LPG vs Natural Gas
Natural Gas and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are both commonly used energy sources but have distinct characteristics. While natural gas is primarily composed of methane, LPG consists mainly of propane or butane. Despite being derived from crude oil, their differences in chemical composition, storage, and usage make them suitable for different applications.
Though natural gas and LPG are both products of crude oil, they have different density and energy content. These differences also affect their usage and storage. Natural gas is delivered through pipelines, while LPG is stored in pressurized containers, allowing it to be used in areas without pipeline infrastructure.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is methane and has chemical formulation CH4. The calorific value of natural gas is 38.7MJ/m3. It disperses quickly into the air in case of leak, making it one of the safest fuels for use.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
LPG is propane and has chemical formulation C3H8. The calorific value of LPG is 93.2MJ/m3. LPG can be easily processed into Simulated Natural Gas - SNG - and used as a substitute for natural gas. However, the same cannot be done in reverse.
Difference Between Physical Properties of Natural Gas and LPG
Apart from the difference in calorific values of both the crude oil products, the other differences are as follows:
Physical properties | LPG (Propane) | Natural Gas (Methane) |
Chemical Formula | C3H8 | CH4 |
Energy Content: Btu/ft3 | 2572 | 1011 |
Energy Content: MJ/kg | 49.58 | 52.5 |
Flame Temp: Cº | 1967 | 1950 |
Boiling Temp: Cº | -42 | -161.5 |
Flame Temp: Cº | 3573 | 3542 |
Specific Gravity | 1.5219 | 0.5537 |
Gas Volume: m3/kg | 0.540 | 1.499 |
Density @15ºC: kg/m3 | 1.899 | 0.668 |
Energy Content: MJ/m3 | 93.2 | 38.7 |
Other Differences between LPG and Natural Gas
The other main differences between natural gas and LPG are mentioned in the table below:
Category | Natural Gas | LPG |
Usage | Vehicle fuel, electricity generation, cooking, and heating | Vehicle fuel, heating, and cooking |
Storage and Transportation | Transported via pipelines | Stored in cylinders and tanks |
Composition | Mainly methane | Mainly butane and propane |
Similarities between natural gas and LPG
Though these two crude oil products are different, there are certain similarities between them. Both LPG and natural gas are highly combustible. Another common thing between the two is that the LPG comes from natural gas processing. Both are combustible hydrocarbon gases and can be used at home or commercially.
FAQs
- Which is preferable, natural gas or LPG?
Compared to LPG and oil, natural gas offers many advantages, including far higher efficiency, cleaner burning, and more affordability. For this reason, converting to an LPG boiler if your house is wired for natural gas is typically not advised.
- Why is LPG more expensive than natural gas?
While using natural gas as a cooking fuel at home calls for a vaporizer and a pipeline connection, it is transported via pipelines. Even in terms of price, LPG is far less expensive than natural gas. Due to price increases for both fuels, LPG is regarded as the more affordable choice.
- Is CNG is a natural gas?
Yes, CNG consists of natural gas.
- What benefits does natural gas have over LPG?
Natural Gas is more efficient when compared to materials like propane gas. Natural gas burns more efficiently since it produces more energy. Natural Gas is easy to deliver too.
- Why is LPG so expensive in India?
The benchmark for LPG and PNG prices in India, according to IE, is the price of crude oil abroad. Therefore, a rise in the price of oil will inevitably affect the cost of cooking gas.
- Why isn't CNG used in cooking?
Although CNG has gained acceptance as a clean fuel, its volatility has prevented it from being used as cooking gas due to its high auto-ignition temperature (540°C) and limited flammability range of 5 to 15%.
- Is CNG imported into India?
The majority of the natural gas that India receives now comes from Qatar, with whom it has a long-term agreement.
- Why LPG subsidy terminated in India?
As the price of LPG rose significantly in the country, the LPG subsidy was terminated in India due to the challenging economic climate.
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