【Daily Question】In-depth Processing 20161025 Quiz: What is the difference between natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas?

Natural gas refers to flammable gases contained in geological formations, mainly a mixture of low-molecular-weight alkanes； Liquefied petroleum gas refers to a mixed hydrocarbon obtained by compressing and separating gases produced in refineries, especially during catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, and coking; its main components are propane, propylene, butane, butylene, etc.

The main component of natural gas is methane, which is produced through chemical changes of ancient animals stored in underground rock layers. It is extracted through drilling and delivered to users via pipelines, making it an excellent gaseous fuel. Liquefied petroleum gas is a petrochemical product; it is a light gas obtained during the distillation of oil, which is liquefied under pressure at room temperature. Its main component is carbon 4, namely butane, and that is what constitutes liquefied petroleum gas. Liquefied gas is usually packaged in bottles, which are the common gas cylinders.

The main component of natural gas is methane, which is produced through chemical changes of ancient animals stored in underground rock layers. It is extracted through drilling and delivered to users via pipelines, making it an excellent gaseous fuel. Liquefied petroleum gas is a petrochemical product; it is a light gas obtained during the distillation of oil, which is liquefied under pressure at room temperature. Its main component is carbon 4, namely butane, and that is what constitutes liquefied petroleum gas. Liquefied gas is usually packaged in bottles, which are the common gas cylinders.

The main component of natural gas is methane, which is produced through chemical changes of ancient animals stored in underground rock layers. It is extracted through drilling and delivered to users via pipelines, making it an excellent gaseous fuel. Liquefied petroleum gas is a petrochemical product; it is a light gas obtained during the distillation of oil, which is liquefied under pressure at room temperature. Its main component is carbon 4, namely butane, and that is what constitutes liquefied petroleum gas. Liquefied gas is usually packaged in bottles, which are the common gas cylinders. There is also centralized pressure-reduced vaporization, with the gas distributed to households through pipelines.

Natural gas is extracted directly from underground, and its main component is methane. Pipelines for transportation. Liquefied gas (LPG) is artificially produced; it is one of the petroleum products. The main components are propane, propylene, butane, and butene. Under certain pressure or when cooled to a specific temperature, it can be liquefied into a liquid form, which is then filled into pressure vessels for transportation.

Natural gas: Found deep underground, it is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and non-corrosive. Its main component is methane; its calorific value ranges from 33–46 MJ per cubic meter, and its density is between 0.58–0.62 kilograms per cubic meter. At normal pressure, it can be turned into a liquid at -162 degrees Celsius. In its liquid state, its volume is 1/600 of that in its gaseous state. The explosion limit for natural gas is 5–15%. Liquefied gas refers to liquefied petroleum gas, which is a by-product of oil extraction or refining. It is a mixed gas whose main components are propane, propylene, butane, and butylene. Depending on the amounts of various hydrocarbons present, its calorific value varies, ranging from 88–120 MJ per cubic meter. Liquefied petroleum gas is in a gaseous state at normal temperature and pressure; it easily turns into a liquid when the pressure increases or the temperature decreases, which makes it convenient for storage and transportation. The volume of liquefied gas in its liquid state is about 1/250 of that in its gaseous state, with a relative density of 1.5–2.0 kilograms per cubic meter. The explosion limit is 2-10%,

Liquefied gas and liquefied petroleum gas differ in the following ways: (1) Composition. The main component of natural gas is methane, whereas liquefied petroleum gas (abbreviated as LPG) is a colorless, volatile gas obtained by pressurizing and cooling refinery gas or natural gas (including associated gas from oil fields) to bring it into a liquid state. Liquefied petroleum gas obtained from refinery gas consists mainly of propane, propylene, butane, and butenes, with small amounts of pentane and pentenes as well as trace amounts of sulfur compounds as impurities. (2) Environmental friendliness: During the liquefaction process, natural gas has impurities such as sulfur, carbon dioxide, and water removed, so the pollutants emitted upon combustion are more than 50% less compared to LPG, diesel, heavy oil, etc. (3) Economic efficiency: The calorific value of LPG is 22,033–29,043 kcal/Nm3, while that of LNG is 8,500–9,000 kcal/Nm3. At the same calorific value, 1 cubic meter of liquefied petroleum gas is equivalent to 2.6 cubic meters of natural gas. However, the price of LPG is around 20 yuan per cubic meter, whereas the price of LNG is about 4.5 yuan per cubic meter. It can be seen that, at the same heat value, natural gas is more cost-effective than liquefied petroleum gas. (4) Safety: Compared to LPG, LNG has a gas density of 0.74, meaning it is lighter than air; any minor leakage will cause it to disperse along with the air. Its ignition point is 650°C, which is higher than LPG’s 460°C. The explosion limit for LNG is 5%-15%, which is narrower than LPG’s 1%-15%. After vaporization, LPG has a density greater than that of air, making it less volatile; however, this increases the risk of asphyxiation, combustion, and explosion.

Natural gas refers to flammable gases stored in geological formations, primarily a mixture of low-molecular-weight alkanes, and can be divided into dry natural gas and wet natural gas. The main component of dry gas is methane, while wet natural gas contains not only large amounts of methane but also significant quantities of ethane, propane, and butane. Liquefied petroleum gas refers to a mixture of hydrocarbons produced in refineries, especially during processes such as catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, and coking, through compression and separation; its main components are propane, propylene, butane, butylene, etc.

The main component of natural gas is methane, while the main component of liquefied petroleum gas is butane, with some propane as well

The main component of natural gas is methane, while the main components of liquefied petroleum gas are C3 and C4 gases