This colorless, odorless, tasteless gas is extremely dangerous and can even be deadly. Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have different chemical compositions. Natural gas is methane while LPG is butane or propane (bottled gas). Though natural gas and LPG are both products of crude oil, they have different density and energy content. When we talk about energy efficiency for propane and natural gas, we use BTUs. A BTU, or a British Thermal Unit, is the amount of heat you’d need to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Propane and natural gas are both popular fuels but have distinct differences. Propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. It is stored and transported as a liquid under pressure but used as a gas. Natural gas, primarily methane, is lighter than air and delivered through pipelines as a gas.
In case of leaks, propane does not build up in soil or water, a common environmental hazard of many fossil fuels. Propane’s high heat efficiency also ensures less energy is used to power appliances. It represents the heat required to increase the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. While propane may cost more per unit, it burns cleaner and boasts more heating efficiency. Propane provides more energy per unit of volume than does natural gas.
LPG is manufactured during the refining of petroleum (crude oil), or extracted from petroleum or natural gas streams as they emerge from the ground. It emits 15 per cent less CO2 than kerosene, 29 per cent less than gas oil and 25 per cent less than heavy fuel oil. LPG also produces as much as 30 to 50 per cent less CO2 when used with more efficient gas burners. The production of natural gas, for instance, through fracking causes methane to leak into the air. Studies show that the average rates of methane emissions from gas operations are 2.3 per cent of total production per year. Our highly trained and qualified service technicians and drivers are always ready to help you.
The GWP measures how much worse a gas is in trapping heat compared to carbon dioxide. It traps relatively less heat but stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years. In other words, over a hundred year period, natural gas is 28 – 36 times worse as a greenhouse gas compared to CO2. In contrast, the IPCC says that LPG has a global warming potential of zero. That means that butane and propane as liquefied petroleum gas do not contribute to global warming, according to climate scientists.
The cost of storing and vaporising natural gas can be between USD $150,000 and $200,000. That makes LPG far more economical for small-scale use than natural gas. LPG and natural gas are similar types of gases that occur together. In fact, the majority of propane and butane are found and extracted during natural gas mining. As a result, the mining industry often refers to propane and butane as natural gas liquids (NGLs) because they are found alongside methane.
Are natural gas and propane interchangeable?
- It’s easy to compare prices for your particular area but remember that propane delivers much higher efficiency.
- Natural gas is created over hundreds of years deep within the earth.
- There is an extensive distribution network for both CNG and LPG.
- If your building already has the natural gas infrastructure, it may turn out to be a cheaper alternative than propane.
Instead, you’ll use fuel from a tank or a portable canister in your home. You can choose the size based on your needs, with options ranging from a 30-gallon propane tank to a 250-gallon propane tank and beyond. Some suppliers add sulfuric scents to these products to make it easier to tell when there’s a leak. In natural gas lines, leaks can be hard to spot, and various bureaucratic and infrastructure issues can make them hard to fix as well.
Why is LPG preferred?
LPG burns cleanly, producing less soot and ash. Low soot and ash build-up ensure efficient heat transfer and consistent burner performance, which improves efficiency and product quality. This reduces wear and tear on boilers, furnaces, and other equipment.
Natural gas only produces approximately 1,000 BTUs per cubic foot. This means you need to purchase twice the amount of natural gas to produce the same amount of heat as propane. Natural gas provides just over 1,000 BTUs per cubic foot (0.0283 cubic meters); the same volume of propane in gaseous form provides about 2,500 BTUs.
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- But the retail availability of LPG is more compared to that of CNG.
- Even if natural gas does turn out to be cheaper for your home, this investment can take years to recoup.
- This makes them far better than natural gas for the environment.
- However, natural gas releases methane, a greenhouse gas, and propane does not.
- Propane’s chemical composition ensures it can exist in gaseous form at room temperature or when the atmospheric pressure doesn’t exceed (14.6 psi).
While it is most often supplied via a public utility company using pipes, CNG can be put into storage tanks for use in those locations where it cannot be piped in. Gas in this form is under extremely high pressure, so there is a small risk that the storage units could burst if not properly maintained. If you have a problem with your furnace, stove, water heater or any other system powered by propane or natural gas, be aware that incomplete combustion can form carbon monoxide.
Efficiency and Cost
When used for heating or cooking, most people cannot tell much difference between propane and natural gas. Some barbecue enthusiasts prefer natural gas because it is a cleaner burning fuel, meaning that it doesn’t release as many pollutants into the air. Exhaust from propane might affect the taste of food, but this is also considered to be part of the charm of grilling.
What are the disadvantages of LPG gas?
Two major disadvantages of the use of LPG are safety and cost. The high pressure needed to store LPG results in occasional tank bursts if canisters are not stored properly and maintained. In addition, LPG is highly flammable.
Natural gas is a relatively clean burning fuel that does not leave ash or toxic mercury or sulfur oxide emissions. However, methane in natural gas is a highly potent greenhouse gas lpg vs natural gas that releases CO2 and water vapor when combusted. Fortunately, these emissions remain to be significantly lower than those produced by burning coal and petroleum products.
Additionally, remote monitoring systems for natural gas usage can help detect leaks and inefficiencies, providing peace of mind and enhancing safety. The good thing is that both LPG and natural gas can easily be replaced by cheaper forms of energy. Clean renewable power is now the cheapest form of power in most parts of the world – and it is getting cheaper every year. Gases are extracted and then refined so that impurities can be removed. Then, they are processed so that each type of gas can be separated. Lastly, they are liquefied so that they become easier to transport.
While they have many similarities, they also differ, including their chemical composition, energy efficiency and storage and distribution methods. Below are the main factors that distinguish propane and natural gas so you can make the right choice for your home, business or industrial use. Since prices vary from region to region, there’s no universal answer for which fuel is more economical. It’s easy to compare prices for your particular area but remember that propane delivers much higher efficiency. Ultimately, both types of fuel are more efficient and less expensive than electricity in many regions. Many appliances are perfectly capable of burning both natural gas and propane.
Can LPG replace natural gas?
LPG can replace natural gas when converted into SNG – Simulated Natural Gas – which is a carefully blended mix of gaseous LPG (53%) and air (47%).
