Natural gas is an important and common source of energy widely used around the world. It is extremely important to understand the main ingredient of natural gas in order to clarify natural gas and make the most use of it. By understanding what combines to form natural gas, you can learn about its potential uses and benefits in areas such as energy, industry, transportation and household.
1. What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a significant natural energy source that can be found in underground geological formation. It is a compound of natural gasses, such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10) and many others.
Natural gas is widely used as an efficient and clean energy source. It is used in a variety of fields including electricity production, heating, as a fuel for cars and ships, and as a fuel source for industry. Natural gas has many benefits, including the combustibility and less harm to the environment compared to other energy sources.
2. What are the most current popular natural gas fuels?
Classification of popular natural gas fuels at the present.
Fuel state:
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Natural gas: Includes gases such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10) and other hydrocarbons. Natural gas usually appears in the gaseous state and is widely used in industry, electricity, and transportation.
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Liquefied natural gas - LNG: A natural gas that is liquefied when chilled to -162ºC after being extracted, removing impurities. LNG is usually transported by ships and specialized refrigerated tank trucks. LNG has the advantage of plentiful fuel supply and is used in the fields of power generation, industry, and transportation.
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Compressed natural gas - CNG: It is natural gas that is compressed to a pressure of 200-250 barg and put into a specialized tank truck, then transported to a user station, suitable for use in vehicles transportation and other industrial processes.
Each type of natural gas fuel has different characteristics and uses. Therefore, this classification helps us understand more about the types of fuels and how they are used in industries and daily life.
3 What is the main ingredient of natural gas?
Natural gas is formed from organic decomposition underground. There are four main chemical substances of natural gas in common use, including methane, ethane, propane, and butane.
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Methane
This is the main chemical substance of natural gas, accounting for a large proportion in the gas compound. The methane content in natural gas can change depending on the source and exploitation process. It plays a key role in the energy industry. Methane is widely used for the production of thermal power, as a fuel for vehicles, and in industrial processes such as fertilizer production, chemicals, and metal fabrication.
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Ethane
Ethane is used in industrial processes, especially in the production of plastics and organic compounds. Ethane can also be modified to ethylene for use in the production of thermoplastic.
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Propane
Natural gas that can be converted into a liquid form. It is commonly used as a cooking fuel, heating fuel and fuel for household and industrial equipment. Propane is also used in heating, oven cooking, and fueling outdoor equipment such as welding machines, mowers, and forklifts.
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Buthane
Natural gas can be converted into a liquid form. It is commonly used in the chemical industry, in the production of fuel for household appliances such as stoves and gas cylinders. Butane is also used as a fuel in portable gas cylinders and in outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers and generators.
Read more: What are difference between natural gas and liquefied natural gas?
Natural gases such as methane, ethane, propane and butane, all have the advantages of being a plentiful, clean and eco-friendly energy source. They are used to produce thermoelectricity with high efficiency and are easy to store. However, the use and transportation of natural gas should follow safety and environmental protection policy to avoid negative impacts and avoid risks.