one of the types of Natural Gas. In the US 3 of the total consumption of natural gas was acquired by the transportation and vehicle sector.
- Commercial Sector:
The commercial sector uses Natural gas for heat building, refrigeration, and cooling equipment. It is also used for cooking food and drying clothes. Some consumers use it in combined heat and power systems.
Applications of LPG:
- LPG for domestic use:
Every one of us knows that maximum hosehold use LPG for domestic purposes like cooking and gas geysers. This is the major application all around the globe. It is cost-efficient and thus everyone can afford it easily. Thus the major application of LPG remains domestic use because it is easy to handle and at the same time cheap.
- Agricultural Sector:
Though we haven’t noticed it, however, the agricultural profession has become a very competitive profession. There is a tough competition going on to produce crop production which is of good quality, better for sustainability, and at the same time cost-efficient. Thus to achieve this farmers should have a cost-efficient technology. Now comes LPG into the picture. There are various applications in the agricultural domain where we require heat and fire. For example, poultry sheds, greenhouses, and nurseries require adequate space heating which can be obtained using LPG. Similarly, nowadays pest control is done using heat instead of chemicals to avoid spraying of chemicals on crop products. The plants which are grown in greenhouses require CO2 for their growth. Thus CO2 is also being produced using LPG.
- LPG in the food industry:
Now, this is something which every one of us has noticed. From a tea stall to a 5-star restaurant every part of the food industry uses LPG in some or other way. This is because as far as fuels are concerned LPG is the cheapest and best option for the food industry. As discussed above LPG is also easy to handle. As new cuisines are getting evolved the control over the flame is also very important. Thus the LPG technology which we have facilitates easy control of flames and no professional training is required.
Conclusion:
In this article, we discussed what is natural gas and what is LPG. Then we discussed the differences between these two gases and we also discussed various parameters on which they differ. We also discusssed the safety and gas transportation issues related with both gases. In the end, we discussed the application of both the gases and by what percent they contribute to various sectors.