Natural Gas Fuel’s Advantages and Limitation
Natural gas is found mainly in underground reservoirs and in coal beds. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that consist primarily of methane and some smaller amounts of hydrocarbons subtracts like ethane, propane and butane. There might be some inert gas like nitrogen, helium, and carbon dioxide involved and dissimilated into natural gas. The actual mixture composition is varies depending upon the region where that natural gas is found.
As you probably know, natural gas fuel can be either in a liquid form, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or in compressed form, compressed natural gas (CNG).
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is as result of compressing natural gas until less than 1 percent of its original volume at standard atmospheric pressure. Then it is put in hard containers in normal pressure at around 200 bar, and distributed in commonly spherical shapes of cylindrical shapes.
The largest natural gas reserves in the world are located in Russia. Another major resources can be found in Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and United States. Even though US is one of major natural gas producer and user, for powering vehicles by natural gas fuel, only small percentage on natural gas production is been used. Only about 30 thousands of vehicles are using compressed natural gas fuel in the US alone. In worldwide, it is estimated around one million vehicles are running on compressed natural gas fuel. Vehicles that are using CNG are gain more popularity in Europe, South America and Asian countries, thanks to recent rising gasoline prices.
Compressed natural gas can be used in common gasoline engine cars. But then the engine must be customize or converted into bi-fuels CNG/gasoline engine. In such condition, the vehicles can still using gasoline and natural gas fuel.
There are about 500 stations for filling natural gas fuel in the US. The majority of this station is serving private fleet and about one-fourth are for public. Compressed natural gas fuel is more appropriate for fleet vehicles that run in limited geographical regions and that come back to a central location every night for refueling.
California Air Resources Board has attested and certified compressed natural gas (CNG) powered engine as the 1st alternative fueled engine certified for use in California. They also has sponsored a pilot project program to fuel school buses with CNG. While CNG has been used for fleet and delivery vehicles, most vehicle’s tanks hold enough fuel for more than 100 miles.
Yes, CNG are gain more popularity recently due to the increase of oil prices. Still, due to limitation of this new fuel sources, it is not widely adapted by some countries. If we make a comparison between natural gas fuel and gasoline, bellow are some advantages and limitation compare to normal gasoline.
Natural gas fuel’s advantages compare to gasoline:
Natural gas fuel are cleaner sources of fuels compare to gasoline. Natural gas fuel only emits at least 40 percent less hydrocarbons and 30 percent less carbon dioxide per mile compared to gasoline.
If we compare the price between the two, natural gas fuel is a clear winner. Natural gas fuel now become more less thanks to the oil recent gas price soaring recently.
Vehicles with natural gas fuel engines is known to have less maintenance costs compare to cars with gasoline engines. This is mainly due to the nature of natural gas which have a lesser extent corrosion. It is also known that its engine are less tear & wear.
Natural gas fuel resources in the world is plenty.
Natural gas fuel’s limitation:
Natural gas fuel is nonrenewable sources of energy. It can not be regenerate and even thought its resources in the world is abundance, it is depleted as most of fossil energy.
There is also a range limitation and vehicles powered by natural gas fuel can cost more due to the need to keep the fuel under pressure.
The weight and size the pressure tank reduces storage space and affects fuel economy.
Well, as you can see from article above, it is still clear that gasoline is the main fuel sources for vehicles. But natural gas fuel has opportunity to compensate gasoline. But bear in mind, another alternative fuel resources like biodiesel will come as competitor in the near future.